Air Force Thunderbirds offer flight opportunity for local hero

  • Published
  • By 051910
(Barnes Air National Guard Base, 104 Fighter Wing - Westfield, Mass.) --  On Aug. 21 and 22, 2010, the 104th Fighter Wing in conjunction with the Barnes Municipal Airport will host the Westfield International Air Show, at which the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform.

The Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force aerial demonstration team, are looking for a member of the local community who is deserving of an opportunity to receive an orientation ride with their team the Friday before the show through a program titled the 'Home Town Hero program'.

The 'Home Town Hero program' is designed to highlight a member of the local area who has given of themselves to better the community. A local hero will receive an opportunity to take a one-hour Thunderbird orientation flight in one of the world's premiere fighter jets-the Lockheed Martin F-16D.

Heroes might include, but are not limited to: an average citizen who heroically saved a life; a renowned teacher; a community humanitarian; a local firefighter, paramedic or police officer; one who mentors children or volunteers as a coach or tutor in a youth program; or someone who dedicates their life to working with at-risk children.

All nominations are being collected through the Westfield Air Show Website www.westfieldairshow.net. Nominations may be made through the 'contact us'
section of the website in a message limited to 100 words, identifying who the nominee is and why they may be deserving of this opportunity. After the initial nominations are made, a selection committee will select 10 nominations and solicit supplemental information to include a list of 3 references that can substantiates the nomination. If heroic actions are the bases for the nomination, official documentation will also be required (a newspaper article, a police report, etc.)

The nominations will be collected until June 15th at which point finalists will be chosen and medically qualified for the flight opportunity. The finalist and a runner up will be unit's guest at the Air Show and the finalist will be given the opportunity to participate in an orientation flight with the US Air Force Thunderbirds. The flight is subject to cancellation for operational and maintenance reasons, or for weather.