Airfest 2011 this Weekend at Tampa’s MacDill Air Base

The USAF Thunderbirds. Photo courtesy of the Air Force website.

The KC-135 Stratotanker is an everyday sight at Macdill Air Force Base, home to the 6th Air Mobility Wing. But, this weekend the C-135s will have company. The skies over Tampa will be filled with demonstration flights by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, a B-25 Mitchell Bomber and a P-51 Mustang among other aircraft.

It’s the annual MacDill AirFest is Saturday and Sunday. The gates at Dale Mabry Boulevard and MacDill Avenue open at 8 a.m. to the public with opening ceremonies planned at 9 a.m. both days. Once the spectator parking is full, the gates will close however and the base will only be accessible for the general public by foot or on public transportation.

There’s also a schedule of events. Some highlights:

• The Thunderbirds perform both days at 2:30 p.m. both days
• A U.S. Special Operations Command Jump at 9:05 a.m. and Parachute Team Demo at 2 p.m. both days
• A KC-135 Stratotanker fly-over at 10:20 a.m.

Be sure to check the Frequently Asked Questions page for a list of suggested items to bring and what not to bring.