Defenders of Liberty Air Show takes to the skies

Try making your way onto Barksdale Air Force Base any day of the year. You probably won’t get far unless you have a good reason to be there.

Except for the weekend of March 29-30.

Then, you will be welcomed with open arms.

The 2025 Defenders of Liberty Air Show takes place every two years and will begin at 9 a.m. daily. Admission is free, and you will have the opportunity to see nearly 20 airplane performances and approximately 30 airplanes on the ground.

“You’re right. (Civilians) aren’t allowed to waltz right through base,” said Captain Miller Trant, a B-52 pilot and director of this year’s event. “So, this is our way to show them what Barksdale is all about, and what the B-52 is all about, and what the Air Force is all about.”

The centerpiece of the show will be the United States Air Force Thunderbirds. Six F-16s will perform demonstrations, showing the precision and training of U.S. Air Force pilots.

“The Thunderbirds are a huge recruiting tool for the Air Force in general, and people travel to see them,” Captain Trant said. “They are the main focal point that a lot of people might see on social media or the internet, of what being in the Air Force is like. In recruiting, they really hold their hat on that as well. To have them here representing Barksdale across their social media platforms and engaging in our community, I think it is huge not only for them but for the Shreveport-Bossier area.”

While Barksdale views the air show as a way to give back to the area, it also sees the show as a huge recruiting tool. Like when a high school student visits a college campus to learn what that school has to offer, prospective military members can get an up-close and personal view of what the Air Force and other branches are selling.

“They come through the main gate, and they get to see the buildings,” Captain Trant said. “They get to see the heritage that’s around the military base. Then they get onto the ramp, and they can see the airplanes. They can touch the airplanes. They can crawl through some of the airplanes, like the Warbirds. Then they can go into the STEM zone we have in one of the hangars and talk to people about the different jobs. It’s not only flying. It’s everything.

Somebody might not want to be a flyer. Even though the air show is fly-heavy and airplane-heavy, they get to see all the different jobs the Air Force and the Department of Defense (DOD) has to offer.”

But if you aren’t interested in joining the military – maybe you’re interested in aviation or just want to have a good time – the air show promises to offer an inviting atmosphere.

“We try to cater to the whole community,” Captain Trant said. “We’ve got something for everybody. It’s family-friendly. We’ve got things for the kids, the grandparents and the parents. We’ve got food, beverages, everything that if somebody is on the edge of whether or not they want to come to the air show, there is something for them as well.”

Because the show is so popular, traffic and parking can be an issue. This year, based on feedback from the 2023 event, Barksdale is doing different things to make for a more pleasant experience.

“We’ve revamped our parking lot to fit more cars,” said Major Shane Lockridge, who oversees the air show’s ground operations. “We’ve also partnered with a local business and SporTran, which will be providing a free shuttle from Bossier Parish Community College directly to the spectator entrance. The shuttles will start rolling at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. We’ll have 10 shuttle buses making a constant loop, so we can have as many people as possible attend the air show.”

Once you get to the show, and while you’re there, you may need to take care of a bit of business. That should be easier this year, with 125 Port-A-Johns. That’s an increase of 25 from the last show.

“There will be Port-A-Johns in the parking area,” Major Lockridge explained.

“There are a lot of people who travel in for the air show. Last time, I talked to a bunch of people who drove three, four and five hours to come to the air show. Obviously, as soon as they parked, they needed to use the bathroom. We’ve got Port-A-Johns in the parking area, and a bunch of Port-A-Johns which will be spread out around the entire spectator area. You won’t have to walk very far any time you need to use the bathroom.”

The Military Affairs Council (MAC) works with Barksdale to put on each air show.

“This event is a great recruitment tool for the Air Force and for our region,” said MAC president Trey Giglio. “We are excited to showcase everything Barksdale offers, from national security to a one-billion-dollar annual economic impact on our region. We look forward to hosting nearly 200,000 visitors to our area for air show weekend, to stay in our hotels and dine in our restaurants. This is a great opportunity for the Shreveport-Bossier community.”

And at the end of the day, Barksdale’s hope is that the public will have a deep appreciation for not only what the base means to our area, but what it means to our country.

“We definitely want them to walk away very impressed,” Major Lockridge said. “We want them to walk away with a sense of pride in what they’re supporting here at Barksdale Air Force Base and the entire DOD. We want them to walk away with a little bit of American pride, and pride in the mission we do in the Air Force of keeping our nation safe, and protecting the moral and ethics that we hold dear in the United States of America.”

To learn more about the Defenders of Liberty Air Show, visit www.defendersoflibertyairshow.com.