SMYRNA — Overcast skies and occasional showers may dampen today's Great Tennessee Air Show over Smyrna.
Flight demonstrations aren't slated until later this afternoon, so there is a chance the skies could clear enough for performances to go on as scheduled. Hundreds of spectators are already filing into the airport to get early seats on the tarmac and to view the many displays of aircraft and military vehicles on the ground.
The US Navy Blue Angels precision flight demonstration team is headlining the event, which also continues Sunday. Their last Great Tennessee Air Show appearance was in 2008.
"The Great Tennessee Air Show is a fantastic opportunity for Tennesseans to get up close and personal with aviation," said John Black, executive director of the Smyrna Airport. "We strive to produce one of the most entertaining air shows in the country and to inspire our youth, our next generation of pilots."
This year's show is also scheduled to feature many other exciting aerobatic acts, military and civilian aircraft on display, and a Kid Zone, presented by the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority.
The 2012 Great Tennessee Air Show will also include performances by renowned pilot Corkey Fornof, the iconic stunt pilot who has more than 17,000 hours of flight time in nearly 300 different aircraft and has appeared in several Hollywood movies and the grace and magic of power-less flight by paraplegic Dan Buchanan in his TK-17 Hang-glider.
Rob Holland, 2011 National Unlimited Aerobatic Champion and World Aerobatics Freestyle winner, and Viper pilot Jason Newburg are returning favorites, joined this season by Matt Chapman in his Embry-Riddle 580 Eagle, Michael Wiskus in the Lucas Oil Pitts and John Klatt in his Air National Guard Staudacher S-300 racing Neal Darnell's Jet Dragster in their Max Adrenaline Wall of Fire.
War-bird enthusiasts will particularly enjoy the show when Scott "Scooter" Yoak in his P-51 Mustang and Dave Folk in his F4U Corsair take to the skies. Veteran announcer Danny Clisham will return to give his play-by-play of what's happening in the sky. New this season will be appearances by the U.S. Navy Seals' Parachute team, the Leapfrogs.
Static displays include the following aircraft: WC-130, C-5, KC-10, T-38, UH-60, UH-72, MH-60S, MH-53, F/A-18, F-15, KC-135, AH-1W, UH-1N, F-5, and M-142.
Gate admission is $10, and children under age 4 are free. Adult tickets are $25 at the gate the day of the show. Premium Box Seating and Flight Line Club tickets are also available. Free parking is available.
This year's air show coincides with Nashville Navy Week (May 7-13). The goal of every Navy Week is to give area residents an opportunity to meet some of the Navy's Sailors and learn about the Navy's critical missions and its broad ranging capabilities.
Sam Ridley Parkway approaching the Smyrna Airport will be closed to traffic from 3 to 5 p.m. today and Sunday while the aircraft take to the skies.
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