USAF Pilots and staff engage in community relations as part of their activities during FIDAE 2010

March 26, 2010

A Chilean child from "Make a Wish Foundation" shares with USAF pilots during a visit to one of the USAF aircraft at FIDAE 2010.

As is traditional for the pilots and support staff of the United States Air Force (USAF) when they participate in air shows such as FIDAE 2010 or in joint exercises with the Chilean Air Force, they leave some time to participate in community relations with the Chilean community, especially those related to children in need.

In this opportunity, in the morning of Sunday, March 21, members of the USAF invited a group of children from the Aldeas Infantiles SOS  to the Interactive Museum MIM, and in the afternoon they did the same with a group of children from the housing committee “Un Angel en Nuestro Camino” of the area of Lo Espejo in Santiago.

On Tuesday, March 23, day of the inauguration of FIDAE 2010, the USAF invited children and volunteer from the Make-a-Wish Foundation Chile to visit their aircraft and the U.S. Pavillion.
On Wednesday 24, a group of 15 children from the Aldeas Infantiles SOS visited FIDAE and were escorted by USAF pilots and support staff, and in the afternoon it was the turn of the Teleton children. In both visits, one of the things the kids enjoyed the most was to be close to what has been called “the star of FIDAE”, the combat aircraft F22 Raptor.

Even though the activities demanded by an air show such as FIDAE are many, the USAF members made time to also share some of their knowledge with engineering students of the universities of Chile and Catholic University, who were particularly interested in the technical capabilities of the F22 Raptor described by the pilots. Finally, on Friday 26, the USAF invited a group of children from the Josefina Martínez Hospital, managed by the private foundation Josefina Martínez that treats children with respiratory problems and from low income families.