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Kelly's C-130 Nose Art

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A likeness of Kelly Pavlik adorns the nose of a military aircraft at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station. Painting artwork on the noses of a military aircraft is a time-honored tradition. Among others, there was famous “Memphis Belle” of Hollywood fame and the “Enola Gay” of Hiroshima fame.

No one will be permitted to park in a lot without a ticket.

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

Patience and planning are the essentials needed for visitors to this weekend’s Youngstown Air Reserve Station’s Air Show and Open House in Vienna, dubbed Thunder Over the Valley.

Area law enforcement and safety forces have joined base officials in months of planning for the onslaught of 40,000-plus visitors a day expected Saturday and Sunday for the first air show here in nearly a quarter of a century.

Headlining the event are the Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds flying F-16 fighter jets, and the Army’s Golden Knights Parachute Team. There also will be live entertainment, a jet car demonstration, numerous planes, modern and from the past, on display, as well as food vendors.

It also is important for show visitors and the people who live in Vienna Township to plan for the weekend, officials said.

The air base is surrounded by two-lane roads and highways not conducive to handling the large numbers of vehicles. There is no parking on-base, but visitors’ tickets designate a parking area and have instructions on how to get to their parking lot.

“We think it’s possible the parking lots will be full by 11 a.m., and we urge people to get to their assigned lot as early as possible,” said Air Force Maj. Ray Gale, event parking coordinator.

To facilitate getting into the lots, drivers should make sure they go to their designated lot and that everyone in their vehicle has a ticket.

No one will be permitted to park in a lot without a ticket nor in a lot other than the one designated on their ticket, said Gale, a member of the 910th Airlift Wing staff.

Security screening will be done once people are in their lots. There will be people in uniform there to direct parking and answer questions. Also, first aid and portable toilets will be available.

Gale said a surge of traffic is expected early in the morning and again in late morning just before the action parts of the show begin.

Parking lots open at 8 a.m., and the gates to the air base open at 9. Buses will begin transporting people at 8:30 a.m. The air show is between 1 and 5 p.m., and there will be post-show entertainment from 5 to 7 p.m.

“We’ve been planning for this for about 12 months. It is a coordinated effort between local, state and federal law enforcement and fire officials and elected officials. Thankfully, everyone has contributed. It was a consensus, group effort,” Gale said.

Show officials said a large number of people likely will view the show from outside the base. That is not a problem as long as cars and people are on private property. No parking will be permitted along roadsides, however, they said.

Because of that likelihood, Gale suggested that township property owners who don’t want people on their property put up “No Trespassing” signs and barricades. If someone still parks on their property, call local law enforcement, he said.

There are some other measures township residents can take to prepare for and get through the weekend, said Roseann Kennedy, head of the Vienna Township Neighborhood Block Watch.

Portions of several roads around the air station will be closed during the show weekend. Because of the expected traffic, residents should consider getting medications, groceries and other necessities and fill their gasoline tanks before the weekend begins. Be prepared to stay home, Kennedy said.

She said her biggest concern is that a lot of tickets have been copied and that people who got tickets through official channels may find themselves closed out of their designated parking areas and look for other places to park and watch the show, she said.

There are five parking areas designated by number and color on show tickets, four of which are located around the air base. The fifth lot is at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds.

About 150 buses will transport people from the fairgrounds to the air base at no charge, with some 20 to 23 buses en route at any one time.

Parking and other show information is available on the air show Web site: www.youngstownairshow.com.

Roads that will be closed Friday from 1 to 6 p.m. are King Graves between state Routes 193 and 11; and Ridge Road between Warren Sharon Road and King Graves.

Roads closed Saturday and Sunday are: King Graves between state Routes 193 and 11; Ridge Road between Warren Sharon Road and King Graves; and Warren Sharon Road between Ridge and Route 193. Route 193 will remain open during the show.

alcorn@vindy.com

TIGHT SECURITY

Air show security policies

All visitors must park at satellite locations and be bused onto the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.

CHECKPOINTS:

There will be security checkpoints at all parking facilities before boarding the buses, and all visitors should expect to have a security check before entry is granted to the air base.

Security forces have the right to refuse anyone admittance to the air show who fails to consent to a search.

A list of prohibited items will be posted at all parking locations. Visitors are asked to leave those items in their vehicles.

Prohibited items:

Excessive storage bags such as briefcases, duffle bags, suitcases and large camera bags.

Alcohol or illegal drugs.

Coolers, cans, bottles, or liquids, except water in a clear bottle.

Pets, except guide/working dogs for disabled individuals.

Any item that could be used as a weapon.

Large lawn chairs.

Bicycles, scooters, roller blades, roller skates, wagons, skateboards.

Permitted items, subject to search:

Small purses or fanny packs.

Cameras/camcorders/camera bags.

Diaper bags.

Baby strollers.

Small lawn chairs; no lounge chairs.

Wheelchairs, canes, walkers.

Water in a clear plastic bottle only. All other liquids are prohibited.

Reasonable size blanket.

PARKING INFORMATION

Nearly 80,000 free tickets have been distributed for the Thunder Over The Valley air show and open house Saturday and Sunday at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna. Here is the parking information.

Tickets are required to attend the event.

People without tickets will not be permitted to park.

Follow parking directions provided with air show tickets and park only in the lot assigned.

Tune your radio to 570 AM for real-time air show traffic updates.

Parking area gates open at 8 a.m., and buses will begin running at 8:30 a.m. Air Station gates will open at 9 a.m. for buses only.

RV parking is available only at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds, 899 Everett-Hull Road in Bazetta Township.

Busing from all air show parking lots is free.

People who have discarded or misplaced parking directions can visit www.youngstownairshow.com and print out the directions that correspond to their ticket’s parking lot number and color.

There is no air show general parking at Youngstown Air Reserve Station. Base access is limited to air show participants, bus-riding ticket holders and on-duty personnel. This restriction includes retirees, dependents and DOD identification card holders not affiliated with the air show.

Source: Air Force