Making waves at Air Force Week

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
COCOA BEACH, Fla. --  Beachcombers enjoyed the waves Air Force assets kicked up during Air Force Week at a not-so-typical day at the beach.

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Demonstration Team, the F-15 Strike Eagle and the 920th Rescue Wing, were among some of the military displays of air power over the sea Oct. 29.

The City of Orlando, Known as America's playground and the endless summer sanctuary that is Cocoa Beach, have become staging spots for Air Force Week , a culmination of recruiting magnificence that happens only twice a year at select locations. The first was in New York City earlier this year.

More important than attracting new blood, top Air Force leadership were also here to show their support and to honor the accomplishments and sacrifices of all American Airmen.

The Undersecretary of the Air Force, Ms. Erin Conaton, demonstrated this top priority in the opening ceremonies Tuesday, Oct. 26 at the Cocoa Beach Pier by recognizing several hometown heroes from nearby Patrick Air Force Base . All hail from Florida and have several deployments under their uniform belt.

With well over 35,000 Airmen currently deployed across the globe in support of contingency operations, the theme of this Air Force Week is Honoring Hometown Heroes.

The Air Force pulled out all of the stops with high-speed fly bys over Orlando theme parks, aircraft static displays, media flights, free concerts, barbecues, aerial demonstrations, school and hospital visits, and it all ends a free air show over Cocoa Beach on the weekend.

The Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing, from nearby Patrick Air Force Base, is the one of the only local units to perform in the Air Force Week. The other 16 aerial acts have flown in from all over the country. For example, the Thunderbirds are based at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nevada, but perform at hundreds of national and international air shows annually.

Rescue Wing Reservists performed an astronaut rescue demonstration to showcase their role as guardians of the astronauts during space shuttle lift offs. In fact the unit is heavily involved in the upcoming launch, Nov. 2, as they'll be ready to perform real life-saving skills if NASA needs them.

To learn more about these iconic events, which raised the mercury throughout Central Florida, beyond magic-kingdom imagination, go to www.airforceweek.af.mil or www.facebook.com/airforceweek.

For more information on the 920th RQW and the Cocoa Beach Air Show, contact the 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs Office at (321) 494-0535/6 or log onto: Facebook/920th Rescue Wing (Government Organization).