More than 1,000 people took advantage of the opportunity to “Meet the Pilots and Crews” of top fighter pilots from the United States, Canada, Britain and other places as the Joint Forces Training Base held an inaugural pre-airshow event Thursday.

JFTB public affairs commander Col. Rick Lalor said Col. Nick Ducich staged a pre-airshow event with the pilots and crews participating in the Great Pacific Airshow over Huntington Beach this weekend. Lalor told the Chamber meeting Friday morning that base officials were shocked and gratified that so many people turned out to what is very likely to become an annual event.

“People are always telling us ‘thank you for your service,” said Lalor, adding that Col. Ducich thought this event was an opportunity to “say thanks to the people in the surrounding communities who always support us.” JFTB serves as the staging area for all military aircraft involved in the airshow. Photos by Col. Rick Lalor and courtesy of Joint Forces Training Base