Fighter Wing to take 'hero' on supersonic ride of lifetime

Date: 5/26/2010

May 26, 2010

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WESTFIELD - Ever had a childhood fantasy of flying at supersonic speeds 30,000 feet above the city? Now's the time to fulfill that dream.

The Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force aerial demonstration team, is looking for one lucky person in the Valley to serve as the Home Town Hero at the Westfield International Air Show this summer. The lucky winner will take a one-hour Thunderbird orientation flight in a Lockheed Martin F-16D while also serving as the 104th Fighter Wing's special guest at the show.

"This is a stellar opportunity for the unit to recognize a local hero," Maj. Matthew Mutti, executive staff officer for the 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, said. "It's the chance of a lifetime to be recognized this type of program.

"We're bound to receive hundreds of nominations but we can only pick one," he continued. "There's no price that can be put on this experience."

Nominees can be adults who have heroically saved a life, an outstanding educator, a humanitarian, a medical professional or mentor, Mutti noted.

Nominations can be made now via the air show's Web site, www.westfieldairshow.net, and must include a message of 100 words or less detailing why such a person should be the Home Town Hero. Click on the "contact us" link to submit nominations.

All nominations must be received by June 15. A committee will then select 10 finalists and solicit additional information from three references as well as medical clearance.

The runner-up will also accompany the Home Town Hero as the Wing's special guest at the air show on Aug. 20 and 21.

For more information about the 2010 Westfield International Air Show, visit www.westfieldairshow.net or follow the 104th via Facebook, www.facebook.com/barnes.ang.