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Farnborough Air Show 'something to tell grandkids'

  • Published
  • By Maj. Chad E. Gibson
  • 403 WG/PA
FARNBOROUGH, England --  Dreams danced off silver-tipped wings as more than a quarter of a million spectators attended the sold-out Farnborough Air Show in England July 13-20.

For one couple, the dream will last a lifetime. Nitan Vadher wanted to surprise his girlfriend, Seema Chudasama, by asking her to marry him on the flight deck of an Air Force Reserve C-130J aircraft.

"We both love aircraft, and we just wanted to be totally unique," said Mr. Vadher, explaining why he proposed at the air show.

Knowing where he wanted to propose didn't make it any easier for Mr. Vadher.

"It was a bit nerve-wracking to be honest," he said.

Mr. Vadher selected the Flying Jenny plane because he and Ms. Chudasama had just been talking about being in the cockpit.

"We queued about an hour and just missed it," he explained. "It was also beside the fighter aircraft, which was neat."

Of course, that was before the Citizen Airmen of the 815th Airlift Squadron gave the couple a personal tour, one that would change their lives forever.

Once on the flight deck, Mr. Vadher leaned across the controls and gave his bride-to-be a beautiful rose.

The Airmen took the hint and gave him some privacy to pop the big question. She said "yes," and the entire crew was waiting outside to applaud and congratulate them.

"It was very unexpected, but it was amazing," Ms. Chudasama said. "It's like the best thing ever. It was very romantic. This is like a dream."

After a tour of the rest of the plane, the couple watched overhead as the United Kingdom's Red Arrows performed aerobatics. Toward the end of the demonstration, the Arrows made a red heart with an arrow through the center.

"This is perfect," said Mr. Vadher , who was unaware of the aerial display and the personal J-model tour. "This is something we will remember forever and tell our grandkids about."

Air Force Reserve Command's 403rd Wing has 18 C-130J aircraft. It recently celebrated flying more than 35,000 hours in the airframe, the most of any American unit and third behind units from Italy and the United Kingdom.

The Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., wing was the first U.S. Air Force unit to receive the J-model and first to combat-prove the J, nearly five years before it active-duty counterparts.

The aerial demonstrations and static displays at the Farnborough International Air Show showcased aerospace technology to professionals from 35 countries, making the 60th anniversary of the air show the biggest event ever in terms of exhibition space and exhibitor presence.

"This air show allows us to demonstrate rapid, global mobilization to our international friends," said Lt. Col. Brian Freeman, C-130J aircraft commander. "We enjoyed showcasing one of world's leading cargo transports and the hard work of the Air Force Reserve."

The tours of the aircraft included seeing the unique, six-bladed propellers on the Rolls-Royce turboprop engines, seeing how cargo is airlifted in the record-setting C-130J-30 'stretch', varying exhibits illustrating the various missions of the Citizen Airmen of the Flying Jennies and, the crowd favorite, sitting in the pilot's seat and looking through the heads-up display of the most technologically advanced C-130 in the world.
"I am amazed at how much the spectators know about aviation," said Tech. Sgt. Anthony Gehl, crew chief for the C-130J.

Many aviation fans study the different aircraft in great detail and try to "stump" the aircrew with tough questions. When it came to touring the Air Force Reserve's J-model, many fans learned something new about the plane.

"I never realized how many capabilities this plane (the J-model) has," said one aviation enthusiast.

Kids of all ages were smiling from ear to ear as they walked through one of the most popular exhibits of the air show, the Air Force Reserve C-130J of the 403rd Wing. So were Nitan Vadher and Seema Chudasama. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)