Don Mackey turned the key and the 150-horsepower V-twin engine that powers the U.S. Air Force chopper roared - no, exploded - to life, bringing broad grins to the faces of people gathered Friday afternoon at the Heritage Mall parking lot.

The $150,000 chopper was handmade for the Air Force in 2005 by Orange County Choppers, a family owned company in upstate New York that builds custom motorcycles. Since 2002, OCC has been featured on its own show on the The Learning Channel.

"I went out of my way to come see this," said David Henrickson, an Air Force veteran, who lives in Albany with his wife, Jill. "I watched them build it on their TV show. It's fabulous, very nice, a real tribute to the Air Force. My only regret is that it isn't parked in my garage."

Henrickson said over the years he has had dozens of motorcycles, but nothing like this one.

His wife said she visited the Orange County Choppers shop a few years ago while on a trip to the East Coast.

"He watches the show all of the time and I watch it with him," Jill said, smiling. "I think it's hilarious."

At 10 feet, 3 inches long, the design of the motorcycle emulates an F-22 Raptor jet. It features Air Force blue rims, a riveted gas tank shaped like a Raptor, exhaust pipes routed under the rear fender and over the rear tire and custom made mirrors in the shape of jets.

Mackey is a retired 22-year career Army veteran who lives in Davenport, Iowa. He and his wife, Judy, spend 11 months a year transporting the chopper - which is based at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas - from coast to coast. They put on about 70,000 miles per year and make some 270 appearances.

"We attend NASCAR events and some air shows with more than 150,000 people," Mackey said. "I'm the custodian of the bike. It's not street legal. I have driven it a few times. It only has about 25 miles on it."

Air Force veteran Leonard L. Smith of Jefferson was impressed with the display. Smith served from 1950 to 1970 and said he "loves watching the OCC television show."

It's going to be a few years before Izaiya Taylor, 12, of Lebanon, can enlist, but he called the motorcycle, "awesome, I love the details."

Sgt. Lorna Allen, an Air Force recruiter based in Albany, said the display is popular with all ages, especially those from 17 to 27 years of age.

Choppers are customized motorcycles that descended from an era after World War II, when returning service men removed items from stock motorcycles such as Harley-Davidsons and Indians to reduce their weight and create an air of individuality. They often removed fenders, turn signal indicators and front brakes. Their motorcycles were sometimes called "bobbers" since the rear fenders often were shortened or "bobbed."

Alex Paul can be contacted at alex.paul@lee.net or (541) 812-6114.