South Korea's 53rd Demonstration Group, also known as the Black Eagles, perform on Air Power Day at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Sept. 21, 2019. (Greg Nash/U.S. Air Force)
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — After six long years, Air Power Days are returning to the home of the 7th Air Force and its U.S. fighter and attack squadrons.
The aerial performances last seen at Osan in September 2019 are scheduled again for May 10-11, along with static displays of U.S. and South Korean military hardware, the 51st Fighter Wing announced in a recent news release.
Among the expected highlights are performances by the Pacific Air Forces’ F-16 Viper Demonstration Team out of Misawa Air Base in northeastern Japan.
“We will give the audience an exhilarating display of the F-16’s capabilities,” Capt. Ethan Smith, the Viper Demo Team commander and pilot, said in a statement relayed by wing spokesman Maj. Kippun Sumner. “This is going to be a spectacular display of speed, power, and agility — just a glimpse into the full potential of this incredible multirole fighter.”
An F-16 with Pacific Air Force's Viper Demonstration Team performs during Air Power Day at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Sept. 21, 2019. (Ramon Adelan/U.S. Air Force)
Other featured aircraft include the F-16 Fighting Falcon, A-10 Thunderbolt II and U-2 Dragon Lady. The event will mark one of the final public displays of the A-10 in South Korea before its scheduled departure in October, according to the wing.
The event’s theme, “Respect the Past, Forge the Future,” pays homage to the A-10, the 25th Fighter Squadron and the 25th Fighter Generation Squadron while celebrating the strength and longevity of the American and South Korean alliance, according to the release.
“Air shows at Osan Air Base are typically only held every 2-3 years. This is to balance the efforts that come with planning a large-scale public event like Osan Air Power Days with our mission and training requirements,” Sumner said in a follow-up email Wednesday. “There were COVID-19 restrictions in place during the past several years that also restricted the types of public events that we could hold.”
Planning such an event includes addressing logistics, transportation and security, Sumner said. The wing is working with local city officials and Korean National Police to ensure it is safe and accessible.
“We are hosting weekly meetings with all the responsible agencies to ensure a safe and enjoyable weekend for everyone that comes out to the air show,” he wrote.
An A-10 Thunderbolt II performs during Air Power Day at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Sept. 21, 2019. (Ramon Adelan/U.S. Air Force)
Osan officials are focusing on accessibility and cultural inclusivity for the event, Sumner added. There will be bilingual announcements and translators available to assist visitors.
“The goal is for [Air Power Days] to be an event for both our on- and off-base audiences to enjoy together,” he wrote.
The last Air Power Days featured performances by the South Korean air force Black Eagles and various U.S. aircraft, according to the release.
The two-day air show and open house will be free and open to the public, including the local South Korean community, Sumner wrote. All personnel will need a valid form of identification on them to enter the base.
There are no plans for pre-registration or identification checks for general off-base attendees, he added.
