Air Force Week New York City Begins 8~19~2012

In Celebration Of Air Force Week: Fly-overs, Falconry, Music, Canine Security Demos And More At Pier 86 Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum In Manhattan And Throughout NYC's 5 Burroughs

U.S. Air Force Week New York City Begins 8~19~2012
Press Release Number: 040812
 
8/16/2012 - New York City, NY -- Numerous events showcasing America's Airmen

Air Force Week New York City will be held Aug. 19-21 with various displays, flyovers, band concerts and more throughout the city's five boroughs. 

Air Force Week brings Airmen to New York neighborhoods showcasing American's Airmen and telling their stories. It gives Airmen an opportunity to thank New Yorkers for their support of Airmen around the world. There are more than 32,000 New York natives serving in the Air Force today.

The week's events kick off with a proclamation ceremony announcing Air Force Week from the city presided by Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley. 

Participating in the ceremony will be Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano, and NBC News Anchor Lester Holt. 

The event, open to media and invited guests, will be held at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum in Manhattan Aug. 19 at 1 p.m. and will include a flyby of the U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Team, The Thunderbirds.

Main Attractions:
-Interactive Air Force Displays will be set up from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 19-21 on Pier 86 of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in Manhattan. Free to the public. A list of displays is included at the end of this release.

Sports Venues:
- Air Force night at the New York Yankees game Aug. 18 at 4 p.m. at Yankee Stadium will feature an aircraft flyover by The Thunderbirds, The USAF Honor Guard Color Team, USAF Ceremonial Brass, a vocal performance of the National Anthem and God Bless America, and an Air Force Hero Recognition Ceremony.

- Air Force night at the New York Jets versus New York Giants game Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. at Met Life Stadium will feature The USAF Honor Guard Color Team presenting colors for the National Anthem.

- Air Force night at the New York Red Bulls match Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Red Bull arena in Harrison, N.J., will feature a performance by The USAF Honor Guard Color Team, and a vocal performance of the National Anthem.

- Air Force night at the New York Mets game Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. at Citi Field will feature an aircraft flyover by The Thunderbirds, The USAF Honor Guard Color Team, USAF Ceremonial Brass, and a vocal performance of the National Anthem and God Bless America.

- Air Force night at the Brooklyn Cyclones game Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. at MCU Park will feature an aircraft flyover by an F-22 "Raptor," a vocal performance of the National Anthem, The USAF Honor Guard Color Team, and a demonstration by The USAF Honor Guard Drill Team.

Activities:
- An HH-60 helicopter and a pararescue team from New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing on Long Island will conduct an open water rescue demonstration in the Hudson River at 2:45 p.m. following the proclamation ceremony Aug. 19 on Pier 86 of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in Manhattan.

- The Air Force is hosting a FREE MOVIE NIGHT at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, featuring the movie Red Tails. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20. The movie starts at 8:30 p.m. Free to the public.

- Airmen from the Tri-State area will ring the closing bell at the New York Mercantile Exchange Aug. 16.

- The Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team is the traveling component of The USAF Honor Guard and inspires Air Force awareness among military and civilian audiences through its complex drill routine. In all they do, the Drill Team personifies the integrity, discipline, teamwork, and professionalism of every Airman and every Air Force mission. During The USAF Honor Guard's more than 60-year history, the Drill Team has performed in every state of the union and many countries abroad. The following performances are scheduled:
- Aug. 19 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Pier 86 of the Intrepid
- Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. at Back to the Beach at Midland Beach on Staten Island
- Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. on Pier 86 of the Intrepid
- Aug. 20 at 5:50 p.m. at the Brooklyn War Memorial, Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn
- Aug. 21 at 3:50 p.m. at the South Street Seaport in Manhattan

Music Attractions:
- The United States Air Force Band "Max Impact" is the premier rock band of the United States Air Force, featuring the band's seven members perform exciting original music, rock, country, patriotic favorites as well as classic and current pop hits. Free for the public performances:
- Aug. 19 at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Pier 86 of the Intrepid
- Aug. 20 at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Pier 86 of the Intrepid
- Aug. 21 at 3 p.m. at the South Street Seaport

- The Blue Aces from the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band take great pride in their specialized, fast-paced performances and draw from a broad palette of musical and cultural backgrounds. Free for the public performances:
- Aug. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Back to the Beach at Midland Beach
- Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. at the Brooklyn War Memorial, Cadman Plaza
- Aug. 21 at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Pier 86 of the Intrepid

Exhibits at Pier 86 of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum:
- Falcon & Falconer - Sports audiences across the country have been intrigued and delighted by the aerobatics of the falcon, flying mascot of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Trained and handled by cadet falconers, the birds soar and dive, sometimes zooming low over the heads of spectators. A falcon and its handler will be on hand at various venues throughout the city.

- Portraits in Courage Airmen - People will have a chance to directly interact with five Airmen the Air Force has recognized for showing exceptional valor in combat and exemplifying the warrior ethos. An official announcement of who is being recognized will occur at the opening ceremony.

- Air Force Global Strike Command - AFSGC will feature a display at the Intrepid showing their mission: Develop and provide combat-ready forces for nuclear deterrence and global strike operations...Safe, Secure, Effective...to support the President of the United States and combatant commanders.

- Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst - Airmen from nearby JBMDL will feature the following displays: Explosive Ordinance Disposal display with a high-mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV, or "Humvee"); bomb robot and bomb suit; Air Force firefighters and their fire truck.

- Security Forces Working Dogs - Military police and their working dogs from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst will be on hand throughout Air Force Week showing how they work together to thwart security threats directed against military enterprises. Handlers will demonstrate the abilities of their military working dogs, including the dog's pursuit, attack and release of an assailant.

- Air Force Supercars - Built by seven highly-specialized Airmen with a world-renowned team of car mechanics and customizers from Galpin Auto Sports of MTV's "Pimp My Ride" fame, two supercars will showcase the Air Force ingenuity, state-of-the art-technology, and imagination. The X-1 is a fully-customized Ford Mustang and is all about power and speed with a central drive system with a real F-16 ejection seat. The Vapor is a fully-customized Dodge Challenger and is all about the cyberspace and technology aspect of the Air Force.

- Medical Technology - The Air Force Medical Service is a vital member of the Military Health Service and the AFSG's booth will showcase three features: Medical Theater Readiness with trauma and critical care displays; Aeromedical evacuation with Airmen and equipment used to transport patients from the battlefield to medical centers; and Wounded Warrior Resiliency, a focus on how the body and mind are treated post-return.

- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) booth with six interactive, multi-media displays and briefings throughout the day covering dozens of topics related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

- Reserve Officers' Training Corps - ROTC cadets and a U.S. Air Force Academy liaison officer will be on hand to answer questions about each commissioning source.

- Air Education and Training Command - AETC's tent with showcase how the Air Force educates and trains its Airmen.

- Command Center Alpha is a first-of-its-kind augmented reality experience that immerses visitors in the "Sci-Fi" world of the United States Air Force. Visitors explore areas of Air Force expertise via 3D computer graphics, videos, audio, and digital downloads. Along the way they discover the many roles the Air Force plays in today's
military, as well as several of the career opportunities they can pursue. By using cutting-edge technology like augmented reality and RFID in this tour, Command Center Alpha offers a rich educational experience that illustrates the high-tech nature of the Air Force. Each visitor is given an iPad where they can experience all of the amazing things the Air Force does through the cutting edge technology of Augmented Reality.

For up-to-date event information, check out the Air Force Week website, www.airforceweek.af.mil, visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AirForceNYC or follow us @AirForceNYC and #AFWeek on Twitter.

Media interested in covering events should contact 212-784-0147 or email Big.Apple-02@us.af.mil

Media needing photos can visit the following link:
Photos from 2010's New York Air Force Week:
http://www.airforceweek.af.mil/photos/mediagallery.asp?galleryID=8785

Air Force Week is a program endorsed by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force that provides the opportunity to show and tell civic leaders, opinion leaders and the general public what we do, while at the same time, demonstrating our gratitude to the communities which support the Air Force by engaging in events what help give back to the community.

Air Force Weeks occur at select locations and showcase our Airmen and their amazing capabilities to many Americans who do not have day-to-day contact with the Air Force. As only the second Air Force Week held in New York City, this is a premier platform to help communicate our Airmen's heroic stories. The first Air Force Week in New York was in 2010.
- USAF -