Dayton Air Show: Second day events 'fantastic'
Jul. 31—Day Two of the 2022 CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show is under way.
Gates opened at 9 a.m. for today's show and flying acts are about to start their roughly 4-hour featured show.
There from the start was Greg Schwer, of Sidney, who was accompanied by grandsons Riley and Carson Barrett, 14 and 12 years old, respectively.
"Came here this year for the Blue Angels," said Schwer, noting he had been to the show at least 10 times before, including 2021. "That was a biggie for us, seeing them. It's been a few years since they've been here."
He said it was a love of aviation and the military that keeps him coming back for more.
"Anything that flies is cool," said Schwer, a Marine who served from 1982 to 1986. "I could probably spend a day in Helicopter Alley only, but I've got to sacrifice and do the whole show."
Traffic troubles
The traffic problems that plagued motorists during the first day of the air show Saturday seemed to have returned today.
"You need someone directing traffic on Northwoods Blvd.," Stacey Underwood wrote on the show's Facebook page late this morning. "You have the traffic off of highway 75N after they turn on Northwoods Blvd trying to get over 2 lanes to turn into general admission parking."
Other patrons reported difficulty getting through traffic to the show.
'I think it's fantastic'
For Robb Cady, of Columbus, and his son, Tyson Cady, who spent the morning checking out the show's numerous aircrafts, the 2022 event was the first for both.
"I think it's fantastic," Robb Cady said. "He's an airplane nut, so I think having a display like this and looking all the different models is great. He's just really getting into it now, and his brother's a pilot."
Tyson Cady said they should have come both days "because there's so much to look at."
Snapping photos of the shows numerous planes, including the CH-53 Super Stallion, was Isaac Hargrove, of Westfield, Indiana, who said it was first time at the air show, tagging along with with a friend and her family.
"They go to a lot of different air shows, and me being a photographer, I love, like, just stuff in the air," said Hargrove. "I'm a huge fan of the military and things like that, so that's why I came out because I thought it would be really cool to actually experience it for myself."
Today, the feature flying show will be held from noon to 4:15 p.m, but there will be a host of ground-based "static displays" all the way through 6 p.m., including the Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, F-15 and the Army CH-47F.
The Navy's Blue Angels are the headline act. With their new F/A-18 Super Hornets, the Blue Angels can reach up to 700 mph and fly as close as 18 inches apart. The Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy Blue Angels alternate as the show's crowning performance every other year.
Ticket information
General admission tickets, priced at $20-$30, are available online, at a Kroger near you or may be purchased at the gate. Children younger than 5 years old receive free admission. For more information, visit daytonairshow.com or call 800-514-3849. — - — - — - — - — -
Staff Writer Thomas Gnau contributed to this report
