FORT SMITH - Staff Sgt. Jonathan Pennington, a crew member of the Air Force Thunderbirds, never expected to see an Arkansas Razorback etched inside a panel in the cockpit of Thunderbird No. 5.
The Fort Smith native assigned to maintain the red, white and blue F-16C at the 2008 Fort Smith Regional Air Show later learned that it was once a Flying Razorback of the Arkansas Air National Guard's 188th Fighter Wing.
Guardsmen said the jet was assigned to the Air Force's demonstration team in January 2005, and it flew as Thunderbird No. 1 in the 2006 and 2007 air show seasons.
Thousands of eyes followed the former Flying Razorback and five other Thunderbirds as they roared into the clear blue sky as the final act of the first day of the air show at the Fort Smith Regional Airport.
But the expert pilots comprising the elite Air Force precisionflying team admit the skills they display are the same perfected by all Air Force combat pilots.
Air Force Maj. Chris Austin, who pilots Thunderbird No. 2, has the most combat experience of any on this year's team. He said he flew combat missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Serbia and Bosnia from 1998 to 2005.
He also flew as an opposing force pilot in Air Force Red Flag training exercises in 2005 and 2006.
"I enjoyed it because it sharpens the sword," Austin said.
The sleek F-16s sliced through the air Saturday, performing an airborne ballet. Four of the jets rolled and looped in tight formation, trailing streams of smoke behind them.
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As the four flew in formation, two solo pilots showed off the capabilities of the F-16C Fighting Falcon, performing loops and rolls, sneaking up and flashing over the crowd with a deafening roar. They moved over the airfield at low speed before hitting the afterburners and corkscrewing straight up and out of sight.
The clear skies and warm spring temperatures drew thousands of spectators. Many people took advantage of the aircraft on display and set up their chairs in the shade of their wings.
Among the flying acts was a re-creation of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that featured restored Japanese Zero airplanes.
More modern war planes, the Navy's F-18 Super Hornet, AirForce F-15 Eagle and F-4 Phantom, flew in demonstrations that showed why they have been potent weapons.
Six A-10 Thunderbolt II jets, new to the 188th Fighter Wing, performed with two Blackhawk helicopters in a simulated rescue of a downed pilot in enemy territory. The performance included explosions that sent fire and smoke billowing into the air as the 188th's "Warthogs" simulated strafing and bombing runs.
Several aircraft were parked on the grounds, many open for public inspection. A Paladin artillery vehicle served as a playground for children. Elsewhere, inflatable rides were set up for youth to burn up some energy during the long day.
Gates open at 8:30 a.m. today for the final day of the show.
Part of the mission of the Thunderbirds and the Army's Golden Knights Parachute Team, also performing at this weekend's air show, is to spread good will and encourage recruitment. Those aspects of the mission brought Thunderbirds and Golden Knightsto Fort Smith a couple days before the air show.
One of the Golden Knights, Staff Sgt. Charles Cooley, a Cedarville native, said he stopped by several schools and hospital pediatric wards in the area in addition to visiting his father and eight siblings.
"We really are soldiers first, and our job here is to be ambassadors of good will," Cooley said.
Cooley said this is his last season with the Golden Knights. He volunteered to serve in Iraq with an artillery unit that deploys inSeptember.
Austin, the Thunderbird pilot, said he's seen a lot of combat and wants to tell the story of the Air Force. The men and women of the Thunderbirds display pride, precision and professionalism every day, he said.
His favorite part of the job, though, is talking to children. He and other Thunderbird members also visited hospitals and schools while in Fort Smith.
"That's the part that really makes it worthwhile," Austin said.
Arkansas, Pages 25 on 05/18/2008