F-16 pilot Capt. Russ Piggott is 7,400 miles from Iraq, but he's mission-ready.
Saturday, at approximately 1300 hours, he's taking to the Sacramento skies on a mission that's become increasingly important as prolonged conflicts abroad have made armed forces recruiting more difficult.
Piggott is among the dozens of pilots, scores of mechanics and other support staff converging on Sacramento for the California Capital Airshow. The show, in its third year, will be held Saturday and Sunday at Mather Airport in Rancho Cordova.
Air shows long have inspired patriotism. Seeing the jet-fueled mix of skill, technology and power on display has prompted generations of Americans to enlist.
Piggott, a native of the East Bay city of Lafayette, said he discovered his life's passion at air shows.
"The thing for me that was the big draw was the jet teams," Piggott said. "I grew up knowing that is what I wanted to be."
Now, he is that guy. This weekend, he'll demonstrate the capabilities of the F-16 Viper, one of the world's longest serving and most versatile jet fighters.
"The jet teams are a major major reason why so many people are in the (armed forces)," Piggott said. "It's a nice feeling, knowing we are influencing people and giving them the inspiration to do what they want to do."
Military recruiters say there still are plenty of qualified men and woman interested in serving their country, but Army recruiter Lt. Col Anne Edgecomb acknowledged it's getting harder.
"We are recruiting during a period of protracted war where the desire to enlist is at its lowest point in two decades," Edgecomb said in an e-mail to The Bee.
She cited high school dropout rates and widespread obesity as other factors making recruiting more difficult.
Overall confidence in the military is down from a high in 2002, according to a recent Harris Interactive poll. But with 51 percent of respondents saying they have a "great deal of confidence" in the military, Americans still have great confidence in the armed forces compared with other institutions.
Locally, the air show is eagerly anticipated by thousands throughout the region. But some say they don't associate air shows with mom and apple pie.
"My main beef with the air show is that it glorifies war and the military," said Maurya Perazzo, an Arden area peace activist. "It's designed to recruit children into the military, that is what is disturbing to me."
Don Knutson, a downtown resident and member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, said air shows don't give impressionable youths an accurate picture.
"The air shows are a packaging of the exciting things about military service," Knutson said.
But the feelings of some peace activists aren't shared by most residents.
Air Force veteran John Hirschi couldn't wait for the details of this year's show, so he called The Bee. He's hoping the weather plays nice.
"The first year it was kinda rainy," he said, "and last year it was kinda hot. Hopefully, this year it will be in the middle."
Placer County resident Gene Murphy said it's nice to see tax dollars at work. Murphy, who served in the Navy, said he's already ordered his tickets online.
Other residents said they plan to view the show from a local park, rather than deal with the thousands of people expected for the show.
Air shows can succeed in their awareness mission even among folks who never attend. Shows often generate news stories, televised footage, and radio and online reports.
The air time, print coverage and online hits associated with last year's show constituted the equivalent of $746,000 in advertising dollars, according to local air show organizers.
It makes sense to tell the public why military aircraft are buzzing their homes and offices, said Holly Heyser, a longtime reporter and editor who now teaches journalism at California State University, Sacramento.
"An air show is really a visible thing in the community," she said. "Everyone can see it, even if they don't go. People want to know what is going on in their community."
Barbara O'Connor, a communications professor at Sacramento State, said opposition to military conflicts shouldn't translate into dislike for the military or air shows.
"Most people grew up with the Blue Angels and root for them regardless of the war," O'Connor said. "I plan on sitting in my backyard and watching them."
Call The Bee's Ed Fletcher, (916) 321-1269.
