The City of Owensboro has announced the performer lineup for the 2019 Owensboro Air Show that will take place September 13-15.
“The United States Air Force Viper Demo Team will be coming back to Owensboro to headline our show this year, showcasing the incredible capabilities of the amazing F-16 fighter jet,” said City of Owensboro Public Events Director Tim Ross. “In addition, we are scheduled to have a great mix of warbirds, aerobatic performers and military jets filling the skies over our riverfront again this year.”
With an estimated 70,000 in attendance at last year’s show, which featured the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels, Owensboro’s riverfront has become an attraction for the air show weekend.
“In the past, with the Thunderbirds or Blue Angels, there was obviously a spike [in attendance], but traditionally we have over 30,000 that come,” Ross said.
Ross said that the air show has built a good fan base, and people from Ohio and Tennessee make plans to come to Owensboro annually for the air show events. Just this week, Ross said he has received four emails from people in other parts of the state requesting information about performers.
“We have built a brand,” Ross said of the quality of our air show and what it offers attendees.
Throughout the weekend, the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation will offer rides to veterans and civilians at the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport. The AAHF is a nonprofit organization composed primarily of veteran volunteers and their families that utilizes flyable historic Army Aviation aircraft to connect the Army soldier with the American public. A Huey helicopter and a AH-1 Cobra will offer rides based on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Sky Soldiers demonstration team was in Owensboro for the last two air show weekends and hundreds of people took advantage of the opportunity to ride on these iconic military helicopters, Ross said.
An addition to Army Aviation Heritage Foundation aircraft, a B-25 Mitchell Bomber, a twin-engined medium bomber that was used by many air forces in every theater of WWII, will also offer rides throughout the weekend and will also fly during the air show. Ross said the Owensboro Air Show has not had a B-25 Bomber for the past five years.
A static display of aircraft will be staged at the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport on the Friday night of air show weekend and will be similar to previous years, Ross said. There will be five performers with four performing before dusk and one with a light show.
Last year, due to the limited parking because of construction at Airport Sorgho Fire Department, crowds swelled quickly for parking, but Ross said that it has not been an issue in the past, and he does not foresee it being an issue this year.
There will again be food trucks at the event and the cost is $5 to get into the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport’s static displays.
In addition to the Viper Demo Team and B-25 Bomber, the air show will showcase military jets, including a Northrop F-5, F-86 Sabre and a Mig17.
Team Aeroshell, which Ross said is considered the best multi-ship aerobatic team in the industry, will showcase some amazing precision in flying their famed T-6 Texan aircraft.
The Philips 66 Aerostars team, a 4-ship demonstration team, will perform as well as Red Bull air racer Kevin Coleman and aerobatic showman, Billy Werth, in his Pitts biplane.
“I am excited about the lineup each year. This year is no different with truly unique performers and a great mix of warbird, aerobatic and military jet demos,” Ross said. “It will be a great show for the aviation enthusiast as well as casual fans to see a great display of different types of aircraft.”
Saturday morning, the Owensboro Bridge will be closed for the annual Bridge Day events, including the once-a-year opportunity to enjoy the views of the downtown riverfront from the bridge.
The Owensboro Bridge will close at 7 a.m. on Sept. 14 for the start of the annual Bridge Run 5K & 10K, which begin and end at Smothers Park. Race information and registration is available here.
At the conclusion of the run, at approximately 9 a.m., the bridge will open to pedestrians until it reopens to vehicles at 1 p.m.
Because a large military formation will not be performing this year, the bridge will be open during the air show.
The Owensboro Convention Center will be open Saturday for different price levels of seating for the air show. For more information, including reserved seating and parking at the convention center, click here.
The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum will be hosting events Saturday in conjunction with the air show, including a Downtown ROMP Air Show After Party.
Beginning at noon on Saturday, ticket holders to the Hall of Fame event have access to lawn seating in the outdoor stage space to take in the sights and sounds of the air show. At the conclusion of the air show, music begins on the outdoor stage and continues into the evening.
For more information about the event, including tickets and a VIP experience, visit the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum website.
The air show will feature the same announcer, Rob Reider, and air boss Wayne Boggs, as previous years.
To see a list of confirmed performers to date, visit www.owensboroairshow.com.
Owensboro Air Show activities will occur on Friday, Sept. 13 at the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport and on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 14 and 15 in downtown Owensboro.
