5 things you’ll see at the Dayton air show whether you want to or not
- Amelia Robinson Staff Writer
We’ve mentioned a few things you don’t want to see.
Below are five things you definitely don’t want to miss.
Movie star - Dusty from the soon-to-be released Disney animated comedy “Planes” will perform and interact with the crowd at the air show.
There will also be an colorful interactive display about the movie featuring stickers, tattoos and coloring sheets.
Ron Kaplan, enshrinement director for the locally-based National Aviation Hall of Fame, said filmmakers visited the Dayton area as part of their research for the movie. Kaplan, who helped filmmakers, has his name in the film’s credits. He recently viewed “Planes” and gave it glowing marks.
“It is going to be huge for Aviation,” Kaplan told us. “I really believe it will spur an interest in aviation that has been lost.”
“Dynamite Boss”
This year “The Great Wall of Fire” pyrotechnics display will be presented by special effects expert Rich Gibson whose call sign is “Dynamite Boss.” Gibson has set two Guinness World Records for the longest “Wall of Fire.”
History
Michael Emoff, chair of the United States Air and Trade Show Board of Trustees, said the air show is “going to be like turning on the History Channel and watching a show on aviation history,” he said.
The Air Force Red Tail Squadron’s 51C Mustang “By Request” will fly during the show and be part of the exhibit about the Tuskegee Airmen, the first black pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
“FIFI”, the world’s only flying B-29 Superfortress from the World War II era, will also take flight.
“It is an amazing plane,” Emoff said.
Aerobatics
Emoff said the untethered wing walking from aerobatic pilot Melissa Pemberton’s team should not be missed. He also praised Sean D. Tucker, a 2008 National Aviation Hall of Fame 2008 Inductee. Tucker is returning to the airshow to fly with Team Oracle Extreme.
Wright B Flyer
The Wright B Flyer, a reproduction of the Wright brothers’ first production aircraft and a flying ambassador of Dayton’s aviation heritage for more than 25 years , will kick off the show each day at 11:30 a.m. Acts are scheduled to preform in the following order until 4 p.m. Wright B Flyer; F-86 Sabre; Jane Wicker Wingwalking; Team Fastrax Skydiving; Mike Goulian; F4U Corsair; A-4 Skyhawk; A-4 Skyhawk/F4U Corsair Legacy Flight;Sean Tucker; Disney’s Dusty; Melissa Pemberton; School Time Jet Bus; MiG-17F; Tuskegee P-51; B-29 Depart with Fighter Escort; B-29 FIFI and AeroShell/Great Wall of Fire.
Fly boys, fly gals and those who simply enjoy milling about and looking at cool stuff will be drawn to the Dayton International Airport this weekend for the Vectren Dayton Air Show.
Organizers promise 14 thrilling flying attractions and more than 40 aircraft on display at the 39th annual show.
There are things that you’ll surely want to see when you get there (see list below), but there are surely things no one in his or her right mind would want to behold.
But if the 1980s hit “The Facts of Life” taught us anything, that thing was that “You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the Vectren Dayton Air Show , the Vectren Dayton Air Show.”
Even with the bad (see list of five things you’ll see whether you want to or not), Dayton’s aviation fans are pretty, pretty fortunate.
Brenda Kerfoot, Vectren Dayton Air Show’s general manager, said half of the 300 or so air shows held annually in the nation — the Cleveland and Indianapolis shows included — have been canceled due to cut spurred by the the federal government’s sequestration.
Kerfoot said more shows will likely be canceled before year’s end.
Michael Emoff, chair of the United States Air and Trade Show Board of Trustees, said the community’s support is more important this year than ever. The show is a $1.3 million undertaking supported largely by sponsorships and ticket sales.
“We are the only air show within 100 miles,” he said.”We made a decision to serve the community with a really good air show. We hope that we can afford to do it again next year if sequestration should carry over to next year.”
Air show admission is $22 at the gates and $17 if tickets are purchased at Kroger. Advance senior and children’s tickets are $12 at Kroger.
That said, here are 5 things you will see at the air show whether you want to see them or not:
A black burny sea
Sure, there is some grass, but the air show is happening at the airport people. That means steaming hot asphalt as far as the eye can see.
The early forecast calls for highs in the upper 80s Saturday and Sunday. I am betting it will feel slightly hotter when that luxurious sunlight is reflected off of that black, black blacktop. But what’s an air show without blister?
Beautiful bouncing bellies
Ohioans as a group are not known for our superior physiques (read: Ohio 13th for adult obesity), but that won’t stop this great state’s pleasantly plump citizens from showing off what mama gave them. Don’t hate, celebrate. Punch a pal every time you see an exposed belly. Punch your pal twice if it is their belly you see.
A mirage or 50,000
Here’s your chance to see the importance of drinking water with your own eyes. Thirsty people will roam the air field like blood thirsty walkers on AMC’s “The Walking Dead.” Stay hydrated my friends.
Burned heads
Seriously people, protect your bodies from the sun. The American Cancer Society advocates the “Slip! Slop! Slap! and Wrap” approach to reduce the risk of skin cancer: slop on sunscreen; slap on a hat and wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and sensitive skin around them.
For tips on picking out a good sun screen watch: Sun screen protection against skin cancer
Those people
People love the air show and it is an annual tradition for many local families.
That said, there is a chance you see someone you don’t want to see. Smile, wave and continue with the jet fuel fueled fun.
It is unavoidable.
An estimated 47,000 people attended the 2012 show despite record breaking high temperatures.
Attendance was down about 40 percent. It is about 80,000 when a jet team like the Thunderbirds or Blue Angels perform.
The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels performed last year. The Thunderbirds were to appear this year. About 50,000 people are expected this year.
Contact this blogger at arobinson@DaytonDailyNews.com or Twitter.com/DDNSmartMouth
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