Air Show

The lineup of aerial acts has yet to be finalized, but the dates for the 2011 Thunder Over the Blue Ridge air show and open house are set. The West Virginia Air National Guard’s 167th Airlift Wing formally announced Tuesday in a news release that it will host the event on Sept. 17 and 18. Officials said the show attracted more than 80,000 over Labor Day weekend this year. Show organizers are negotiating with a variety of military and civilian aerial acts for next year’s show, but the Airlift Wing said The Black Daggers, the official U.S. Army Special Operations Command Parachute Demonstration Team, will perform, according to the release.

 On May 20, 10 members of the Martinsburg Civil Air Patrol Squadron traveled to Joint Base Andrews, Md., to support and participate in the 2011 Joint Services Open House and Air Show. Martinsburg members participating were Cadet Airman Zach Arehart, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. John Dye, Cadet 2nd. Lt. Tim Dye, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Quinn Kahsay, Cadet Basic David Kain, Cadet Airman Kenneth May, Cadet Tech Sgt. Ty Stansbury, Cadet Airman 1st Class Ian Sullivan, Capt. Gary Gourley and Maj. Russ Voelker.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Between 1,200 and 1,500 West Virginia National Guard members are helping with the Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Open House and Air Show this weekend at Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport, spokesman Lt. Col. Michael O. Cadle said. From traffic control to parking and security, Cadle said Friday that uniformed guard members with the West Virginia Air National Guard's 167th Airlift Wing and 200 to 300 Army National Guard members from units elsewhere in the state were assigned to help with the event.

Editor's note: This story was edited Friday, May 28, to correct the phone number for ticket information. MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - For those wanting a special vantage point to view the upcoming Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Inc. Air Show during the 167th Airlift Wing's open house on Labor Day Weekend, special seating is available. A limited number of tickets will go on sale beginning this weekend at the Martinsburg Mall's Guest Services booth. Tickets cost $20 per person per day and allow individuals to view the aerial performances of the elite U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights from tented chalets which will be set up on the show line.

koelble@herald-mail.com MERCERSBURG, Pa. - The Air Force couldn't deliver as many direct hits in such a short time as Mercersburg Academy did on Wednesday night at Nolde Gymnasium. After squandering a 13-point first-half lead, No. 1 Mercersburg Academy came out firing missiles from its wings and took command of the air space against No. 2 Martinsburg to fly off with a convincing 75-48 verdict. The Blue Storm artillery-mates of Josh Davis, Colin Cubit and Tim Rahauser maneuvered their way through Martinsburg's zone defense for seven 3-pointers in the third period alone, igniting a 27-point quarter and turn Martinsburg's 31-30 halftime lead into a 57-39 Blue Storm advantage.

The 2011 Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Open House & Air Show, despite being cut short by the fiery crash of a post-World War II aircraft that killed a pilot, met all of its financial obligations thanks to the generosity of performers, sponsors and the community, organizers announced Tuesday. "Everyone gave back, something, somewhere," said Col. Brian Truman, vice commander of the 167th Airlift Wing Air National Guard and president of the board for Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Inc. Whether the show returns next year to the National Guard unit's base at Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport remains to be decided, Truman said.

Organizers of Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Open House and Air Show organizers announced Monday that have signed contracts with three aerial acts and air show announcer Larry Rutt. Bill Finagin, Jerry Wells and Charlie Schwenker are returning to perform for the September 15-16 event, which is to be staged on the 167th Airlift Wing base at the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport in Martinsburg. Finagin will demonstrate the aerobatic capabilities of the Pitts S2C, a light, highly maneuverable aerobatic bi-plane designed for air-show performances, according to a news release issued Monday.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Mild weather conditions were "a big savior" for emergency officials at the recent Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Open House and Air Show, members of the Berkeley County Commission were told Thursday. Berkeley County Emergency Ambulance Authority chief Don Scheuch said 25 people were treated for various medical problems, but most were not serious. One woman broke her ankle, but she insisted on watching the rest of the air show, Scheuch said. Meanwhile, the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle came away from the event as a big financial winner, officials said this week.

Berkeley County Council on Thursday unanimously agreed to send a letter of support to organizers of Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Open House & Air Show, encouraging them to hold another air show in the future. Council member James "Jim" Whitacre proposed the letter of support, noting the air show had quickly become a "huge attraction" for the community. Council member Douglas E. Copenhaver Jr. said the air show could be held in honor of pilot John Mangan of Concord, N.C., who was killed when the North American T-28 C he was flying crashed at this year's air show on Sept.

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are returning to the Thunder over the Blue Ridge Open House and Air Show, which will be held May 11 and 12, organizers announced Tuesday. Hosted by the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard, the show also is expected to feature several civilian aerobatic performers and an array of aircraft will be on static ground display for the event, an Airlift Wing spokesperson announced. The announcement followed Tuesday's unveiling of the elite jet team's 2013 air show schedule at the International Council of Air Shows Convention in Las Vegas.

“To the Hagerstown caller, about President Obama and oil prices and gas prices: Obama doesn't have a magic wand to wave. If you want to complain, complain about the Republican House. They're the ones who like to give all the oil companies big entitlements, cut their taxes, give them big tax breaks. Go to the people who are causing this. That's your Republicans.” - Hagerstown “About the coverage of the Chicago Blackhawks, and the way that your newspaper does not cover sports from other parts of the country, I think it's disgraceful that your paper does not cover sports the way it should.

Organizers announced the cancellation of the Thunder Over the Blue Ridge air show Monday, citing the loss of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds' performance as the reason for the decision. The air show was scheduled May 11-12 on the civilian side of Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport. The 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard was told recently it no longer could host the show due to budget constraints. The 167th hosted the air show and held an open house at the base since 2010.

The open house planned as part of the Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Air Show in May will not be held due to Defense Department budget cuts and “fiscal uncertainty,” organizers said Tuesday. With the change, the air show on May 11 and 12 now will be staged on the civilian side of Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport and the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard will no longer host the event on their base at Shepherd Field, officials said in a news release.  “Unfortunately, the uncertainty in our national financial picture has forced us to consider the possibility of some rather dramatic cuts in our funding,” Col. Roger Nye, the Airlift Wing's commander said in the news release.

The Golden Knights, the U.S. Army's parachute team, are expected to join the Air Force's Thunderbirds for the 2013 Thunder over the Blue Ridge Open House and Air Show in May, organizers announced Tuesday. A complete lineup of aerial acts for the May 11 and 12 show hosted by the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard isn't expected to be finalized until March or early April, according to organizers. Col. Roger Nye, the Airlift Wing's commander, said at a Tuesday news conference that organizers requested the Thunderbirds or the Navy's Blue Angels for next year's show before they take “a little break from air shows - at least a year or so.” “And when the Thunderbirds came to us and said 'Hey, how about May, instead of September?

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are returning to the Thunder over the Blue Ridge Open House and Air Show, which will be held May 11 and 12, organizers announced Tuesday. Hosted by the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard, the show also is expected to feature several civilian aerobatic performers and an array of aircraft will be on static ground display for the event, an Airlift Wing spokesperson announced. The announcement followed Tuesday's unveiling of the elite jet team's 2013 air show schedule at the International Council of Air Shows Convention in Las Vegas.

All possibilities are being explored to determine whether the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard will host another air show next year, the unit's commander said Wednesday.  “We are definitely looking at the possibility of holding another air show,” Col. Roger Nye said. The 167th Airlift Wing, along with the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport Authority and the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle, have partnered for the past three years to hold the Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Open House and Air Show.

About 10,000 people turned out Saturday for the 2012 Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Open House & Air Show, according to organizers. More than $13,000 in donations to United Way of the Eastern Panhandle were collected Saturday at the entrance gates, according to spokeswoman Tiffany Lawrence, who noted the support of dozens of volunteers. “The generosity has been overwhelming,” Lawrence said. Gates open Sunday at 9 a.m. for the second day of the show at Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport.

The West Virginia Air National Guard's 167th Airlift Wing is hosting the Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Open House and Air Show on Saturday and Sunday. All motorists approaching the 167th Airlift Wing are encouraged to use the alternate travel route of Interstate 81 to bypass the base during the event days, according to a news release. U.S. 11 from Novak Drive to Paynes Ford Road will remain open for this year's event. Parking will be prohibited on the following streets from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday:   U.S. 11 from Novak Drive to Paynes Ford Road Business Park Drive from Novak Drive to I-81 bridge Stewart Avenue from Wren Street to Winchester Avenue Kelly Island Road from Paynes Ford Road to base entrance Paynes Ford Road from U.S. 11 to Airport Road n Airport Road from Paynes Ford Road to Novak Drive Novak Drive from U.S. 11 to Airport Road No parking will be allowed in the Orgill business lot on Business Park Drive, the Polo Ralph Lauren lot on Novak Drive and the park-and-ride lot near the I-81 bridge.

Organizers of Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Open House and Air Show organizers announced Monday that have signed contracts with three aerial acts and air show announcer Larry Rutt. Bill Finagin, Jerry Wells and Charlie Schwenker are returning to perform for the September 15-16 event, which is to be staged on the 167th Airlift Wing base at the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport in Martinsburg. Finagin will demonstrate the aerobatic capabilities of the Pitts S2C, a light, highly maneuverable aerobatic bi-plane designed for air-show performances, according to a news release issued Monday.

The West Virginia Air National Guard's 167th Airlift Wing will once again partner with the local community and Thunder Over The Blue Ridge Inc. to host the 2012 Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Air Show and Open House, Airlift Wing officials said Tuesday. The event, scheduled for Sept. 15 and 16, 2012, will be on the grounds of the 167th Airlift Wing at the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport, Shepherd Field in Martinsburg. Next year's open house and air show will center around a variety of military and civilian acts and displays while opening the base to the general public, according to a news release.