Thunderbirds ready for spectacle in the sky
Jim Mann | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 2 months AGO
<p>The Thunderbirds practice maneuvers Friday they will perform during the Mountain Madness Air Show today and Sunday. Gates open at 10 a.m. and the show begins at 11:30 a.m. each day.</p>
<p>Two Thunderbirds on Friday perform a calypso pass, one of the maneuvers they will perform during the Mountain Madness Air Show.</p>
<p>Five Thunderbirds draw a heart in the sky for families who have loved ones serving overseas. It is one of the maneuvers they will perform during the Mountain Madness Air Show.</p>
<p>Heavy traffic is expected on U.S. 2 over the weekend for the Mountain Madness Air Show, but organizers said routes to air-show parking lots will be well marked.</p><p>Solution Event Services, a professional parking company, will lead the effort to smoothly park the thousands of vehicles expected today and Sunday at Glacier Park International Airport.</p><p>More than 100 volunteers will direct motorists through the parking process.</p><p>Air-show spectators will enter the parking lots at two southern entrances to the airport, and should be in the le…
The Air Force Thunderbirds made their presence known over much of the Flathead Valley Friday afternoon, executing a practice session for this weekend’s Mountain Madness Air Show.
About 250 people, including Hope Project kids, veterans, media and special guests, got an up-front view of the famous flying team at Glacier Park International Airport.
The demonstration involved maneuvers that carried the F-16 fighters over large swaths of the northern part of the valley starting at about 3 p.m.
The spectacle in the sky had vehicles pulled over on U.S. 2 near the airport and elicited dropped-jaw expressions, smiles, clapping and cheers. Traffic also was lined up on many side roads around the airport.
“They are really excited about this,” said Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Steve Lavin, referring to four children and their families who were in attendance through the Hope Project, an organization formed by troopers to provide assistance and grant wishes to critically ill children.
“We set up events like this that they can go to,” said Lavin, who also is a state representative from Kalispell.
The organization has so far provided about 300 wishes, such as trips to Disneyland.
“Whatever they want is basically what we give them,” Lavin said.
On Friday, spectators got a pretty thorough Thunderbird run-through, complete with Air Force announcer Maj. Darrick Lee providing play-by-play commentary plus blaring music to match the performance.
The Thunderbirds flew in multiple formations, such as their signature Arrowhead, to the sound of AC-DC’s “Thunderstruck.”
Maj. Jason Curtis, who hails from Kalispell, flew the No. 6 Opposing Solo position, pulling off the slow roll, the inverted opposing knife edge and several other hair-raising maneuvers.
He also got to stun the crowd with the “tactical surprise” capabilities of an F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Meanwhile, there was plenty of preparation activity on and around the tarmac on Friday.
“We are so set,” air show publicist Courtney Sprunger said. “Every detail has been organized to a T.”
She said there will be more than 1,000 eight-hour shifts carried out by scores of volunteers over the weekend at the airport.
More than 30,000 people are expected for Mountain Madness shows today and Sunday. The forecast for today calls for partly sunny skies and a high temperature of 68, with partly cloudy skies on Sunday with a high of 62.
Gates open at 10 a.m. and shows start at 11:30 a.m. both days. Shows end at 5 p.m.
Tickets for the two-day event are available at www.montanaairshow.com.
Advance ticket prices are $20 for adults and $15 for youth ages five to 13. Tickets purchased at the gate will be $25 for adults and $20 for youth. Children 4 and under will be admitted for free. A Family Fun Four Pack, valued at $70, will be offered online for $55. This pack includes two adult general admission tickets and two youth tickets.
Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.