Thunderbirds return to the Valley for air show at reserve base this weekend

By William K. Alcorn | June 12, 2017 at 12:05a.m.

Staff report

VIENNA

The 2017 Youngstown Thunder Over the Valley Air Show and Open House on Saturday and Sunday at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna features the world-famous Air Force Thunderbirds, a number of other flying and static displays and food and souvenir booths.

Among the displays are the huge C-130H Hercules troop/cargo planes flown by the 910th Airlift Wing based at the YARS.

The Thunder Over the Valley Air Show and Open House is free and open to the public. But a limited number of VIP Experience for-pay tickets for preferred and flight-deck seating are available.

Visit youngstownairshow.com for VIP Experience tickets and other show information.

Air Force air shows are valuable community events that increase public awareness and understanding of the armed forces and the mission, policies and programs of the U.S. Air Force, organizers said. In addition, YARS hosts air shows as a way to thank the community for its support of the base.

Thunder Over the Valley would not be possible without the support of the Youngstown Air Reserve Base Community Council, a private, nonprofit organization that provides special missions and fundraising projects to benefit the military community, officials said.

In addition to the Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon, air show attractions include:

Air Force Drill Team that features a professionally choreographed sequence of weapon maneuvers, precise tosses, complex weapon exchanges and a walk through the gauntlet of spinning weapons.

Team Fastrax owns and performs with the largest American Flag ever flown under a parachute, measuring more than 7,800 square feet, and has other large flags in its inventory.

910th Airlift Wing, C-130H Hercules demonstration.

Shockwave Jet Truck, a custom-built race truck equipped with three J34-48 Pratt & Whitney jet engines, originally out of the USA Navy T2 Buckeye, with a combined horsepower of 36,000.

Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team is a professional four-plane demo team that specializes in low-level formation aerobatics and bringing history to life.

Commemorative Air Force P-51 Mustang: The CAF Red Tail Squadron restored and flies this rare P-51C model Mustang fighter to create interest in the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, who flew P-51s just like it during World War II.

Fighter Jets MiG-17: Made famous during the Vietnam War, the MiG-17F was the primary enemy aircraft engaged in the skies over Vietnam by U.S. aircraft. During that war and until the F-16 entered service, the MiG-17 was the tightest-turning fighter in the world.

Warrior Flight Team L-39: The Czechoslovakian L-39’s first prototype made its initial flight in November 1968. The goal of the design was to marry an efficient, powerful turbofan engine to a sleek, streamlined fuselage, resulting in a strong, economical performer that would become the next standard jet trainer for the Warsaw Pact.