Location: Litchfield Park, Arizona

Admission: Free

Parking: Off site $10.00 per day

Luke Air Force Base, in Litchfield Park (Phoenix) Arizona celebrated their 70th Anniversary with their bi-annual airshow and open house, on March 19-20, 2011. Luke Air Force Base is the home of the 56th Fighter Wing, and Air Education and Training Command. The two-day show is a unique combination of aerial demonstrations, military aircraft ground displays, exhibits, and attractions. In April 1941, the new base north of Litchfield Park was named Litchfield Park Air Base, but six weeks later it was renamed Luke Field after a Phoenix native who destroyed 18 enemy aircraft in seven missions in WWI. He was the first aviator awarded the Medal of Honour - 2nd Lt. Frank Luke Jr.

Record breaking attendance of more than 200,000 people attended the air show over the weekend at the Luke Days 2011 Open House March 19 and 20. The headline performance was by the USAF Thunderbirds, whose lineage began in an unofficial status, on May 25, 1953 as the 3600th Air Demonstration Team at Luke AFB. They were officially activated as the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron on February 13, 1967. The first plane used by the T-birds was the straight-wing F-84G Thunderjet. Because the Thunderjet was a single seat fighter, a two-seat T-33 Shooting Star served as the narrator's aircraft and was used as the VIP/Press ride aircraft. Today the unit flies the General Dynamics F-16C and D(two seat) Fighting Falcons.

The show had the typical AFB restrictions for the attendees; no food or drink were allowed with the exception of one sealed  plastic bottle, full of water, was allowed per person. Refreshments and typical event foods were available at typical event pricing, in other words expensive. Sanitary facilities were adequate. There were no on base parking for the general audience, unless they had a special Thunder Club ticket available for $120.00 per day. There were shuttle available for a fee, from Park and Ride lots.

Fifteen aerial acts entertained the large crowd including the US ARMY’s Golden Knights Parachute Team. On the ground, about 60 static displays gave visitors an up-close, hands-on experience with current jet and propeller driven and vintage aircraft. Over all the show was a hit under the sunny skies of Arizona.