The first state aviation show ready to spark giddy excitement

DOVER – Although the first 2024 State Air Show is open to the public on Saturday, military families were given early access Friday during the Department of Defense Family Day to watch training for some of the events which will take place during the rest of the weekend.

Unfortunately, low-level clouds limited the events that could take place.

Some, like the show-opening demonstration by the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team, were scrapped altogether for safety reasons, while others, like Patrick McAlee’s Blue Demon Aerobatics, had to reduce the intensity of the types of stunts and tricks performed. .

These decisions are made act by act, each having a different minimum flight ceiling for which pilots can safely fly.

Despite Friday’s weather and unpromising forecasts for the weekend, the air show still promises aeronautical thrills.

“The weather has been a little tricky, but right now we have planes flying. So the show continues for the rest of the weekend,” said Sgt. Trevor Wood, 436th Airlift Wing public affairs command chief information officer. “At the moment we are still planning the air show. If it rains a little, we will continue to pass.

The show features two main types of attractions. There are stunts and demonstrations of civil and military aircraft, and also what Sgt. Wood calls in static planes, parked fighters, bombers and cargo planes that participants can observe from all angles. The largest of the planes even allows visitors to enter the main cabin and cockpit.

The show’s headliner is the F-35 Lightning II, a blazingly fast plane that roars above visitors.

Among the static aircraft, there is one that attracts the attention of passers-by as soon as they enter the air show grounds: the C-5M Super Galaxy. It is the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory and can hold more than 281,000 pounds of cargo. Cleverly, the interior of the plane is used at the airshow as a makeshift bazaar, featuring a handful of stalls, including one selling military merchandise.

There are more than 20 aerial performances scheduled per day, non-stop from approximately 11:20 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in addition to more than 20 static displays. There are also plenty of dining options staffed by local food trucks. Doors open at 9 a.m. both days.

Putting on this impressive show was no easy feat.

“The team has been working on this for months and months, (a) massive team for the air show that has just been dedicated to just bringing all the different artists here, setting up all the ground support operations , our food vendors, anything and everything you can imagine, from our security to our medical support,” said Sgt.

He also added that there was a lot of coordination with base security forces to allow the public access to the base.

For those planning to attend the air show and are concerned about the weather, be sure to check the First State Air Show or Dover Air Force Base Facebook pages to see if there are any changes.