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Thunderbirds thrill 30,000 at Valley air show
- Thunder Over the Valley
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- Vindy Story: Families find displays of fighter jets, other military aircraft uplifting
- Video: Air Show Saturday
- Vindy Story: ‘Race cars in the sky’ delight crowds despite steady rain
- Vindy Story: All systems go at Valley base for today’s air show
- Vindy Story: FIGHTER PLANE || ‘Nose art’ on C-130 has Pavlik leading the way
- VIDEO: The Thunderbirds Arrive
- Vindy Story: Air show survival guide
- Video: Kelly's C-130 Nose Art
- Link: Thunder Over the Valley Web site
- Vindy Story: Valley native to fly in air show
- Panorama: Panorama: Air Show concourse
VIENNA — Despite the slow but steady rain Saturday, Youngstown Air Reserve Station officials estimated about 30,000 people attended the first air show there in 27 years.
The highlight of the show was the U.S. Air Force’s Thunderbirds as six planes flew at a high speed and with a deafening sound.
The stunts, which included flying in tight formation and upside down, attracted many oohs and ahs from the crowd.
“It was fantastic,” said Mary Brown of Warren.
“I can’t believe this was free. It was absolutely amazing.”
The logistics of the event, including parking and vehicular traffic as well as crowd behavior, was perfect, said Master Sgt. Bob Barko Jr, an air base spokesman.
About 35,000 to 40,000 are expected for the show’s final day Sunday, he said.
Read the full story Sunday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com