Photos show the aerial acrobatics before unexpected storms ended a big military airshow
August 31, 20240
The US Navy Blue Angels fly in formation at the Frontiers in Flight Air Show.
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gavin Hameed
At least 10 people — six military personnel and four civilian vendors at the airshow — sustained injuries as a wet microburst, or a strong downdraft in the middle of a thunderstorm, on Sunday morning brought wind gusts of up to 54 mph.
Two people were transported to a nearby hospital.
‘Right on our doorstep’
Two aircraft flown by members of the US Navy Blue Angels pass by each other during the Frontiers in Flight Air Show.
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gavin Hameed
The airshow included performances from the US Navy Blue Angels, the US Air Force F-35A Lightning II demo team, the A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, and Tora Tora Tora, a commemorative aerial demo team that recreated the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Strong winds flipped a plane
Two A-10C Thunderbolt fly over a crowd during the Frontiers in Flight Air Show.
US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gavin Hamee
After the storm subsided, the flight line was reopened as base personnel worked to clear the debris, including temporary fencing, porta-potties, and downed tents.
Disposing of unused pyrotechnics
A pilot flies upside down in a Zivko Edge 540 during the Frontiers in Flight Air Show.
US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gavin Hameed
Before its unexpected cancellation on Sunday, the military air show attracted more than 65,000 visitors, a record-high in the history of the Air Force base.
