MacDill Airfest 2022

Anne-Marie Woolsey

For the fi rst time since 2018, MacDill Air Force Base was back open to the public for Tampa Bay Airfest. Entrance and parking for the event held Mar. 26-27 was free to the public. The Airfest scheduled in 2020 was canceled due to the pandemic. This year, more than 150,000 people attended.

Airfest was an opportunity for people to tour aircraft on base and watch air shows, including the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels. The Tampa Bay Airfest highlights all fi ve branches of the United States military and fi rst responders. Many military and civilian pilots demonstrated their piloting skills. Towards the end of the event, the United States Navy Blue Angels delivered a thrilling, precision-based, exhilarating performance that brought cheers of joy to the audience. The crowd attending exuberated a “proud to be an American” display of pride and gratifi cation. Division 7 supported the Tampa Bay Airfest event on March 26 and 27 with an amazing strategic booth positioned perfectly with a lot of traffi c fl ow inside of Hanger 3 which was the center of it all. Our booth contained a multitude of informational fl yers, brochures, and giveaways such as coloring books, stickers, pens, and wristbands. We spoke with hundreds of people about boating safety and the United States Guard Auxiliary opportunities to volunteer. Many people visited our booth to ask questions, learn more about our organization, visit former military personnel, or explore future possibilities for themselves or for their children. We had many individuals interested in joining our organization. What a fabulous event! Ω Source: Scuttlebutt, the newsletter for Flotilla 78, St. Pete Beach Flotilla 78 Florida, March 2022 edition, Ann-Marie Woolsey, editor

Captions:Top of pages 8-9: EL CENTRO, CALIF. (Feb. 26, 2021) The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, and the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, conduct 2nd Annual Joint Training to exchange best practices and lessons learned for show season preparation onboard Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, Feb. 26, 2021. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Drew Verbis/Released)

Below right: Some of the MacDill Airfest 2022 Auxiliary participants talk to members of the public. Pictured from left are Val Fernandes, Flotilla 78, St. Pete Beach; Amber Porter, Flotilla 72, St. Petersburg; Jonathan Laronge, Staff Offi cer-Public Aff airs, Division 8; Tony Novellino, Flotilla 78, St. Pete Beach.

Below left: Anthony Novellino and Val Fernandes. United States Coast Guard Auxiliary photos by Anne-Marie Woolsey.