RAMENSKOYE AIRFIELD, ZHUKOVSKY, RUSSIA — Fun, activities and seeing their favorite planes was the name of the game Aug. 23, when about 50 "Moscow Children" attended the Moscow International Air Show.

The children, aged between 6 and 16, visited the show as part of a program called Moscow Open Festival for Children's Creativity.

"The program encourages the children's interest in aviation and space," said Master Sgt. Darrell Wiedenbeck, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, explaining how they are special guests and treated as VIPs for the day.

The children were allowed inside the coral where the U.S. Air Force aircraft were on display for a close look at the aircraft and to talk to the pilots. They were also able to go around the rest of the air show and look at other aircraft, and received gifts from many agencies.

They all took part in a competition prior to the air show, which was in four categories — aviation, spacecraft, handicrafts and art; the children had to either build models or inventions or make pictures.

Sergeant Wiedenbeck presented the children with some goody bags, on behalf of the U.S. Air Force, containing aviation materials and items, such as pens, stickers and models of Air Force aircraft.

"When we were here earlier this year, doing a site survey for the air show, I was given a DVD of the last air show in 2005," he said. "I saw the children on here and learned about the program, and I just thought it was a very good idea. I decided that as we'd be here this year, we should present them with something as well."

One of the children, Dovbnya Vladimir, 15, was one of the winners of the competition. He enthusiastically told about his invention, which was a cross between a helicopter and airplane, which, if built life-size, he said would be used for purposes such as extinguishing forest fires.