ESAM 01

Schenectady, NY is home to Empire State Aeroscience Museum (ESAM), the 109th Tactical Airlift squadron and it is what I call home. My love for air shows and aviation began in Schenectady. The weather turned out to be great all weekend long. The show had a wide variety of acts which included, LC-130, F-16 East Coast Demo Team, Iron Eagles, Gee-Bee R-2, Oscar Boesch, UH-60 Demo, A-10 from Westfield Ma, F-117, Ed DeRossi, Mike Goulian, Rich's Pyro, and Mohawk Valley Sky Diving.

Westfield Massachusetts is less than 1.5 hours away from Schenectady. Several members of the 104th FW reside in the Albany/Schenectady area. It is not all that unusual to see the Death Vipers flying their A-10's and OA-10's overhead in Schenectady.

The F-16 East Coast Viper Demo Team is based out of Shaw AFB in South Carolina. In addition their is a West Coast demo team as well.

The only unit in the United States to fly the LC-130 the 109th ANG unit is located in Schenectady, NY. Stratton Air National Guard Base is home to these LC-130's and the C-130's. The 109th is also the only unit to regularly use JATO for take-offs.

For the first time ever Delmar Benjamin and his Gee-Bee racer made an east coast appearance. After an oversees visit to Japan Delmar is making a small tour on the east coast before the Gee-Bee racer will be retired and donated to the Smithsonian.

The United States Army 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation Division is located at Albany International Airport which is approximately a 15 minute drive from Schenectady. This year they did a great simulation water drop.

Mohawk Valley Sky Diving is located just outside Schenectady and has not only some of the best jumpers in the world, but a great place to learn how to jump as well as tandem jump.