Skyfest ’04 – 75 Years of Air Refueling and Spokane Aviation at Fairchild AFB, Spokane, WA
24-25 July 2004

Well over 100,000 airshow fans attended the 2004 Inland Northwest SkyFest at the Fairchild AFB in Spokane, WA on 24-25 July 2004.   Braving temperatures well over 100°F, the fans were not disappointed in this year's world class lineup of performers that flew throughout the day. 

Headlining the event were the USAF Thunderbirds.   Other performers included Fairchild's own 92 ARW in their KC-135R Stratotanker and 36 RQS in their UH-1N.    Saturday's airshow started with Manfred Radius entertaining the crowd with his bicycle and clown routine followed by a rocket demonstration.   The USAFA Wings of Blue Parachute Team flew in the flag during the National Anthem while 92nd Air Refueling Wing Commander, Colonel Tony Mauer welcomed everyone to Fairchild AFB.   

The theme for this year's event was celebrating 75 years of aviation in Spokane.   The first flyby of the Saturday was by a 1929 Curtiss Robin and was followed by the landing of the USCG HC-130 Hercules that provided a jump platform for USAFA Wings of Blue.  Performances continued throughout the day and included Tim Weber in the Geico Extra 300, Greg Poe in the Edge 540, Julie Clark in the MOPAR T-34, Manfred Radius, Bill Shepherd in the YAK 11, a USAF A-10A Thunderbolt II flyby conducted by Davis Monthan AFB, a USCG Search & Rescue Demonstration from CGAS Astoria in their HH-60J Jayhawk, a warbird flight by the Cascade Warbirds, the USAF F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team, flybys from Greg Anders in the P-51, a P-51 demo from John Bagley in "Ole Yeller", the USAF Heritage Flight with the F-15 and Major General (Ret.) Bill Anders, the USAF T-6A Texan II West Coast Demonstration Team, a Texan Flight with the T-6A and Alan Anders in the SNJ, a squirrel cage routine between Greg Poe and Tim Weber, and concluding the activities on Saturday were the USAF Thunderbirds. 

Sunday's airshow was a little different as the USAF Thunderbirds flew in the middle of the airshow due to having to leave for Cheyenne in the afternoon.   Manfred Radius flew his parasail to open the show and Bill Shepherd flew the YAK 11 prior to the opening ceremonies for the day.  The Wings of Blue started the day off a flag jump and national anthem sung by a member of the Tops in Blue.   The Sunday show topped out at 107°F on the ramp but well over 60,000 attended on Sunday alone.   Flying continued throughout the day with the same performances as on Saturday with the addition of a T-33 Shooting Star in Blue Angel colors that also performed some flybys.   The airshow concluded on Sunday with the USAF F-15 Demo team and Heritage Flight. 

Static displays were abundant this year and featured a great variety of aircraft.   The USAF brought in aircraft such as the F-16C Fighting Falcon, F-15E Strike Eagle, C-5B Galaxy, B-52H Stratofortress, KC-135R Stratotanker, T-1A Jayhawk, A-10A Thunderbolt II, UH-1N Iroquois, T-37B Tweet, and C-21 Learjet.    The USMC was present with a T-45C Goshawk and the US Navy had an F-18E Super Hornet on display.  The Washington Army National Guard brought in a UH-60 Blackhawk for display from Spokane and civilian aircraft included the Curtiss Robin, numerous Cascade Warbirds such as the L-39C Albatross, FM2 Wildcat, C-45G Expeditor, PT-26, L-17s, and DHC-1 Chipmunk.   Canada also participated with a CF-18 Hornet and brilliantly colored CH-124 Sea King. 

Colonel Bob Burns (Ret.) provided the announcing of the event with great enthusiasm and attention to detail with all of the performers.