An Air Force pararescueman rescues a 'downed' aircrew member during a combat search and rescue demonstration at the 2007 Osan Air Power Day. This year's show will include a joint personnel recovery demonstration with Air Force and Army assets. (Ronald Hil/Courtesy of the U.S. Air Force)
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — Osan Air Base will open this month’s annual air show to the Korean public for the first time since 9/11.
The air show runs Oct. 11 and 12 and this year is tied to observance of the 60th anniversaries of Osan’s 51st Fighter Wing and of the South Korean armed forces.
Since 9/11, Osan had admitted the Korean public to the air show on an invitation-only basis. Visitors were typically members of civic and other community groups whose leaders were invited through the base community relations staff.
The 51st Fighter Wing’s public affairs chief, 1st Lt. Malinda Singleton, could not explain Tuesday what led base officials to ease the restrictions on the public.
Earlier this year, the Army at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek opened its July 4 weekend celebration to the general public, the first time it had done so since 9/11.
In one scheduled highlight at this year’s Osan air show, spectators will see an aerial demonstration of how Air Force and Army aircraft work jointly to recover a downed aircrew. The demonstration will feature an A-10 Thunderbolt II attack plane, an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet, and two Army helicopters, an AH-64D Apache and a UH-60G Black Hawk.
Other aerial demonstrations are scheduled by a Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, an Air Force F-16 fighter, and a single South Korean air force F-4 fighter-bomber.
Displayed on the ground will be the Army Patriot Missile System and South Korean air force anti-aircraft weaponry, as well as additional aircraft and military hardware.
Visitors will be admitted through Doolittle Gate, which opens at 9 a.m. and closes to visitors at 3 p.m. The show ends at 5 p.m.
To be let in, Korean citizens 17 and older must show their Korean Identification Card. School-age children must show student IDs. Children without IDs must be with an adult who has one. Visitors who are not Korean citizens must show passports.
No pets, skates, skateboards, bicycles, alcoholic beverages, backpacks, large purses, radios, coolers of any kind, food or weapons will be allowed on base. Bags will be searched.
For more information on the Osan air show, go to www.osan.af.mil.
An Air Force pararescueman rescues a 'downed' aircrew member during a combat search and rescue demonstration at the 2007 Osan Air Power Day. This year's show will include a joint personnel recovery demonstration with Air Force and Army assets. (Ronald Hil/Courtesy of the U.S. Air Force)
Static displays at the 2007 Osan Air Power Day included U.S. and Republic of Korea Air Force aircraft, U.S. Army and U.S. Navy aircraft. (Ronald Hil/Courtesy of the U.S. Air Force)
