50th annual Dayton Air Show just over a month away, here’s a sneak peek at who will be there
The 50th annual CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show is just over a month away.
As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00 p.m., organizers have been working since last year to make sure this milestone show is a special one.
“I’ve been to the Dayton air show multiple times and it’s always had a special place in my heart,” Billy Smith, the president of the T-34 Association, said.
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The T-34 Association has about 600 members across the country, and they are the latest act to join the CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show.
“We kind of consider ourselves caretakers. We’re taking care of this piece of history and passing it on,” Smith said.
They’ll have 16 planes there, some up in the air and others down on the ground. That way visitors can get up close, which is something Billy says always touches him.
“I can’t tell you how many veterans come up. And they look at these airplanes and they go I learned to fly in this in 1956. And that just does something to me inside when I meet a guy like that,” Smith said.
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The T-34 Association is excited to be a part of the 50th Air Show, and the team at the Dayton Air Show has been working overtime to make sure year 50 is something special.
“There is a lot of pressure and we’re almost 30 days out so it’s really starting to feel it now,” Kevin Franklin, the Air Show’s Executive Director, said.
There are many acts already announced, including the US Navy Blue Angels. For months, we’ve been asking if the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds could be making an appearance for the 50th.
“We tried to work that out. Unfortunately, they have some training commitments that they have to do and they will not be making the show,” Franklin said.
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Even without the Thunderbirds, Franklin says this 50th Air Show will be one for the record books. And they’re not done adding acts just yet.
“We have a few other announcements that will be coming up,” Franklin said.
For those of you who know you’re coming to the air show, there is a discount on tickets that ends next Wednesday, May 22, so get your tickets before then.
