Story by Scott Jankowski, photos by Scott Jankowski and John Freedman
Every Year the U.S. Military plays a vital and important role in AirVenture and 2024 was no different. AirVenture featured static displays and airshow support from all 5 branches of the U.S. Military this year. The United States Air Force Air Combat Command had all 4 single ship demo teams at AirVenture, making this another Oshkosh first. The United States Navy was represented by the Growler Demo Team once again. If that was not enough both the United States Navy Blue Angels and the United States Air Force Thunderbirds also made appearances this year.
The daily airshow featured performances from all 4 United States Air Force Air Combat Command single ship demo teams: the Lightning, Raptor, Viper and making its final AirVenture appearance the Warthog. Each of the teams flew on different days with different combinations of aircraft and also performed Heritage Flights. The F-35B Lightning II Demo Team had aircraft serial number 20-5585 on hand, The F-22 Raptor Demo Team had aircraft serial numbers 01-018 and 02-034 on hand this year. Viper Demo brought their specially painted Lockheed Martin F-16C serial number 91-395, this F-16 is painted to celebrate the F-16’s 50th birthday. The A-10 Demo Team brought 2 specially painted A-10’s to AirVenture this year. The first being serial number 78-651 painted in Southeast Asia camouflage and named “Memphis Belle III” and serial number 80-244 named “Black Mamba” and is painted in an all-black and gray color scheme.
Both formation jet teams made appearances this year as they passed through Oshkosh on the way to airshows in the vicinity. The United States Navy Blue Angels with their 6 Boeing FA-18F Super Hornets would pass through on the way to Fargo North Dakota on 7/24. The United States Air Force Thunderbirds would pass through Oshkosh twice, the 2 seat Lockheed Martin F-16D Fighting Falcon, Thunderbird#8 dropped in on 7/24. The entire team flying the single seat Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon would pass through on 7/25 along with the 2-seat jet. The team was on its way to Milwaukee for an airshow that weekend.
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III Demo Team flew its spirited airshow routine on 7/25 when serial number 98-0054 made the short flight up from Milwaukee Wisconsin. This C-17 is part of the 437th Airlift Wing and is based at Charleston Air Force Base South Carolina and was in Milwaukee for their airshow.
The 148th Fighter Wing in conjunction with NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) demonstrated what a mock intercept would look like if an aircraft would stray into restricted airspace or if an aircraft would break a TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) and would need to be escorted out. A pair of Lockheed Martin F-16 C/D Fighting Falcons, serial numbers 90-0831 & 91-0474 acted as the intercepting fighters with a twin-engine Piper Navajo being used as the “offending” aircraft. This mock intercept included maneuvers that would be flown that could be used to get the attention of the pilot of the wayward aircraft. These maneuvers included wing waving, dropping flares, (which was not simulated), and crossing directly in front of the intercepted aircraft. The ultimate goal after getting the attention of the intruder is to instruct them to land, one of the F-16’s would follow the aircraft as it landed while the 2nd F-16 would keep close watch from a distance. After this simulated intercept both F-16’s would make several low approaches before departing back to Duluth Minnesota.
The citizen soldiers and Airmen and women of the Wisconsin Air and National Guard would once again Put on a very well-polished Air Power Demo. This demo included rotary wing assets in the form of the Sikorsky UH-60A Blackhawk helicopter and fixed wing assets including a pair of Lockheed Martin F-35A Lighting II’s and the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker. This well-orchestrated demo included the insertion of a Howitzer fire team by the Madison based Blackhawks, the airlifting out of injured soldiers, with the Madison based F-35’s flying top cover and provided CAS (Close Air Support), not to be left out are the Milwaukee based KC-135 providing air refueling support.
AirVenture would also see flybys performed by other United States Air Force assets and included serial number 57-1459, a Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker which is part of the 912th Aerial Refueling Squadron based out at March Air Force Base California. This KC-135R dragged Thunderbird #8 to Oshkosh on 7/24. On 7/25 Global Strike Command had one of their Rockwell B-1B’s, serial number 85-0064, make a flyby to close the airshow. This B-1B is based out of Dyess Air Force Base Texas and is part of the 9th Bomb Squadron.
Airshow support was provided by The United States Navy in the form of VAQ-129 flying the Boeing EA-18G Growler, otherwise known as the Growler Demo Team. Boeing EA-18G Growlers with serial numbers 168376 and 168387 from NAS (Naval Air Station) Whidbey Island Washington based unit flew several times through the week. The Growler Demo Team demonstrated the speed and agility of this electronic warfare aircraft with a series of tactical high and low speed maneuvers.
One of the major salutes for this year’s AirVenture was to the United States Air Force AFMC (Air Force Material Command) headquartered at Wright Patterson Air Force Base Dayton Ohio. AFMC was created on July 1st 1992 and conducts research, development, testing, and evaluation, provides acquisition, life cycle management services and logistics support. This command develops, acquires and sustains the air power needed to defend the United States and its interests. This is accomplished through research development, testing, evaluation, acquisition, maintenance and program management of existing and future United States Air Force weapons systems and their components. Air Force Material Command had several static display aircraft on hand as well as a display of several different weapons systems and the Boeing X-40 Space Maneuver vehicle.
Static display aircraft included Northrop T-38C Talon serial number 63-187 which belongs to the 586th Flight Test Squadron based at Holloman Air Force Base New Mexico. This T-38 is specially painted to commemorate the D-Day Invasion during World War II carried an Agile Pod on its centerline station. The Agile Pod is multi-intelligence, open architecture, reconfigurable prototype designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) for the Air Force Special Operations Community.
The 419th Flight Test Squadron based at Edwards Air Force Base California had 2 aircraft on static display. The 419th is responsible for developmental testing of the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, Rockwell B-1B Lancer, and the B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers. It conducts tests to extend the useable life of the airframes, upgrade their combat capabilities and integrate new weapons systems into their operation. The first aircraft was serial number 76-0158 a Beechcraft C-12C Huron, the military version of the civilian Beechcraft King Air 200. The primary mission of the Edwards based C-12’s includes test mission support (photo chase and safety) as well being the primary training aircraft for the United States Air Force Test Pilot School.
The other aircraft on display was the iconic Boeing B-52H Stratofortress, serial number 60-036, this airframe is used as a testing platform for new weapons and systems. This B-52H carries special nose art titled “Tagboard Flyer” to commemorate the bombers involvement in a top-secret drone program 50 years ago called Tagboard. Tagboard was an unmanned drone called the D-21, this Mach 3 ramjet powered reconnaissance drone was being tested to fill the gap between manned aerial reconnaissance missions (which we discontinued after the Franics Gary Powers incident) and satellites. The D-21 program suffered numerous failures and was discontinued in 1971. This B-52 has been used by the 419th since 2001 as a testbed, the nose art was applied in conjunction with the units 75th anniversary.
The final aircraft on display was a Boeing F-15EX Eagle II, serial number 20-801 and is currently assigned to the 40th Flight Test Squadron based out of Eglin Air Force Base Florida. The unit can trace its origins back to 1940 as a front-line combat unit and since 1982 conducts test and evaluation missions using various aircraft including the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and the Boeing CV-22 Osprey. The F-15EX Is a multi-role all weather strike fighter derived from the Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle. The F-15EX is expected to replace the Boeing F-15C/D Eagle in air defense missions and to augment the frontline Lockheed Martin F-22 and F-35 aircraft by employing large standoff weapons. The example attending AirVenture carried 12 inert AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missiles) which clearly demonstrated the aircraft’s large payload capacity. The United States Air Force is planning on a fleet of up to 104 examples of the F-15EX.
Air Force Material Command also brought a display of several inert munitions as well as the Boeing X-40 Space Maneuver Vehicle. The munitions display included the AIM-9X short range, heat seeking air to air missile and the MALD/MALD-J (Miniature Air Launched Decoy/Jammer) among others. The Boeing X-40 is an unmanned, unpowered glide test vehicle created as a test platform for the X-37. The X-37 is also known as the OTV (Orbital Test Vehicle) and is a reuseable robotic spacecraft that is being used for experimental space missions.
Other United States Air Force assets on display included the Boeing C-17A Globemaster III from the 445th Airlift Wing based out of Wright Patterson Air Force Base Ohio. Serial number 90-0535 and has been assigned to the 445th Airlift Wing since October of 2015. The C-17 is a strategic and tactical airlifter which has been in service since 1995.
Another welcome display was serial number 31456, a Lockheed C-130H Hercules from the 103RD Airlift Wing which is based at Bradley Air National Guard Base, Bradley International Airport Hartford Connecticut. This C-130 is specially painted to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the unit, named the “Flying Yankees”. The 103rd Airlift Wing was first activated in 1943 as the 324th Fighter Group of the United States Army Air Forces in World War II. The unit has been flying the C-130 since 2013 and has been based at Bradley Air National Guard Base since 1952.
An annual attendee at AirVenture was Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker serial number 61-0310 from the 128th Air Refueling Wing based at Mitchell International Airport Milwaukee Wisconsin. This KC-135R carries special nose art to honor the Milwaukee Electric Tool Company and is part of the Wisconsin Air National Guard. The 128th Air Refueling Wing has flown the KC-135R since 1991.
The other Wisconsin Air National Guard flying unit is the 115th Fighter Wing based at Truax Air National Guard Base Madison Wisconsin. They had the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II serial number 20-5620, on static display. The 115th recently converted from the Lockheed Martin F-16C to the F-35A back in April of 2023. This 5th generation single seat, stealth, multi-role combat aircraft was parked next to the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II for the week.
The 148th Fighter Wing based at the Duluth Minnesota International Airport had Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon serial number 91-421 on display. The 148th Fighter Wing can trace its roots back to the 393rd Fighter Squadron that flew the Lockheed P-38 Lightning in World War II. The 148th has flown the F-16 since 1990 and also has a detachment of F-16’s based out of Madison Wisconsin standing 24-hour alert in the fighter interceptor role.
The 303rd Fighter Squadron based out of Whiteman Air Force Base Missouri brought Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II serial number 80-201 to AirVenture. This A-10 arrived on 7/24 and departed on 7/25 and brought parts to fix one of the A-10 Demo Team Jets. The 303rd was formed back in 1943 as the 303rd Troop Carrier Squadron and participated in the airborne assault during the Normandy invasion on D-Day. The modern day 303rd has operated the A-10 since 1982.
The United States Navy had a trio of trainer aircraft in the static display this year. These included a pair of Textron Aviation T-6A Texan II’s serial numbers 165991 and 165992. These primary trainers are based out of NAS (Naval Air Station) Pensacola and are part of VT-10 (Training Squadron-Ten) which is a subordinate command to TAW-6 (Training Air Wing-Six). VT-10 has operated the T-6A since 2005 after transitioning from the Beechcraft T-34C Mentor. The other trainer was a Northrop T-38C Talon serial number 614856 and is flown by the United States Navy Test Pilot School out of NAS Patuxent River Maryland. This former United States Air Force T-38C was painted in its current paint scheme 2 years ago, and currently supports training of Test Pilots and Flight Engineers.
The United States Army had its usual selection of Rotary Winged assets this year on display. These included a pair of helicopters from the 160th SOAR (Special Operations Aviation Regiment) based at Fort Campbell Kentucky and has the nickname of “The Night Stalkers”. The first is a Bell MH-6M “Little Bird” which carries serial number 95-25372. This light attack helicopter features upgraded rotors and avionics and can carry up to 6 troops on its outboard “benches”. The second was a Boeing MH-47G Chinook, Special Operations Aviation version that carries serial number 20-02922. The MH-47G features a glass cockpit, inflight refueling capability, and is armed with 2 7.2 mm M134 Miniguns and 2 M240 7.62 mm machine guns.
Also on static display was Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow serial number 07-05524. This AH-64D is assigned to the 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment C Troop, better known as the “Outcasts”. The unit is based at Fort Drum New York and has operated AH-64’s since the mid 1990’s. The AH-64D is equipped with a glass cockpit, advanced sensors, and features uprated engines. The venerable Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk was on display in the form of serial number 0-2011 and is assigned to the Wisconsin National Guard’s 147th Aviation Battalion detachment 52 based at Madison Wisconsin. The Madison based UH-60 ‘s would play a key part in the Wisconsin Air and National Guard’s Airpower Demo on 7/26. The final static display came in the form of an Airbus UH-72A Lakota serial number 10-72159 which is operated by the West Bend Wisconsin based 832d Air Ambulance Medical Company. The UH-72 is a militarized version of the Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopter) EC-145 and has been in service since 2007 replacing the Bell UH-1 Iroquois and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters.
Making its final AirVenture appearance this year before its retirement were a trio of Boeing AV-8B+ Harrier II’s from VMA-231 (Marine Attack Squadron) better known as the “Ace of Spades” and based out of MCAS (Marine Corps Air Station) Cherry Point North Carolina. In the twilight of its many years of service with the United States Marine Corps this single engine ground attack aircraft is best known for its V/STOL (Vertical/Short take off or landing) capabilities. The AV-8B+ version was introduced into service in 1995 and is distinguishable from earlier versions by its extended nose which houses an APG-65 multi-mode Pule Doppler Radar which allows it to launch BVR (Beyond Visual Range) missiles such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile). These welcome visitors arrived on 7/25 and departed on 7/27.
Not to be left out the United States Coast Guard was also represented this year in the form of Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk, serial number 6014, and based at United States Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City Michigan. The United States Coast Guard has operated the MH-60T since 1990 and currently has 45 in service across the country.
AirVenture 2024 had plenty of support from the U.S. Military in both static and flying displays. It is very, very rare for a civilian airshow to land all 4 Air Combat Command Single Ship Demo Teams as well as flybys from both of the formation jet teams. The addition of the AV-8B+’s making an appearance made this year even more noteworthy. Until next time, “Blue Skies to All!”
