ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Airmen from the 97th Air Mobility Wing’s Demonstration Team represented Altus Air Force Base at London International Airport for Airshow London SkyDrive 2025, Sept. 5-7 in London, Ontario. According to a media release from the event host, the drive-in airshow sold out of tickets following three years of sold-out shows.
The show opened with a twilight performance on Friday evening, followed by daytime demonstrations occurring Saturday and Sunday. The Altus team showcased the KC-135 Stratotanker with a series of maneuvers including high and low-speed passes, overhead flyover, and a slow-flight maneuver.
“We have the ability to reach anywhere in the world at any given time,” said Capt. Ryan Albers, 54th Air Refueling Squadron flight commander. “By doing these demonstrations in front of the public and especially with our partner nations, we further cement the fact that we can get personnel and equipment to the places they need to go through air mobility.”
The Altus AFB Demonstration Team consisted of crews from the 58th Airlift Squadron and the 54th Air Refueling Squadron, supported by maintenance and instructor aircrew. Together, the team brought instructor pilots, boom operators, loadmasters, and maintenance personnel.
“It's a tremendous honor to represent the tanker and heavy aircraft community,” Albers exclaimed. “We get a lot of love from the community at all the shows we perform in. While it's still cool to see the fighters do loops and barrel rolls, it's just as cool to see a big airplane fly low and fast over the crowd! The next heavy aircraft pilot or enlisted aircrew is always amongst the crowd, and our goal is to ignite that inspiration to become the next generation of Airmen.”
The Airshow London weekend drew thousands of spectators from across Canada and the United States. This year’s lineup included other U.S. and Canadian Armed Forces static displays and performances such as the Snowbirds, the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team, and the U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet Demonstration Team.
“One of the things that makes Airshow London unique is the range of aircraft we’re able to showcase,” said Gerry Vanderhoek, Airshow London SkyDrive 2025 director of air operations. “From heavy airlifters and tankers to cutting-edge fighters and national demonstration teams, it gives the public a complete picture of what airpower looks like today. It’s not just about the excitement of the performances, it’s also about showing how these aircraft complement each other in real-world missions. Having both U.S. and Canadian crews here underscores the partnership between our nations, and I think audiences walk away with a better appreciation of the teamwork and capability that keeps us strong.”