Cape Girardeau Air Festival set to soar May 11

Cape Girardeau Regional Airport will host a twilight air show Wednesday, May 11, that will feature the Canadian armed forces’ famed Snowbirds Jet Team and the Canadian forces’ F-18 Demonstration Team, airport manager Bruce Loy announced Wednesday.

Admission to the Cape Girardeau Air Festival will be free, but VIP tickets will be available for purchase.

The VIP tickets will include admission to the show as well as food and drink, Loy said.

City officials decided to make the show free to the public in an effort to draw a good crowd to the weekday event.

Loy said the date was chosen because that was when the two headlining acts were available.

A Canadian F-18 demonstration jet will perform aerial maneuvers during the Cape Girardeau Air Festival on May 11.Submitted

Cape Girardeau last offered a free air show in July 2008, Loy said. This year’s air festival will be the first since 2014.

The featured Snowbirds team consists of nine military Tutor jets that will fly in formation, performing aerobatic maneuvers.

Two of the jets also will be featured in solo routines, Loy said.

In many of the formations, each speeding jet is within four feet of each other, according to the Snowbirds’ website.

During a performance, the Snowbirds fly at speeds from 115 to 370 mph.

The audience also can enjoy the Canadian F-18 demonstration jet as it performs a series of aerial maneuvers, he said.

Two single-engine, propeller planes of Cincinnati-based Redline Airshows will perform aerobatic stunts. Other details for the air festival still are being worked out and will be announced later, Loy said.

The city hopes to land the SkyHawks, Canada’s military parachute demonstration team, as part of the show at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. Loy said it would be a major achievement to secure all three Canadian aviation teams for the show.

Loy said the starting time for the air show hasn’t yet been determined, but he added it could start as early as 6 p.m. and last about 2 1/2 hours. City officials are discussing the possibility of ending the show with fireworks, Loy said.

“I would encourage everybody to come as early as they can,” he advised.

The air festival will include some ground displays, but the event largely will involve aerial activities, he said. The city intends to secure sponsors.

“We always hope to break even,” Loy said.

Information about the festival is available at capegirardeauairfestival.com.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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