All systems go at Valley base for today’s air show

By Sean Barron

Thunder Over the Valley will feature plenty of attractions, food and restrooms.

VIENNA — Officials with the Youngstown Air Reserve Station are pulling out all the stops to ensure this weekend’s Thunder Over The Valley Air Show and Open House takes off, flies and lands without a hitch.

Helping with the effort are people such as Capt. Scott Allen of the 910th Airlift Wing’s Mission Support Group.

Allen also is in charge of the Ramp Ambassador program, members of which will be available throughout the weekend to assist the tens of thousands of spectators anticipated for the event.

Allen spoke Friday about numerous preparations his teams, along with others at the air base, have made to help the show run smoothly and be as pleasant as possible for attendees.

Allen noted that the primary purpose of the ambassadors program is to stay vigilant for any security or medical problems that might arise during the show. To that end, there are 48 members, 32 of whom will be out at any time, he explained, adding that they will be traveling in twos to help anyone in need.

Also handling security will be at least 300 officers with local, county, state and federal law-enforcement agencies, he noted.

“We run the full gamut,” Allen said of the police presence.

The ambassadors will be easy to spot in their green vests and lettering on their backs identifying them as such They also will be carrying radios and whistles, he continued.

A top priority would be, for example, a lost or missing child. In that case the base would be locked down, with parking lots and exits closed, he said.

“If a child is lost, extensive measures will be taken to find that child,” Allen said, adding that a lost-and-found area for people and property will be set up.

Attendees will find plenty of facilities, with more than 100 portable toilets installed, he noted. More than 20 local vendors will serve soft drinks along with food, including corn dogs, pizza, Smoothies, funnel cakes, gyros and ice cream; free water also will be available, Allen said.

Also on hand will be firefighters and a Medivac helicopter for anyone who encounters an emergency, he continued.

Other offerings include a play area for children, though at least one parent must be there because it’s not a drop-off area, he noted.

Since temperatures are expected to be in the mid-80s today and around 90 degrees Sunday, Allen advised spectators to bring or wear plenty of sunscreen and drink a lot of water. Misting stations will be set up for people to get sprayed and cool off, he said.

In addition, it’s advisable for people to remember where they parked, especially the several thousand who fill a grassy area with few landmarks. Only a handful of golf carts will be available to those who can’t find their vehicles, he warned.

Many people, however, didn’t wait until the show kicked off at 9 a.m. today to see performances by the squadron of F-16 Fighting Falcons, flown by members of the Air Force Thunderbirds.

Several hundred people were at the reserve station Friday to get a sneak preview of what’s to come during the air show Saturday and Sunday.

Those at the base, as well as many spectators along state Route 193 and King Graves Road, watched and photographed the F-16 Fighting Falcons perform aerial acrobatics, in which the fighter planes flew mainly solo and in a four-airplane diamond formation The fighter jets roared over the air base as they practiced single and multiple flips, sometimes flying upside down and catapulting straight up. The audience also was treated to a variety of swoops, arcs, half- and full turns, and dives.

Allen urged people taking the 125 buses to and from designated parking areas at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds and Ridge Road to follow all instructions. They also need to take the correct route that will get them to their specific parking area that’s listed on their tickets, he said.