Return of Luke Days brings excitement to the West Valley

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Behind a gas station on a corner near Luke Air Force Base stood a crowd of people. Some had been there for hours, others pulling up last minute as the thunderous sound of jets roared by.

“I just love seeing the big jets in action,” Renn Curtis, who lives in Glendale, said.

Saturday marked the first day back for Luke Days, an event last held in 2018 at Luke Air Force Base. A crowd of people gathered on base and around it to make sure they could get a glimpse of the action.

“This year I came because it was canceled the last few years so I came down here to enjoy it and it was actually pretty good,” said Trevon Thompson.

Thompson went to the show with some friends. He says it was his love of flying that brought him to this year’s show.

“Hearing the sound, I can hear it in my chest, it was cool, just the sound of all the aircraft,” he said. 

Luke Days typically is held every other year but was canceled in 2020 and 2022 because of the pandemic. For people like Kalia Johnston, it was important for her family to be at the weekend event.

“It was amazing,” Johnston said. “The girls had a great time, they saw all the jets and everything. (My oldest daughter) got to go in a helicopter and we got to take pictures and it was fun.”

One of her daughters was excited about seeing the aircraft up close. Watching the stunts and tricks in the sky though was a thrill.

“Yeah, one was twirling and twisting and doing hula hoops,” she said.

Johnston’s family says the event is memorable for anyone of any age and having an event like this back in the community can be a learning experience for so many.

“Me personally, I feel safe to know we have this at our leisure,” Johnston’s husband, Trevon, said. “If anything were to go south we have amazing veterans and soldiers who protect our country. Besides the heat and 40-minute walk, I loved it, the girls loved it.”

Others felt the same way.

“It’s important to know these people are possibly sacrificing their lives and time to protect us,” Curtis said. “It’s nice to have the time to sit here and watch them and I’m glad to be an American.”

As the crowd left the base, emotions soared.

“I saw the fighter jets and Thunderbirds,” said Dane Batac. “It’s a nice experience actually.”

“I would just say it was a fantastic day,” said Thompson. “Don’t cancel it anymore, I love this air show and I love when it’s at Luke.”

And as people cherish the memories made, they can’t wait to do it again in two years when hopefully it’ll be back.

“I’d tell people I had a great time,” said Johnston’s daughter. 

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