Air show promises high-flying fun

Look to the skies next weekend for excitement. Aerobatics, parachute jumpers, warbirds, antiques and the latest military aircraft are just part of the fun, with the theme: “A Tribute to American Heroes.”

Dutch White, director of air show operations for “Thunder on the Prairie Air Show 2004,” says this is a chance for people to view up close aircraft that they might never again get the chance to see.

White and many other volunteers have dedicated a big part of the past year to bring what he says is the biggest air show that North Idaho has ever seen. Through their efforts, 160 aircraft will drop in, or fly over, the Coeur d’Alene airport for this event – promoted as the first annual one.

Air show gates open at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, closing at 5 p.m. each day. Parking will be on the fringes of the airport, where buses provide shuttle service to the show.

Twenty-six acres on the airport’s west ramp offer a dream buffet of aircraft. Fighter jets, including F-15 Eagles, F-16 Vipers, F/A-18 Hornet and A-10 Thunderbolts, will park next to the radar-jamming EA-6B Prowler and an anti-sub P-3C Orion.

Pave Hawk, Cobra, Black Hawk and Apache helicopters complement the fleet of military fixed-wing aircraft.

Walk down the ramp, and back into time, through a fleet of warbird aircraft. See the Warhawk, Wildcat, Trojan, King Cobra, Sea Fury, Corsair, Bearcat, Texan, Navion, Skyraider, Stearman PT-17, B-25 Mitchell, Birddog, Ryan PT-22, Fairchild PT-23, Beechcraft Seminole, Albatross, Mig-15, Yaks, Mentor and five P-51 Mustangs.

Civilian and commercial classic aircraft include a DC-3, Boeing Speedmail, Twin Beech D-18, Stolp Starduster, Howard DGAs, Lockheed Electra, Spartan Executive, Murphy Moose, Cessnas, Pipers and Bellancas, Wacos, Pitts Special, Wilgas, Beavers, and the Grumman family of Widgeon, Mallard and Goose.

Experimental aircraft feature the Harmon Rocket, Lancair 360, Kit Fox, WT-9 Dynamic, Titan’s P-51 and Tornado, and two amphibious airplanes – a Slipstream and the Zenith 701.

New production aircraft on the ramp include the Alarus – the first certified airplane offered with an optional air bag restraint system. Jantar SixChuter powered parachutes and Backcountry Aerosports ultralights also will be on display.

Empire Airlines’ ATR-42 and Cessna Caravan and numerous U.S. military tracked armor and tactical vehicles round out the displays.

Aerobatic performances take off each day at 11 a.m. Crowds will be treated to John Bagley in a P-51 Mustang and Bell King Cobra. Ellsworth Getchell, a 69-year-old former member of the 82nd Airborne Division who gave up jumping from planes to flying them, will put his Sea Fury through maneuvers.

The team of OK3Air will thrill with its Edge 540 and Extra 300L. Rob Harrison in a Zlin 50, Spokane’s own Jacquie Warda with a Pitts Special and Sean deRosier in his DR-107 One Design round out the show. The Just in Time Sky Diving Team will demonstrate its precision.

The U.S. Navy Tailhook Legacy Flight will give a flight demonstration with a Hornet and Sea Fury. Fly-bys by the Air Force include a B-52 Stratofortress, KC-135 Stratotanker, C-17 Globemaster III and an F-117 Nighthawk (the first totally stealth aircraft). Two F-15 Strike Eagle Homeland Security fighter jets will make as many as four passes Sunday.

Those wanting a more hands-on experience can buy rides in a DC-3 Waco open cockpit biplane, Robinson helicopter or Piper Cub floatplane.

Saturday, from 6 to 11 p.m., a dinner and dance with ‘40s era music will add to the fun and give the public the chance to meet the air show performers. Admission is $20 per person, and air show tickets and identification are required. Prizes will be awarded for the most authentic attire.

Vendors will provide food and refreshments, pilot supplies, memorabilia and information on the new Sport Pilot Rule. Two thousand copies of Trade-A-Plane publications will be handed out, and a raffle will be held for six different airplane and helicopter rides.

The Hayden Chamber of Commerce, host of the event, is planning for as many as 40,000 attendees over the two-day period, says Air Show Executive Director Randy Giddings. Pre-sales of tickets exceeded 11,000 last week, according to White.