PARIS –
The world's longest-established aerospace event comes to a close today after hundreds of thousands of people viewed the best of what aviation has to offer.
The 49th International Paris Air Show, which began more than 100 years ago, opened June 20 with four trade show days and three public days at the Le Bourget Airport about 10 miles north of downtown Paris.
Held every two years, the event provided an opportunity for the United States to showcase the Department of Defense's people, aircraft and equipment on an international stage.
Marine Corps Staff Sgt. James Lawrence, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 (HMLA-169) from Camp Pendleton, Calif., coordinated with the C-5 crews to help ensure his helos and personnel arrived at the show.
"Working with all the other services and components that are part of the air show here has been an experience," said Sergeant Lawrence, who noted that the HMLA-169 returned from a deployment to Afghanistan at the end of May. "I've been able to learn a lot about the Air Force aircraft, as well as the commercial aircraft. It's been cool to see (everything). It makes me feel really good to represent the Marine Corps out here at the Paris Air Show."
Sergeant Lawrence added that many of the air show visitors were curious about the mission of the helicopters, where they are the assigned and how many people can fly in each aircraft.
The U.S. aircraft was nestled among the numerous civil and international military aircraft. People who stopped by the U.S. military corral had the opportunity to see 11 aircraft up close. Each service member stood ready to give tours and tell visitors about the aircraft they fly and maintain.
Among the masses that visited the event and U.S. corral, were Steven and Sheila Waters from Atlanta, Ga. The honeymooners this was their first visit to Paris and the air show.
"We planned our wedding and honeymoon around the air show," Mr. Waters said, who noted that the last time he saw U.S. Air Force aircraft was at the 2007 Moscow Air Show.
Various models of U.S. military aircraft and equipment and approximately 100 aircrew and support personnel from bases in Europe and the United States supported this event.
"We are excited to see the flying demonstrations," said Mrs. Waters, who thanked all the service members to which she spoke. "It's good to see the U.S. military represented here. It's evident that the people here really like to see these aircraft close up, because the lines are so long."
The aircraft on static display at the show included the Army's RQ-7 Shadow UAV and CH-47F Chinook, the Marine Corps' AH-1Z Zulu and UH-1Y Yankee, the Air Force's F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16C Fighting Falcon, C-130J Super Hercules and C-17A Globemaster and C-5M Super Galaxy, and MQ-9 Predator B (Guardian) unmanned aircraft system, operated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard for the Department of Homeland Security.