Air shows provide great entertainment

Dennis L. Clay/courtesy photo Having potable water (clean drinking water) available for air show attendees was a concern at past Fairchild air shows. Remember, strict security measures allow only bottled water with an unbroken seal to enter the show area. Refilling the bottles were not possible until this year. Relayed to me: The base engineers designed and built many refill stations, so the public could replenish the empty water bottles. This is one example. Ingenious, for sure. Fairchild allowed Million Air to pass bottled water only to uniformed airmen.

by Dennis L. Clay Herald Columnist
| June 27, 2019 6:52 PM

Two air shows in two weeks within 100 miles of each other. Wow, what great entertainment. Both special, unique and remarkable.

I understand we have signed the Moses Lake air show for two, or is it three, years. This is the type of annual event sure to build year after year.

It takes a few years to get on the schedule of even more top-named acts than we had this year.

Skyfest 2019, the Fairchild Air Force Base air show, was exceptional, as well.

Million Air, a fixed base operator at the Grant County Airport and at other airports across the nation, volunteered to donate and hand out water to the airmen on the flight line. General Manager Larry Godden transported their golf cart to Fairchild, where Larry, Garnet and I hand out bottled water. This is a big deal for Fairchild, the airmen and the three of us. A big thanks to Million Air for the donation of water and the use of the golf cart.

The big attraction at Fairchild was a demonstration of flying skill by a F-22 Raptor. The top speed is listed as 1,498 mph.

Of course, this one didn’t fly by at near the top speed, but it zooming by at my estimated speed of 300 mph. The maneuverability of this machine was the highlight of the show.

After passing by at stop speed, it headed straight up, like a rocket. It would then stop and hang in midair, what some call hanging on the afterburners. In another maneuver, the F-22 slowed and tilted to an up angle of around 45 degrees. The plane tiptoed by at a slow speed.

Another highlight was a demonstration of the P-51 Mustang. The WWII-era plane was impressive. There was a heritage flight with the Mustang flying along side the F-22.

Being able to attend two air shows in a one-week period and have them 100 miles apart was a wonderful experience. As mentioned before, suspect the Moses Lake air show will grow in attendance and participating acts as the years pass.

Mae Valley Cemetery

Received a call from Ruth Hinen Latham. She has taken upon herself the responsibility of maintaining the small cemetery in Mae Valley. This has been called the Hill Family Cemetery.

Buried there are George and Ella Hill and several others. There is a list somewhere, but I haven’t seen it in some time. Several of the deaths were because of the flu of 1918 era.

At the present time, there is only one headstone, but were others in years past. Any info about this cemetery would be appreciated by Ruth and the Grant County Historical Society.

Contact Ruth at: 509-350-9310 or me at: 509-762-5158 or dclay@atnet.net.