Richard Baang had never actually seen the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform, but he was fairly sure they'd live up to their reputation as he rallied his family for a surprise visit to yesterday's Wings Over the Pacific air show at Hickam Air Force Base.

By the time the heralded demonstration team had finished its 40-minute high-speed, all-altitudes performance, Baang knew he had made the right call.

"Amazing, brah," the beaming 37-year-old 'Ewa Beach resident said. "Just watching it makes you feel patriotic. It was very uplifting."

The Baangs — Richard, wife Danielle and kids Richard Jr., Daniel, Samuel, Makanalei and Kaeson — were among tens of thousands who packed the sun-baked airfield for the first of two Thunderbirds performances this weekend.

The Thunderbirds take to the skies again today at 3 p.m.

Maui resident Ben Cacal, 47, was one of hundreds already waiting in line when the gates opened at 10 a.m.

Cacal said he flew in from Maui primarily to visit his grandson but also to attend the air show.

"I'm doing double duty," he said, laughing.

EQUIPMENT DISPLAYS

To be sure, there was much to keep the gathering crowd entertained while it waited for the F-16 Fighting Falcons to take off.

Thousands withstood 90-degree-plus heat and blazing sun to get an up-close view of the various fighter, transport and radar planes on display.

Lt. Col. Pat Brooks spent the day proudly reciting the characteristics and capabilities of the C-5A Galaxy cargo plane he pilots.

The massive aircraft is 65 feet tall, 241 feet long and 228 feet wide with a 55,000-gallon fuel capacity that allows it to fly continuously for up to 14 hours. The plane, which is large enough to carry six Greyhound buses, is used to haul oversized cargo, including tanks, planes and trucks to forward bases.

"It's the largest cargo plane in the American fleet," Brooks repeated to the scores of camera-toting visitors aboard.

Presenters said the public exhibition at Hickam is an infrequent and valuable opportunity for the community to learn more about the personnel and equipment that power U.S. military actions.

"Most people in the general public don't know anything about the military side unless we tell them," said Cpl. Anthony Akers, who led a demonstration of Canine Section dogs. "This is a very valuable opportunity for us to show what we do."

Akers and his designated canine, Bingo, each has served two tours of duty in Iraq.

Across the airfield, Tech. Sgt. Bobby Pickel displayed the high- and low-tech contents of an Air Force pilot's survival jacket, including a survival radio, signal light, evasion chart, GPS and hydration packets.

Packed into the jacket, which itself is equipped with body armor, the load weighs approximately 100 pounds, every ounce of which can make a difference to a downed pilot.

"Usually our job is based on a mishap of some kind happening," Pickel said. "It's good to be able to show what we do. Our main goal is to bring our guys back and make sure they can survive when they're on the ground."

FUN FOR EVERYONE

Pratt & Whitney representatives Fred Moore and Robert Kawasaki were on hand to display the company's F117 engines, which are used exclusively in C-17 planes.

While airplane aficionados were quick to appreciate the engine's 40,900 pounds of thrust and 30.8:1 overall pressure ratio, others sufficed with a more elementary briefing.

"One person asked if it used oil," Kawasaki said.

Others were more impressed by the company's EcoPower engine-wash service, which allows water used to clean engines to be purified and used again.

"A lot of people are extremely surprised that the military is going green," Kawasaki said.

While some meandered through the various military displays, others escorted their children to a play area equipped with giant inflatables, stood in line for burgers, pizza and garlic fries, or sought respite from the sun beneath massive C-130 wings.

Ten-year-old Lisa DeHoff took a turn on the rock-climbing wall then retired to Lisa Wilson-Pena's Pampered Princess tent to have her nails done.

LOUD, BUT LOVING IT

Next to the Naval Air Museum booth that her father was manning, the Pampered Princess tent was "the best part of the day," DeHoff declared.

Donnie Mullins, 54, of Kunia said he enjoyed the opportunity to see the latest in military aircraft, and he was eager to watch the Thunderbirds close up for the first time.

"I'd seen them before, but only from a distance," said the 23-year Navy veteran.

Lori Maekawa, 46, of Kona, said the event was a good way for the public to learn more about the Air Force, but she said it didn't necessarily make her any more appreciative of what military personnel do in service to the country.

"We already very much appreciate what they do," she said. "People here support the military. I just think the government should support them more, especially those that serve us, come home and then don't get the help or the respect that they deserve."

Maekawa brought her 2-year-old son Raiden (who loves airplanes) to the show. She was hopeful that he would wake up before it started.

In fact, it would have been difficult for anyone to sleep through the roar of the jets and the music — an odd mix of Saliva, AC/DC, Metallica and Neal Diamond that somehow made sense in context — blaring through a bank of oversized speakers.

Despite the din, a chorus of oohs, ahhs and whoas could be heard as the Thunderbirds performed dozens of high-performance maneuvers, including several variations on their classic diamond formation, intentional near-misses at 500 mph and special-formation tributes to veterans, troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and families of military personnel.

While some people drifted away early to beat the traffic, most remained rooted to the steaming pavement until the last smoke trail dissipated.

"That was impressive," said Danielle Baang. "I got goosebumps."