News United States Air Force
 Thunder Over Dover 2022 reunites communityPublished May 25, 2022
                        
                        By Roland Balik
                        
                        
                        436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
                **DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AFNS)  --**
                **Dover Air Force Base** held the 2022 Thunder Over Dover Airshow and Open House, in which the base to host more than 75,000 members of the community, May 21-22.
The theme of this year’s event was “Reunite” and coincided with **Armed Forces Day**, the Air Force’s **75th anniversary** and featured the co-headlining acts of the **U.S. Navy Blue Angels**, and the U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron “**Thunderbirds**.”Gymnasts from Fly High gym perform during the 2022 Thunder Over Dover Airshow, May 22, 2022, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The show featured more than 20 different military and civilian aircraft static displays as well as performances from local community members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. J.D. Strong II)Gymnasts from Fly High gym perform during the 2022 Thunder Over Dover Airshow May 22, 2022, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The show featured more than 20 different military and civilian aircraft static displays as well as performances from local community members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. J.D. Strong II)
            
            
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“This year is kind of unique. We have two jet teams, it’s kind of unheard of,” said Lt. Col. David Caswell, 436th Operations Group chief of standardization and evaluation and this year’s airshow director. “It’s the only show in America that is planned with the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds [being at the same airshow in 2022].”
In addition to the two headliners, the open house featured modern and vintage aircraft, static displays and aerial demonstrations including the U.S. Marine Corps Harrier demonstration team and a flyover by a **B-2 Spirit**.
“It’s our opportunity to interact with our local community and give something back to them because they support us in a multitude of ways, and it’s our time to put a show on for them to demonstrate the capabilities of all Department of Defense assets and people, and really showcase our [Team] Dover Airmen,” Caswell said.A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III flies over the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, during the first day of the 2022 Thunder Over Dover Airshow, May 21, 2022, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The airshow’s theme was “Reunite,” in celebration of people coming together after the COVID-19 pandemic. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Faith Schaefer)A C-17 Globemaster III flies over the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds,” during the first day of the 2022 Thunder Over Dover Airshow May 21, 2022, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The airshow’s theme was “Reunite,” in celebration of people coming together after the COVID-19 pandemic. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Faith Schaefer)
            
            
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    Members of the Dover Air Force Base Honor Guard present the colors during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Thunder Over Dover Airshow, May 22, 2022, at Dover AFB, Delaware. The base opened its gates to more than 75,000 spectators for a free, two-day event to showcase the Air Force and the base’s mission of providing rapid global airlift every day of the year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mauricio Campino)Members of the Dover Air Force Base Honor Guard present the colors during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Thunder Over Dover Airshow, May 22, 2022, at Dover AFB, Del. The base opened its gates to more than 75,000 spectators for a free, two-day event showcasing the Air Force and the base’s mission of providing rapid global airlift every day of the year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mauricio Campino)
            
            
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    A child watches the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds while playing with a Thunderbird toy during the first day of the 2022 Thunder Over Dover Airshow, May 21, 2022, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The Thunderbirds performed precision flying maneuvers during the 2022 Thunder Over Dover Open House and Airshow May 21-22. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Sabatino DiMascio)A child plays with a toy F-16 Fighting Falcon as real F-16s from the U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds” fly overhead during the first day of the 2022 Thunder Over Dover Airshow May 21, 2022, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The airshow’s theme was “Reunite,” in celebration of people coming together after the COVID-19 pandemic. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Sabatino DiMascio)
            
            
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By early Saturday afternoon, the first day of the event, an estimated crowd of nearly 45,000 were seated among various static displays, including the **C-5M Super Galaxy**, **C-17 Globemaster III**, **KC-46 Pegasus** and several fighter aircraft to watch the aerial performers take to the skies.
“You can stand here and watch the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels and the hair on the back of your neck just rises,” said retired Master Sgt. Ron Madden, who drove from Sewell, New Jersey, to see the show. “It was fantastic!”
The open house also featured a variety of booths with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM, interactive displays, as well as a kid’s zone and many vendor booths from local businesses.A spectator salutes while in a F-18 simulator during the 2022 Thunder Over Dover Airshow, May 22, 2022, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The event was the first airshow and open house held at Dover AFB since September 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. J.D. Strong II)A spectator salutes while “flying” in an F-18 Super Hornet simulator during the 2022 Thunder Over Dover Airshow May 22, 2022, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The event was the first airshow and open house held at Dover AFB since September 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. J.D. Strong II)
            
            
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**Col. Matt Husemann**, **436th Airlift Wing** commander, met with many members of the community who attended the weekend’s events, thanking them for their continued support of Dover AFB Airmen.
“Thunder Over Dover was phenomenal,” Husemann said. “I would like to say ‘thank you’ to the entire community for coming together, allowing us to showcase airpower and provide an opportunity to reunite. Thanks to the entire Delaware area for making this a success; you all rock!”FS 



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