It’s a bird, It’s a plane, It’s an Air Show Published July 27, 2006 By Tim Rodenberger Public affairs Grand Forks AFB, ND -- The sun shined against the flightline at Bravo ramp as several airframes sat awaiting the thousands of visitors that would come. In an area normally off-limits to most base personnel, the flightline at Grand Forks Air Force Base July 22 held an estimated 40,000 as the base put on the "Thunder over the Red River" air show. License plates in the parking lot indicated visitors came in from all over the region including South Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba, Canada. Before the gates opened at 9 a.m., Derek Verwymeren of Winnipeg, Canada, glanced up in awe at the massive fuselage of the C-5 Galaxy, the largest airframe in the Air Force's arsenal. Noticing Derek's intrigue, his father walked up besides him and explained the significance of the C-5, how it transported tanks, helicopters and troops around the world for various operations. Derek was one of the many Canadian tourists that made the trek down to Grand Forks for the air show. Later, during the playing of the national nnthem, American spectators and military personnel looked on as the Canadian tourists placed their hands over their hearts in respect of their neighbors. In one amazing moment, neighbors from both nations were united despite political and cultural differences; united under the banner of the Air Force. After the team leader of the Army Black Daggers parachute demonstration team landed on the flightline with the American flag and the national anthem concluded, "Thunder over the Red River" began and the events commenced. The show included acts from the East Coast F-15 Demonstration Team from Langley Air Force Base, Va., to the Black Dagger parachute team to the United States Air Force Thunderbirds. On the ground, spectators were treated to demonstrations and displays from the Air Station Traverse City Coast Guard AH-65 Dolphin crew, the NASA DC-8 Flying Science Laboratory and Grand Forks Air Force Base's KC-135 Stratotankers. Tourists could tour the KC-135s to enhance their knowledge of the 319th Air Refuleing Wing's mission and how it affects the overall mission of the Air Force. Families enjoyed the various services and vendors spread out over both Bravo and Charlie ramps; a father and son enjoying a hot dog together, prior servicemembers showing their grandchildren which aircraft they served aboard, children pretending to be refueling pilots in the cockpits of the static KC-135 or posing for a photo with mascots. In addition, the John Terry Heritage Foundation displayed a vintage World War II B-25 Mitchell, raffling off tickets to win a ride later that day. John Terry, co-owner of the B-25, answered questions from curious children about the older craft such as, what the markings meant and did it ever see combat. Tom Bales was showing his granddaughter Lindsay the B-25 as one of the many aircraft he maintained during World War II. Lindsay climbed up into the cockpit, grasped the controls and said, "Look grandpa! I'm saving the world just like you!" At the end of the fun-filled day as the people walked back to their cars to go home, the demonstration teams and display owners packed up to prepare for their next show to teach young and old alike about the history of the military and its aircraft.