DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Thunder and Lightning over Arizona, a free public event, is scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 23-24, 2019 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
The Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, will be headlining the event alongside Davis-Monthan’s very own A-10 Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team to exhibit the military’s air power capabilities,
“We are extremely excited to be performing at the show,” said Staff Sgt. Betty Chevalier, A-10 Demonstration Team public affairs lead. “We really want to show the Tucson community why the base is here and what the aircraft train for every day.”
While being widely known as an airshow, the event is more than just that. Its goal is to recruit, retain and inspire, all while displaying what the military is capable of.
“It’s important to sustain the longevity and betterment of the Air Force by allowing the younger generation the opportunity to experience the possibilities of how they can contribute to the mission,“ said 2nd Lt. Lauren Gao, 355th Wing public affairs officer.
During the event, Davis-Monthan’s gates will be open to share with the community the integral part it plays by hosting a Military Open House. This event will give the public an opportunity to learn about the assets D-M operates and meet the men and women responsible for leading and maintaining these mission sets.
Davis-Monthan’s own combat search and rescue team will be performing The Desert Lightning Team CSAR Demo, where they’ll highlight D-M’s attack and rescue abilities.
The event will also include flyovers from a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, a C-17 Globemaster III and many other aircraft, along with a performance from the U.S. Air Force parachute team Wings of Blue.
Aircraft ground displays will be parked along a walkway giving visitors the opportunity to tour and learn about specialized aircraft, like the B-52 Stratofortress, the T-6 Texan II and the P-51 Mustang just to name a few.
Food and beverages will be on sale at the event, and for children, there’ll be a kid zone play area with bouncy castles and bungee trampolines.
For VIP passes visit: https://www.thunderandlightningoverarizona.com.
For more information and updates visit: https://www.dm.af.mil/airshow or download the D-M phone application.