SCOTT AFB TO HOLD ITS AIR SHOW

Scott Air Force Base officials say this year's two-day air show may be one of the biggest and best in years.

The show is Saturday and Sunday at the air base, 10 miles east of Belleville, Ill.

The gates will open at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. There is no admission charge.

The air show will mark the end of an era for three major Air Force commands, including one headquartered at Scott.

Headline attractions at this year's show include the Air Force's aerial demonstration team, The Thunderbirds, the Army's Golden Knights parachute team, a 100-man Ranger parachute team from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., and a flyover and aerial demonstration of the B-1 bomber and F-117 Stealth fighter.

The show will again feature a large number of static display aircraft, many of which saw duty in the skies over Iraq during the Persian Gulf War.

Among the aircraft on display will be all of the airlifters in the Military Airlift Command, including the C-141 Starlifter and C-130 Hercules, both of which will land at the Cape Girardeau Airport this October as part of Operation Steel Cure II.

In addition, the Air Force's largest cargo jet, the C-5, will also be on display. Visitors will be allowed to go inside most of the larger air transport aircraft.

Other aircraft on display include the B-1 bomber; the F-15 and F-16 fighters from the Tactical Air Command; the C-9 (military version of the DC-9) Nightingale that is used for medical air evacuation flights; a C-140 JetStar cargo jet; the A-10 Thunderbolt 2 (Wart Hog), an RF-4 Wild Weasel reconnaissance jet; a KC-135 (air refueling) Stratotanker and KC-135R reconnaissance jet; the newer, KC-10 air refueling tanker (similar to the L-1011, wide-body, commercial passenger jet); a Navy A-6 jet fighter; and OH-60 and OH-58 helicopters.

There will be aerial demonstrations by many of the top aircraft in the Department of Defense inventory. A F-117 Stealth fighter will fly over both days.

In addition to the aircraft displays and flybys, there will be performances both days by the Military Airlift Command Band, a military (security) working dog demonstration, and a remote-controlled airplane show.

There will be more than 40 booths selling food, beverages and air show souvenirs, plus another 25 booths with a wide range of information displays.

Because of a smaller number of on-base parking spots this year, base officials urge those attending the air show to come early and carpool with friends as much as possible.

All of the featured attractions except the Thunderbirds will perform both days. The Thuderbirds will fly on Sunday afternoon only.

The 82nd Airborne Rangers will jump at about 9:30 a.m. The Thunderbirds will perform their arrival show at 11 a.m. Sunday. The B-1 bomber flyby will be at 12:15, followed at 12:30 by the flyby of the F-117 Stealth fighter. The Golden Knights will jump at 2:15 p.m., and the Thunderbirds will round out the Sunday air show with their takeoff and performance at 3:30 p.m.

This year, the Air Force marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Scott AFB in the summer of 1917 as a training base for World War I pilots.

This weekend marks the end of the well-known Military Airlift Command, whose headquarters is at Scott AFB. On Monday Headquarters, Military Airlift Command, will go out of existence as part of a major reorganization of the Air Force. In its place will emerge the Air Mobility Command, (AMC) which will include most of the units of the old Military Airlift Command.

AMC, which will be headquartered at Scott AFB, will also take command and control of 80 percent of the tanker fleet that formerly belonged to the Strategic Air Command (SAC).

SAC and the Air Tactical Command will also cease to exist as of Monday. In their place will be the Air Force's new Air Combat Command. (ACC)

Scott AFB can be reached from the Cape Girardeau area by taking I-55 north to I-255, then east on I-255 across the Mississippi River to I-64. Turn east on I-64 and drive to Exit 19 (Illinois Route 158). Turn south on Route 158 and watch for signs to the air base gates.