HARRISON TOWNSHIP (WWJ) - The Team Selfridge Open House and Air Show is ready to host a number of military demonstrations in the air and on the tarmac in July as they welcome back the public for the first time in over five years.
The air show - set for July 9-10 - is expected to draw large crowds at the Selfridge Air National Guard base in Harrison Township and the public aren't the only ones excited for the air show's return.
“It’s going to be great to have people back to see what their hometown’s military are doing," Major Mark Vaught said to the Macomb Daily. "Every branch of the military will be represented.”
Brig. Gen. Rolf Mammen also expressed excitement for the event which will feature eight hours of aerial demonstrations and performances over the course of two days.
“We are happy to once again welcome the public inside our gates free of charge for this extraordinary event,” said the 127th Wing commander said. “This year’s theme is ‘The Next 100 Years,’ and we are delighted to feature the Air Combat F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team as one of our headline acts.”
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Vaught explained that the significance of the theme highlights where the U.S. military is headed in regards to the types of technology that is being developed.
The air show will feature aircraft and equipment of the 127th Wing, to include A-10 Thunderbolt II, Army National Guard’s CH-47 Chinook helicopter, the U.S. Coast Guard’s HH65 Dolphin helicopter and Vaught’s KC-135 Stratotanker.
"You'll see high speed chases, tight turns. They’re going to be pushing their airplanes to the limits,” Vaught said of the pilots behind the aircraft highlighted in the event. “I know they’re not allowed to break the speed of sound, but they will be flying at high speeds.”
The SANG last held an air show in August of 2017 to conjunction with celebrations in honor of the base's 100 year anniversary. Vaught said they were forced to cancel the air show due to the COVID-19 pandemic and this will be the first event held at the base in five years.
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SANG greatly contributes to the local economy from its location in Macomb County. The base boasts over 70 tenants and 5,000 military and civilian personnel and annual reports estimate the base's impact to be around $850 million per year.
Officials said the gates are scheduled to open at 8 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on July 9th and 10th; the event is free to the public, but preferred seating can be reserved for an additional cost.
Aerial performances are set to start at 11 a.m.
For more information about the show visit, teamselfridge.com/faqs/.
