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Hundreds flock to Kirtland to watch military skydiving, aerobatics
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People sat in their lawn chairs and held loved ones while looking up at the sky where they saw the U.S. Army Parachute Team jump out of a plane and showcase their skills and planes — including a MiniJet — roar across the sky.
“It’s just a baby,” New Mexico Tech student Atticus Stewart said as the MiniJet flew upside down before turning around and speeding past the spectators.
“The Minijet is over 1,000 pounds lighter and 60 mph faster than any current Indy car,” an announcer said.
“No way,” Stewart said. “That’s crazy.”
Stewart was one of hundreds of people to attend the final day of the Kirtland Air Fiesta, which began Saturday at Kirtland Air Force Base. Base officials said 30,000 people attended the event on Saturday or Sunday.
Aside from jumps by the U.S. Army Parachute Team — also known as the Golden Knights — people watched the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team from Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina perform as well as a comprehensive showcase by the 58th Special Operations Wing, including the MC-130, AC-130, HC-130, HH-60, Huey and CV-22 aircraft. They also saw a F-35 fighter jet, a fifth-generation stealth plane, zoom across the clear skies.
The event also included live demonstrations and “static demonstrations,” where guests went inside military aircraft including the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye and B-52 Stratofortress.
“It is a good historical footprint of aviation history,” said Greg Holmes with the Roadrunner Convoy, an event participant.
Albuquerque resident Ashley Dunbar said she was glad to be back at Air Fiesta, which last took place in 2019.
“It brings back a sense of normalcy, after years of social distancing and the pandemic and all that,” she said.
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The event also provided a chance for 6-year-old Cora Scott to see the planes and jets, which she said “are really cool.”
“This is her opportunity to get up close to something she always admires in the sky,” said Cora Scott’s mother, Marla Scott.
It is also a way for people to get to see another side of the military.
“It almost makes it to where they’re real people,” Marla Scott said.
Kirtland wanted to make sure people in the community had a chance to see what it does and to “come out and experience” all the different aircraft it has, Air Fiesta director, Lt. Col. Andrew Freitag, said in an interview, adding “we’re thinking” the event could take place every two years.
South Valley resident Marie Trujillo said she attended the event because she loves looking at military planes and wanted to honor her brother who served in the military.
“This is awesome,” she said. “This keeps the kids busy and it’s entertaining.”
As Trujillo’s grandson, Malekai McMurray, 14, looked at the planes, he said, “I would love to be in one, one day.”
