AIR SHOW CLOSES OUT WITH BANG; AIRCRAFT RECREATE STRAFING AND BOMBING RUNS

Thousands once again braved the heat to attend the final day of the 2000 Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival.

Ear plugs were in great demand as Navy and Air Force jets thundered through the skies and the 69th Battalion recreated strafing, bombing and napalm runs. Youngsters held their ears and adults shaded their eyes from the afternoon sun to witness this aerial spectacular.

Rick Ebaugh of Cape Girardeau has been to most of the air shows held here.

"I came to see the jets," he said as an F-16 flew by, vibrating the ground.

Better yet would be flying one of them. "Now that would be exciting," he said.

Ebaugh hopes the Blue Angels will be able to make a return appearance to the air show, but for this weekend anyone could pretend to be a Blue Angel pilot. The cockpit section of an aircraft was available for enthusiasts to explore.

Morgan Cash, 3, of Fancy Farm, Ky., wanted to be a Blue Angel. Her mother, Kim, accompanied her into the cockpit .

"She said she thought she could fly it just fine," her mother said after they departed.

The Cash family was enjoying their first visit to the air show.

"It's pretty neat," said Kim Cash.

People sought the shade of umbrellas and tents as afternoon temperatures soared. Ashley Cook, 8, and Mollie Bowman, 10, found another way to keep cool. The Jackson residents made use of a new addition this year, the rain room. Pipes emitted a mist of cool water under the shade of a canopy.

"This was a real cool offer," Bowman said.

Although Bowman has been to other air shows, this was her first visit to the Cape Girardeau show.

"I wanted to see the Golden Knights," she said. "They were really good."

For some the air show was like other festivals held throughout the year.

"I usually get to see people I haven't seen for awhile," said Audrey Lorch of Advance. Lorch has been to the air show three or four times and admits her favorite part is the jets.

Lorch was in the company of children, aged 2 to 4, who held their ears to shut out the noise.

"They're ready for it to be over with," she said.

Plans will begin early in August for the 2001 air festival.