By AIRMAN GRACE NICHOLS
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
The free family-friendly Arkansas Military Expo is coming to Little Rock Air Force Base on Saturday, Sept. 17.
Team Little Rock will be opening its gates to welcome the community on the 69th anniversary of the Air Force.
“We are going to bring all facets of our military, our reservists, our citizen soldiers, our Guardsmen, our active duty, our civilians and our contractors and showcase what they bring to the fight on behalf of the state of Arkansas and the nation each and every day,” said Col. Charles Brown, 19th Airlift Wing commander.
The event will include festivities such as aircraft demonstrations, static displays, a C-130J cargo drop demonstration and multiple vendors.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the Vandenberg Gate opening at 9 a.m.
AERIAL EVENTS
C-130s
The C-130 is a cargo aircraft capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for airdropping troops and equipment into hostile areas.
The C-130 can accommodate a wide variety of oversized cargo, including everything from utility helicopters and six-wheeled armored vehicles to standard palletized cargo and military personnel.
C-17 Globemaster III
The C-17 Globemaster III is the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area. The aircraft can perform tactical airlift and airdrop missions and can transport litters and ambulatory patients during aeromedical evacuations when required.
T-6 Texan
The T-6 Texan is fully aerobatic and features a pressurized cockpit with an anti-G system, ejection seat and an advanced avionics package with sunlight-readable liquid crystal displays.
Warbirds
Warbirds are retired military aircraft that have been restored to flying condition.
MQ-1B Predator
The MQ-1 Predator drone is an armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft that is employed primarily as an intelligence-collection asset and secondarily against dynamic execution targets.
In addition to the wide-array of aircraft on display, there will be other events and activities including bouncy castles and static displays, providing fun for the whole family.
“This surrounding community has built this base,” said Col. Christopher Ben-nett, 19th Airlift Wing vice commander. “Doing things like the Arkansas Military Expo this fall is just one little way we can say thank you and communicate how much we value that partnership just a little bit more.”
