2016 Wings Over North Georgia Air Show Weekend To Feature USAF Thunderbirds And Grammy Winner Travis Tritt

  • Tuesday, October 25, 2016
USAF Thunderbirds
USAF Thunderbirds

The legendary United States Air Force Thunderbirds and country music icon Travis Tritt headline JLC AirShow Management's 5th annual Wings Over North Georgia Air Show at Rome’s Russell Regional Airport on Saturday and Sunday.

The Thunderbirds, officially known as the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, is an elite Air Combat Command unit of eight pilots, including six demonstration pilots, and more than 100 support personnel.  The Thunderbirds are world-renown for their breathtaking mix of formation flying and solo routines. The famous four-jet diamond formation highlights the training and precision of Air Force pilots, while the lead and opposing solo aircraft showcase the extreme capabilities of the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon. This nimble, multi-role fighter has proven time and again to be one of the world’s best combat aircraft. The only modifications needed to outfit the fighter for air demonstrations are a smoke system and a custom paint job in Thunderbird red, white and blue.

The Thunderbirds fly an incredibly demanding schedule of 80 air demonstrations a year. During each 75-minute performance the pilots execute up to 40 precision high-speed maneuvers. America’s “Ambassadors in Blue” have thrilled more than 280 million people in all 50 states and 57 foreign countries.

In addition to the Thunderbirds three-time National Aerobatic Champion Patty Wagstaff and former US Unlimited Aerobatic Champ Mike Goulian lead a list of elite aerobatic performers.  Both Wagstaff and Goulian rank among the world’s top airshow pilots, with reputations for pushing the envelope of aerobatic performance before millions of people each year. Both pilots agree that their approach to flying is best described as passionate and aggressive. 

The non-stop air show action also features performances by the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornets Tactical Demonstration Team and the Sky Soldiers Cobra Demonstration Team, an elite group of former military aviators and their fleet of AH-1F Cobra Attack choppers.  The U.S. Special Operations Command Para-Commandos skydiving team free falls for approximately 2 miles at speeds in excess of 120 mph before gently touching down at precisely on target.  Buck Roetman, the “Mayor of the Airshow Industry,” pilots his Christen Eagle through a dizzying array of maneuvers while Kent Pietsch's Interstate Cadet aircraft provides some aerobatic comedy and a few heart stopping moments as he attempts a pinpoint landing atop a moving vehicle on the flight line. The roster also includes Lucas Oil’s Parachute Team and the high-octane aerobatics of Mike Wiskus, Bill Braack's powerful Smoke-N-Thunder Jet Car, Scott Yoak's Quicksilver P-51D Mustang and Jim Tobul’s F4U Corsair. All are scheduled to perform Saturday and Sunday.

Following the aerial performances headlining the USAF Thunderbirds, The Smoke-n-Thunder Concert Series kicks off a night of top-flight family entertainment Saturday evening.  This year’s headliner is country music superstar Travis Tritt. The Grammy winning Georgia native is scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m.

Up-and-comer J. Scott Thompson opens the show at 5:00pm. Thompson’s performed at the Superbowl and jammed with industry legends like Steve Cropper and Charlie Daniels. He’s followed at 6:15 pm with rising star Angie Lynn Carter. Angie and her band from Kennesaw, Georgia, mix traditional country music with a twist of southern rock.  Her songs “Wanted” “Rain on Me” & “Always Now And Then” have been played on Country Radio across the US and in Europe. 

Homegrown country superstar Travis Tritt takes the stage at 7:30 to treat the crowd to a set of his hits and a preview of his highly anticipated new release The Calm After… Mr. Tritt says he’s never been more passionate about performing. “I feel so humbled and blessed to be where I am right now,” he said. “My voice has never been stronger, I’m constantly playing and working to become a better guitar player, banjo player, vocalist and songwriter. I am honestly as excited about the creative process and performing now as I was the day I signed my first record deal.” The Marietta native’s sold 25 million albums sales, won two Grammys, three CMA Awards and has a devoted fan base that packs venues coast-to-coast.

The evening concert series is included with a general admission air show ticket.  A limited supply of premium, reserved seats are available for purchase through the show’s online ticketing service.  Northwest Georgia’s biggest night of family entertainment concludes with a large-scale fireworks finale over the airfield.

Tickets and special packages for The Wings Over North Georgia Air Show are available online on the show’s website, as well as information regarding on-site parking, air show camping and special concert seating - http://wingsovernorthgeorgia.com. 

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