What to expect during the Extreme Blue Thunder Air Show
The Blue Angels and other performers will be flying across our skies this weekend. Compared to the last air show seven years ago, this year has a lot of changes.
Security all around is heightening.
“Security has increased significantly.To have a safe air show, and an air show that everybody has a fair chance to see what’s going on, there are restrictions on what people can bring in,” Nick Gailey, the marketing head for the Idaho Falls Air Show, said.
No tents, no large umbrellas, no drugs — but an updated restriction on water in order to combat the water problems people had the last air show.
“Previous air show did have some water problems, it had some traffic problems, we had some concession problems,” Gailey said.
So for this year, the air show committee came up with this solution, “People can bring in one bottle of water, up to 24 ounces. A sealed, commercial bottle,” Gailey said.
Also, the concessionaire will be selling water at a price of no more than $3. But there is another restriction — no drones can fly within seven nautical miles of the air show.
“We’re concerned not only on drones in the air park, but outside because these planes fly a long way around the park and drones can be very dangerous,” Gailey said.
As far as traffic, I-15 will be shut down at certain times each day, Thursday through Sunday. In addition, parking will not be on-site.
“We have three major parking spots that will provide shuttle buses,” Ben Burke, the Idaho Transportation district traffic engineer, said.
These are Skyline High School, Snake River Landing, and the corner of Broadway St. and Bellin Rd. And for those shuttle buses, the ITD has set separate bus routes.
“That are separated from the normal traffic, and that included using some of the closed lanes on the interstate and some of the closed ramps that we’ll have in order to get the buses to this location,” Burke said.
Tickets have been sold in 26 states. The tickets are $27 and can be bought online or at any Westmark Credit Union location. Prices will go up to $30 the day of the air show, and the proceeds will go to local charities.
Here’s a full list of activities happening next week:
Tuesday — The first jet will arrive in Idaho Falls Friday at 8:30 a.m. — The Museum of Idaho is hosting “Donuts with the Pilots” Friday at 11:30 a.m. — The Special Veterans Air Show Saturday & Sunday — The Air Shows; the area will open at 9 a.m., but the actual air show will be from noon to 4 p.m.
For more information on restricted items, and on parking and the shuttles, visit here.
