Blue Angels soar in Sioux Falls

• Blue Angels

Members of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels fly in formation during practice for the 2012 Sioux Falls Airshow on Friday over Sioux Falls. (AP photo)
• Blue Angels

Members of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels fly in formation during practice for the 2012 Sioux Falls Airshow on Friday over Sioux Falls. (AP photo)

Talk about it

SIOUX FALLS — Acrobatic pilots including the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels completed a picture-perfect practice day Friday in advance of this weekend’s two-day Sioux Falls Airshow.

Big crowds were expected at the South Dakota Air National Guard base today and Sunday, but officials weren’t sure how temperatures pushing toward triple digits would affect attendance at the free event. The last air show in 2009 drew some 165,000 people.

Col. Russ Walz, commander of the 114th Fighter Wing, said the heat posed extra challenges, such as having to add misters to cool the crowd, making sure there was enough water and ensuring that first-aid stations were air conditioned so people dealing with heat stress can cool off.

Walz said it’s nice to finally see the aircraft performing after more than a year of planning for the event, which is typically staged in Sioux Falls every three years. He said the event is free because it’s meant as a way of thanking the community for supporting its military outfits.

“We love it, and it’s a great opportunity to say ‘Thanks’ to the community,” he said.

Tags: sioux falls, blue angels, news, updates, state, airshow, airplanes, military, navy