Team MacDill participates in Honduran Air Show

  • Published
  • By Capt. Shane Huff
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Aircrew and maintenance members from Team MacDill provided support to an F-16 Demo Team 16-21 June for an airshow in Honduras. 

The following individuals represented the 6th Air Mobility Wing and 927th Air Refueling Wing, Maj. Nathan R. Diaz, Capt. Tyrone S. Frost, Capt. Isaiah L. Oppelaar, Tech. Sgt Heath A. Hampton, Tech. Sgt Max M. Langford, Tech. Sgt Leon L. Snow, and Tech. Sgt Scott L. Vandenberg during a recent airshow in Honduras.

 The crew flew to McEntire Air National Guard Station, S.C. to pick up four pallets and ten demo team personnel then proceeded to San Pedro, Honduras.  The airshow was held at San Pedro Sula International Airport and consisted of a media day, for local media to tour all the aircraft, and then a two day open to the public show.  Although this was a support mission to the F-16 Demo Team, the KC-135 Stratotanker became a big hit  with the locals at the airshow.

"The purpose of this airshow was to raise money for a local hospital in Honduras," said Maj. Diaz, the mission commander. "People paid a small fee to enter the show which was held at San Pedro Sula International Airport."  Approximately 10,000 people attended the two day airshow.  "I'm willing to bet everyone attending the show looked at our tanker.  They lined up for hours just to see our jet, and most sat in the shadow of our aircraft in an effort to escape the blistering heat while waiting to come aboard."

The airshow also consisted of the U.S. Air Force F-16 Demo Team, a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter, Honduran Air Force AT-37's and F-5's, and a few civilian biplanes.  The crew left the day before a national political crisis in Honduras escalated. 

"Going to Central America was a good experience for our aircrew as it was different from our normal runs.  We were able to display our mission capabilities to their civilian and military populace," said Diaz.  "The highlight was seeing the look on people's faces when escorting them through our aircraft. Although the airframe is 50 years old, the avionics upgrades are modern and the Honduran people don't get to see that kind of technology very often, if at all. The language barrier was an issue, but overall it was a worthwhile process."