MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
WICHITA — The Thunderbirds will bring the speed and precision. But for some visitors heading to McConnell Air Force Base’s Frontiers in Flight air show, the biggest celebrity will be a Wichita-built bomber named Doc.
John Van Winkle, chief of public affairs for the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, said the restored B-29 generates a question that comes up before almost anything else.
“It’s not who’s a headline performer,” Van Winkle said. “Is Doc there? That’s what everybody wants to know.”
The four-engine bomber will be on display at the south end of the runway, providing a hometown connection to a weekend featuring military aircraft, civilian aerobatics, parachutists and opportunities to explore McConnell’s mission.
The show opens to the public Saturday and Sunday, with gates opening at 9 a.m. Admission and parking are free. Aerial performances begin around 1 p.m., and the Air Force Thunderbirds are scheduled to take off around 3 p.m.
Behind those hours of entertainment are two years of preparation.
“We’ve been planning for this air show for two years,” Van Winkle said. “As soon as you get right next to the event, then your life just basically is all air show, like it is this week.”
Organizing the weekend means coordinating visiting aircraft, performers, ground displays and traffic while preparing an operating military installation to welcome the public.
For McConnell, this year’s show also comes during a transition in the aircraft that carry out its aerial refueling mission.
The base is phasing out its KC-135 Stratotankers as it adds more KC-46 Pegasus tankers. Van Winkle said about nine KC-135s remain at McConnell, with those aircraft eventually headed to other units.
The air show is expected to offer a farewell of sorts: a joint flyover featuring the two tanker models.
“They’ll do a dual flyover for the last time with both aircraft over our base,” Van Winkle said.
Visitors also will be able to see KC-135s and KC-46s on the ground and get a closer look at aircraft familiar to people who regularly watch the skies around Wichita.
“That’s the home-field advantage,” Van Winkle said. “I just have to tow them out there and power them up and let folks see inside what we do every day.”
The flying program will open with the Air Force Academy’s Wings of Blue parachute demonstration team, jumping from a C-130 from Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas.
Other scheduled performers include aerobatic pilot Scott Francis, Matt Younkin in a Twin Beech 18, Tom Larkin in a miniature jet and Brian Correll in a Pitts aircraft. Correll has local ties as a McConnell reservist who also works with Textron.
Two A-10 aircraft have been added to the aerial demonstrations, with two more planned for ground display.
The Thunderbirds will close out the flying lineup. Their preparations include an aerial survey of the area so pilots can become familiar with the airfield, surrounding landmarks and ground markers used during their performance.
On the ground, the aircraft lineup spans generations.
Along with Doc, planned displays include a C-47 Skytrain, a World War II-era transport; T-6 and T-38 trainers; F-16 Fighting Falcons; and an OA-1K Skyraider. F-35 appearances depend on operational availability, Van Winkle said.
For him, the C-47 offers a particularly compelling connection to the past.
“That’s basically flying history there,” he said.
Visitors will have several hours before the flying begins to explore the displays and a STEM hangar featuring approximately 13 community exhibits and 10 military exhibits. Fast cars and Army vehicles also are planned for the flight line.
Public parking will be in the Cessna lot north of the base, with traffic directed from Rock and Pawnee roads. Military ID cardholders will be allowed to park on base.
Van Winkle encouraged visitors to allow extra time for heavy traffic. Drivers passing through the area for other reasons should consider another route.
For those coming to the show, his invitation was straightforward.
“No charge for admission. No charge for parking,” he said. “Come on down.”