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Mini C-17 dazzles and delights fairgoers

  • Published
  • By Debra Baldwin
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. --  Food, games and exhibits--there was something for everyone at the 2006 Coastal Carolina fair. This year, in honor of their 50th Anniversary, the "Spirit of Hope, Liberty & Freedom", the C-17 replica, was invited for the young and young at heart.

The mini C-17 was set-up just inside the main gate for the 10-day event. Volunteers from the Mini C-17 team manned the static display over 58 hours and answered questions of all kinds from, "It looks bigger in the air" or "How can you fit a tank in that thing?" or "This plane would look good in my yard" and even "where can I get one?"

Several retirees also enjoyed seeing the mini, "It brought back memories from the time when they served. No matter what service they served under, we heard great stories as far back to World War II," shared Technical Sergeant Jamie Cintron, 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

"It made me feel great being part of the Mini C-17 team, representing the 315th Airlift Wing and being able to show and explain to the public what we do at the base," said Sergeant Cintron.

The Coastal Carolina Fair is owned and operated by the Exchange Club of Charleston, S.C., one of the oldest and largest service organizations in South Carolina and is presently the largest Exchange Club in the nation. The club has over 265 members who volunteer more than 10,000 man-hours each year in order to host the fair.

"People were so excited to see the mini at the fair! Whether they knew what the real C-17 was or not, they couldn't believe that we actually built the mini at Charleston AFB," said Technical Sergeant Michele Summers, a crew chief with the 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "Most of the kids were more excited to go on the mini than going on the rides, and we saw many tears when parents had to drag them away."

I felt like we made a difference to a lot of the kids and teenagers, especially those eligible to enlist in either the active or reserve Air Force," added Sergeant Cintron.

According to the Exchange Club, this year's fair attendance was 234,016.