Virginia AFA Leads the Way at JBA Air Show

The Joint Base Andrews Air Show, held September 12-14, included the return of AFA as a sponsor and exhibitor for the first time since before the COVID pandemic. Showcasing a collaboration between local AFA Chapters, the National AFA Headquarters, Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings, and the Civil Air Patrol, this event marked a return by AFA in nearly a decade.

The JBA Air Show is one of the very largest on the East Coast: Attendance over the weekend exceeded 150,000 persons. The show included aircraft displays—ranging from the modern era to the Warbirds of World War ll—and demonstrations from various aircraft and performers, including the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team. The event was underpinned by an incredible display of flying precision by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the Air Force’s Demonstration Squadron.

Three local AFA Chapters attended to represent the association at the AFA tent: the Gabriel and Steele chapters, both located in Northern Virginia, and the Anthony Chapter in Maryland. Volunteers were on site all weekend, passing out T-shirts and other swag while representing AFA to guests and encouraging them to become involved. The Gabriel Chapter also provided five pallets of water bottles (4,000 bottles) to the Airmen and Guardians who were volunteering during the hot weather.

Arnold Air Society cadets volunteered at AFA’s tents as well, hailing from the Frank P. Lahm Squadron at the University of Maryland, and the Andrew T. Turner Squadron at Howard University. Volunteers also included community STEM partners and National AFA staff members.

“This event was the clear and unequivocal demonstration of the power of collaboration across a variety of elements of AFA,” said Mike Maxwell, the AFA Virginia State President. “No single Chapter  in the National Capital Region (NCR) could have pulled this  off independently. However, when we combined forces across chapter and state boundaries we were able to execute a highly successful event. It has provided us with a model for future expanded support to this Air Show as well as a model for other events in the NCR—it really was an amazing team effort.”