MacDill AFB, Tampa. Home of Airfest as well as home for USSOCOM and CENTCOM. Every year, they pull out the stops to provide a heck of an open house for the public to see what the US Air Force has to offer. This year's lineup on static display was on the slim side. Compared to years' past, I would have to rate the statics a low 2 on a scale of 1 to 10, where last year (2007) was a 10. Normally, there would be every variant of C-130 on the line, the typical USAF hardware including the F-15C and E models, F-16's etc.

Not this year.

The 2008 focus was hardware in the air. With the trademark USSOCOM jumpers, to the golden knights, to Paratroopers jumping from C-17's, the air was ablaze with activity. This year was special, however. MacDill failed to secure a major US Armed forces jet team (Blue Angels or Thunderbirds), but did, however, score the proverbial game winner by showcasing the first ever public demonstration of the 3 ship F-104 Starfighters Demo team... A Civilian demo team. In addition, MacDill went north of the boarder to showcase Canada's finest, the Canadian Snowbirds Demonstration Squadron.

Have a look through my gallery to relive the action of MacDill Airfest 2008!!! Enjoy!