The boom behind the scenes

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Stan Coleman
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Explosions, machine gun fire, terrific sound and visual effects--no James Bond or action movie would be complete without these elements. 

For the spectators attending the 2009 Wings Over Whiteman Air Show, the added explosions and simulated munitions during the aerial demonstrations of the B-25, A-10, F-15 and AH-64 Apache in addition to the B-2's 1600-foot wall of fire simulation, brought an added dimension of realism to this year's aerial performances. 

"An air show without PYRO is just another fly-in" is the motto of the Commemorative Air Force Blastards team, the lead pyrotechnics team for this year's Whiteman AFB air show. 

Pyrotechnics is basically defined as the art of setting off explosive charges to simulate bomb explosions. 

"It's what causes the ground explosions at the air shows," said Mrs. Gena Linebarger, CAF member and wife of Mr. David Linebarger, lead shooter-in-charge for the Blastards team. 

Mr. and Mrs. Linebarger are on Air Combat Command's "Approved Shooters-in-charge" list for the 2009 air show year. The 15 individuals on this list are approved by the International Council of Air Shows, Inc. and qualified to provide pyrotechnics for ACC demonstration team aircraft. 

The other four members of the CAF Blastards team providing this year's blast effects are the married couples of Patrick and Rhonda Burke; and Randy and Lauri Skinner. The Blastards were also assisted by 20 members of the CAF's Heart of America Wing located in Kansas. 

How do spectators respond when they hear the explosions? 

"People are excited," said Mrs. Linebarger. "The explosions are loud and noisy, but it gives a feeling of realism. The air show audience has a better appreciation for the capabilities of our warbirds when they can witness and feel the power of an explosion during an aerial demonstration." 

"If the children are not watching the show, the explosions capture their attention," said Mrs. Skinner. "You'll see them running to the front of the audience to see what is going on."
"The explosive effects we provide is why the modern military appreciate our effects so much," said Mr. Skinner. "Our simulated explosions provide a sense of what fighter and bomber aircraft can do." 

The Blastards have received confirmation from combat veterans who've told them that their simulated ordnance explosions were realistic. "When they tell us that, we feel that we have honored them and their combat experience," said Mrs. Linebarger. "That means a lot to us." 

The explosions are caused by gasoline and a synthetic explosive gel set off by a detonation cord. "The gel is very safe and stable," said Mr. Linebarger. "The use of an initiator (cord or blasting cap) with the gel makes it dangerous. 

"Safety is our biggest concern," he added. "Safety briefings are held before and after the air show. We tell everyone involved--if you don't feel right about the shot, you don't shoot it." Shot and shooter refer to the explosive effect and the person who detonates the explosion in regards to pyrotechnics. 

Upon joining the pyrotechnics team, new members are assigned as helpers. As they gain experience they become more involved in building a shot to make it look a certain way and also learn to determine the timing of the explosion in relationship to where the aircraft is.
"In other words the shot is built on whether you're creating the effect of a bomb run (the bombs explode after the bomber passes over) or machine gun fire from an attacking aircraft," said Mr. Linebarger. 

The Blastards also simulated the machine gun fire for a dog fight between the Tora 101 aircraft (Japanese Zero) and the FM-2 Wildcat at the airshow.
As members gain experience they move up in rank and have more responsibility.
Each member of the Blastards team is a non-paid volunteer. "We have a lot of experience in creating the explosion effects at air shows said Mr. Linebarger. "I've done 165 shows. Gena has 95 shows. Randy and Laurie have done 60 to 70-plus shows. There are more than 500 events of experience between us. Also, Patrick, who is an EOD technician with the U.S. Army, has 25 years of EOD experience." 

Mr. and Mrs. Burke are the only two military service members of the team. Mr. Burke is Sergeant Major Patrick Burke at the U. S. Army Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas. Mrs. Burke is Captain Rhonda Burke with the Texas State Guard. 

How did the team get the name of Blastards? 

"That name has been around since the late seventies," said Mr. Linebarger. "We started in West Texas. One person who helped start the unit was in the explosives business. At that time, the citizens band (CB) radio was popular. His handle was "Blastard" because that's what he did for a living--he created blasts or explosions."
"The explosive effects we provide at air shows is something we can do to give back and help preserve the history of our warbirds and show appreciation for the veterans who served in World War II," said Mrs. Linebarger. "We're extending our services to include the Vietnam and Korean War eras. 

"We also do what we do to honor all those military members who have served and are currently serving," she said.