Top Air Show Returns to SJAFB North Carolina May 20-21

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AFB – GOLDSBORO, NC – Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the 4th Fighter Wing and military aviation in North Carolina, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base will open its gates to the public for the biennial Wings Over Wayne County Air Show, Saturday and Sunday, May 20-21, 2017.

Headlining the air show will be The Blue Angels, the US Navy’s premier aerial demonstration team, performing a myriad of precise formations and maneuvers in six distinctive blue and yellow F/A-18 Hornet aircraft. Soaring at speeds of 120 to 700 mph, pilots will exhibit their extensive training and aircraft capability through a variety of extreme passes, rolls, tight turns, opposing passes, inverted flying, belly-to-belly flight, wingtip-to-wingtip formations, and the famous Diamond and Delta configurations.

“Wings Over Wayne is the top air show on the East Coast,” said 2017 Air Show Director Maj. Matthew R. Olde. “We’re looking forward to opening our doors and showcasing our air power and base with everyone.” In 2015, the air show at Seymour Johnson AFB attracted over 220,000 spectators featuring the US Air Force Thunderbirds.

The Wings Over Wayne family-friendly weekend includes a 20,000 square feet Kids’ Zone, occupying one of the largest aircraft hangars on the base. A $5 admission charge covers access to more than 15 attractions for the entire day, among them the Blue Angel Aircraft Carrier Slide, the 36 ft. Turbo Shuttle Slide, Space Camp Combo, Adventures in Aviation, Extreme Air Power Jump, the 52-ft Obstacle Course, and a lot more.

Seymour Johnson gates open at 8 AM. Ceremonies and demonstrations begin at 10 AM. Here is the tentative schedule for both May 20 and 21:

10:00 (Air Boss: George Cline)
• Opening Ceremonies / Demonstrations Begin
• National Anthem by Danika Portz
• US Army Special Forces Black Daggers Parachute Demonstration Team
• F-15E Strike Eagle Flyover (4-ship)
• Smoke-n-Thunder Jet Truck
• Jacquie B Air Shows

10:40
• B-2 Spirit Flyover (Saturday only)
• Kevin Coleman Aerosports
• The Lima Lima Flight Demonstration Team (6-ship T-34 Beechcraft)
• T-33 Acemaker
• Bill Stein Airshows

12:10
• Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Demonstration Team
• Mike Wiskus with Lucas Oil Airshows Biplane Aerobatic Demonstration

12:40
• Tora! Tora! Tora! A re-creation of the attack on Pearl Harbor, featuring Japanese Zero aircraft
• Kevin Coleman and Bill Stein Combined Performances
• Combined Arms Demo featuring F-15E Strike Eagle; F-16 Viper; A-10 Warthog; T-38 Talon; and a JTAC ground coordinated demo

13:30
• F-15E Load Crew Demo
• Air Force Drill Team Performance
• Heritage Flight featuring P-51D Mustang; F-22 Raptor; A-10 Warthog
• F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team
• 4th Fighter Wing 75th Anniversary Review Flight
• Jet Truck Race

15:00
• US Navy Blue Angels Demonstration Team

Getting on base:

OAK FOREST GATE (MAIN PARKING AREA):
From the North: Highways 13 and 117 – Take 70 bypass east, turn right on Oak Forest Road.
From the West: Highway 70 – Take 70 bypass, turn right on to Oak Forest Road.
From the South: Highways 13 and 117 – Take 70 bypass, turn right on to Oak Forest Road.
From the East: Highway 70 – Take 70 bypass, turn left on to Oak Forest Road.

BERKELEY GATE (SECONDARY PARKING AREA):
From the North: Highway 13 runs directly into the Berkeley Boulevard gate. Those coming via Highway 117 north should take Highway 70 bypass east to Berkeley Blvd.
From the South: Highways 13 and 117 – Take 70 bypass,turn right on to Berkeley Blvd.
From the West: Highway 70 – Take 70 bypass, turn right on to Berkeley Blvd.
From the East: Highway 70 – Take 70 bypass, turn left on to Berkeley Blvd.

The Oak Forest and Berkeley Gates will be open to the public May 20-21 at 8 a.m. The Oak Forest Gate will be open to inbound traffic until 2 p.m. The Berkley Gate will be open to inbound traffic until 6 p.m.

Static displays include the: F-15E Strike Eagle; F-35 Lightning II; F-22 Raptor; A-10 Thunderbolt II; F-16 Fighting Falcon; F/A 18 E/F Super Hornet; C-17 Globemaster III; AH-60 Blackhawk; KC-135 Stratotanker; C-5 Galaxy; E-3 Sentry “AWACS”; T-38 Talon; T-1A Jayhawk; T-6A Texan II; KC-10; B-52H; C-130; CV-22; exotic automobiles; Civil Air Patrol; NC Highway Patrol; NASCAR; Vietnam-era helicopters; P-51 Mustang; Boeing Stearman; British Aerospace Bulldog; T-35; and, American Champion aircraft.

Additional displays include the SJAFB military working dogs, the Air Force Rifle Team, flight simulators, military equipment and other vehicles from several branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Seymour Johnson AFB gates will open at 8 AM on Saturday and Sunday, May 20 and 21. There will be free water distribution sites located throughout the flight line. Food, beverages, and souvenirs will be available for purchase. Admission and parking are free. 
Day passes for the Kids’ Zone are $5. Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is home to the 4th Fighter Wing, consisting of approximately 7,000 people and 95 multi-role F-15E Strike Eagles. Formerly commanded by Chuck Yeager, the 4th Fighter Wing is one of the largest wings in the United States Air Force and has a highly decorated history spanning seven decades.

Photo Gallery and Press Archive

Wings Over Wayne Website

Media contact:

4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
P. 919-722-0027
E. 4fw.pa.mediaops@us.af.mil

Robert B Butler
North Carolina Press Release
www.NCPressRelease.org
www.RBButler.com

Permission granted for reprint and redistribution