Air Expo 2011 brings high-speed fun to Charleston Published April 11, 2011 By Michael Dukes 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Thunderous roars from the engines of the Air Force Thunderbirds reverberated through the skies over the Charleston area April 6 through 9 heralding the long awaited days of Air Expo 2011. "Our hope is that everyone who saw the show at Charleston left with a powerful sense of pride in America's Airmen, our Air Force, and the United States," said Lt. Col. Case A. Cunningham, Thunderbirds commander. Joining the Thunderbirds were more than a dozen aerial acts including historic reenactments like Tora, Tora, Tora, whose planes, painted like Japanese Zeros, triggered bursts of flames and black smoke rising from their simulated attack. Warm air and clear skies brought more than 80,000 people out to see the area's largest showcase of military history and current air power technology, and to take in the sites of the wide variety of aerial demonstrations. The Black Daggers Army Special Operations Command parachute demo team helped kick off the public air show by jumping from a C-17 Globemaster III over the crowd with a giant U.S. flag as Master Sgt. Jayson Johnston, 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here, sang the National Anthem. Along the flight line display area Saturday, air expo attendees crowded around static aircraft displays, some of which allowed them to climb in and look around. The two C-17's were packed with people who were in awe as they realized just how big the cargo area of the behemoth was when they stepped inside. Other popular displays on the flight line included, a Marine V-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft, KC-135 tanker, A-10 Thunderbolt III, F-16 Falcon, UH1 "Huey" helicopter, Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter, MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter, P-51 Mustang, a German C-160, Boeing Dreamlifter, and more. Spectators sought respite from the 90 degree heat in the wing shadows of the larger planes on display. In the days leading up to the public air expo day, members of the Thunderbirds and other aerial performers visited local high schools and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center downtown. "The Air Expo is an excellent way for us to maintain the great relationship we have with our local community members," said Col. Steve Chapman, 315th Airlift Wing commander. "We are thankful for the support and participation of the countless volunteers, military members, local law enforcement and other community organizations who helped make Charleston Air Expo 2011 possible."