This weekend’s event will be seeing some changes as well, including a cancelled appearance from one of the performers and a shift in security.
Here are four things you need to know about this year’s Dayton Air Show:
1. Blue Angels cancellation
The Navy’s elite Blue Angels team recently announced that it will not be performing in this year’s show after a tragic accident.
During a practice air show June 2 in Smyrna, Tenn., an accident claimed the life of a Marine pilot, Capt. Jeff Kuss, who flew the No. 6 jet.
Shows have been cancelled in select states, including Ohio, with no date set for when they will return to the air.
Two additional acts were added in the lineup to fill the gap for the Dayton show.
“It’s going to impact us, I can’t tell you how much,” Roger Doctor, an air show spokesman, said. “I know that I’ve never been to a city like Dayton when it comes to air shows. The people here, they just look at it and go, where else would I be? It’s Dayton and it’s an air show. We expect to have a real good crowd, but it will be down.”
2. Air Show security measures
An air show security director said that this year’s show will rely heavily on technology more than ever to ensure the safety and security of the speculators at the event.
A “sky watch tower” with a surveillance camera that can scan the crowd will be used during the weekend show.
Law enforcement officials with license plate readers will also stand as a precaution for visitors to spot any suspects who may be on a watch list.
Doctor said that spectators' bags and backpacks will be searched at random “to be able to be sure that no one is trying to sneak a weapon in with them.”
These enhanced security measures were planned prior to the tragedy of the mass shooting in an Orlando nightclub.
3. “Rare” public appearance
The F-35 will make its first ever appearance this weekend at the air show when two fifth-generation fighters will be on display on the tarmac of Dayton International Airport, said air show organizers.
According to Terry Grevious, air show executive director, two Air Force F-35As with the 58th Fighter Squadron will appear in a “rare public appearance” in a static display.
The two planes will not be in the air, however. “There will be a day when the F-35 will be doing a demonstration in Dayton,” he said. “It’s not going to be this year.”
The F-35 remains in the developmental stage with a planned “initial operating capability” with the Air Force this fall, said 1st Lt. Jenny Hyden, 33rd Fighter Wing spokeswoman at Eglin AFB.
4. RTA to transport visitors
This weekend’s Vectren Dayton Air Show will have transportation provided by the Greater Dayton RTA.
The hours of operation of the park-and-ride services will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
The buses will be air-conditioned and will service on a continuous loop from both the National Museum of the United States Air Force parking lot and Wright Stop Plaza directly to the air show’s main gate.
The cost of a round-trip is $3, and children 5 and under are free. Cash is the only accepted payment method.
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