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Respect the past, forge the future: Air Power Days returns to Osan

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sarah Williams
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea (AFNS) --  

The 51st Fighter Wing hosted Osan Air Power Days 2025 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, May 10-11, welcoming more than 48,575 attendees throughout the weekend. The event aimed to strengthen ties with the local community, celebrate allied partnerships and highlight the capabilities that support regional deterrence and defense. 
 
Team Osan welcomed Department of Defense personnel, their families and members of the local Korean community for two days of aerial demonstrations and static aircraft displays. The event highlighted the enduring ROK-U.S. alliance and showcased combined airpower capabilities. 

The 51st Fighter Wing partnered with joint U.S. forces and the Republic of Korea Air Force to showcase a wide variety of airpower capabilities. Attendees toured more than 20 static displays and witnessed special performances from the ROKAF Black Eagles Aerobatics Team, the Pacific Air Force F-16 Demonstration Team, and the A-10 Thunderbolt II. 

“Osan Air Base has a pivotal role here in South Korea, but also in the Pacific Theater,” said U.S. Air Force Col. William McKibben, 51st Fighter Wing commander. “For the last several decades, Team Osan has stood watch over the peninsula, working relentlessly with our Korean wingmen to maintain peace and stability. We’re excited to showcase a little bit of that and all the hard work that goes into it as well as what it means for us to be ready to fight tonight.” 

an F-16 fighter jet flies through the sky in a hard turn, causing pressure vapors to engulf most of the aircraft

U.S. Air Force Capt. Ethan Smith, Pacific Air Forces F-16 Demonstration Team pilot, performs high-intensity aerial maneuvers in an F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 51st Fighter Wing during a media day as part of Osan Air Power Days 2025 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, May 9, 2025. The PACAF Demonstration Team showcased the F-16’s capabilities in support of 7th Air Force’s Super Squadron test, an initiative designed to optimize combat force generation and increase readiness by consolidating aircraft and personnel into a single large unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Peter Reft)

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people sitting under a parked F-16 jet watch T-50 jets perform airshow maneuvers overhead

U.S. Pacific Air Forces F-16 Demonstration Team members watch a Republic of Korea Air Force Black Eagles Aerobatic Team aerial demonstration during Osan Air Power Days 2025 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, May 11, 2025. The 51st Fighter Wing showcased its aerial capabilities and U.S.-ROK interoperability at the airshow, reaffirming the U.S. Air Force’s commitment to peace and stability across the Korean Peninsula and the broader Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Peter Reft)

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a formation flight of 8 jets turns across the sky

The Republic of Korea Air Force Black Eagles Aerobatic Team performs a formation flight aerial demonstration during Osan Air Power Days 2025 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, May 11, 2025. The 51st Fighter Wing showcased its aerial capabilities and U.S.-ROK interoperability at the airshow, reaffirming the U.S. Air Force’s commitment to peace and stability across the Korean Peninsula and the broader Indo-Pacific. As the most forward-deployed, permanently based fighter wing, Osan AB maintains constant readiness for defending 51 million people alongside U.S. allies and partners. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Peter Reft)

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 This year’s event marked the first air show at Osan in six years and celebrated the theme “Respect the past, forge the future”. The theme honored decades of alliance and looked forward to continued innovation in regional defense. A key highlight was the close air support demonstration by the A-10 Thunderbolt II, commemorating the aircraft’s decades-long legacy in Korean defense. 

“The A-10 has a significant history supporting the defense of many nations, but the 25th Fighter Squadron uniquely focused on missions specific to Korea,” said Lt. Col. Justin Davis, 25th Fighter Squadron commander. “We have a very deep passion and pride in the mission of defending South Korea and are very proud to have served alongside our ROKAF counterparts so long. We look forward to showing everyone the close support mission of the A-10 and the mission it has been supporting for decades.” 

Through dynamic demonstrations and displays, Osan Air Power Days 2025 celebrated airpower heritage while showcasing Team Osan’s enduring commitment to peace, partnership and the defense of the Republic of Korea’s 51 million citizens.