VERO BEACH — Tens of thousands crowded the grounds of the Vero Beach Municipal Airport to see dozens of planes soar above – including the famed U.S. Navy Blue Angels.
“Everything was awesome,” said Indian River County Sheriff’s Sgt. Eric Flowers who attended the Vero Beach Air Show with his father. “It was a great day.”
The event is being hosted by the nonprofit entity Vero Beach Air Show, Inc., to benefit the Exchange Clubs of Indian River, Treasure Coast and Vero Beach towards their mission to prevent child abuse, and the Veterans Council of Indian River County, to honor and assist current and former members of the armed forces.
“It’s a big show and wonderful for Vero Beach,” said Jan J. Binney, promoter of the Vero Beach Air Show.
Along with the Blue Angels are other aerobatic performers, including Patty Wagstaff, a three-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion; Skip Steward aboard his biplane, Prometheus the Flying Machine; Rob Holland, winner of the last three U.S. National Unlimited Aerobatic Championships and a Gold Freestyle Medal at the World Aerobatic Championships; Scott “Scooter” Yoak and his restored Quick Silver P-51 Mustang; Dave Folk aboard an F4U-5N Corsair, one of the most famed fighters of WWII; The Lucas Oil Skydivers, parachuting in a series of breathtaking jumps; retired Northwest Airlines captain Julie Clark, marking her 31st year as a solo aerobatic air show pilot; and Fat Albert, a U.S. Marine Corps C-130 Hercules airlifter.
For all the thousands at the airport, an untold number caught glimpses of the Blue Angels from along side streets, driving down 58th Avenue and State Road 60, and from atop their homes’ roofs.
The parking lot of the Humane Society Thrift Shop at SR 60 and 43rd Avenue was filled with onlookers, many of whom pulled out their cell phones to take photos and video of the Blue Angels performance.
People stood on top of the roof of the automotive business across from the Humane Society Thrift, and others stood on sidewalks and grassy berms hoping for a sighting.
The Vero Beach Air Show will reopen Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 at the gate for adults, $15 for youth 12 to 15, and $10 for those 5-11. Children 4 and younger get in free.
Performances begin at Noon. The main entrance is at the western end of the airport off 43rd avenue, and an army of volunteers and police will direct cars to numerous free parking sites.
To keep the little ones busy in-between performances, there will be an expanded Kid’s Zone, with aviation themed bounce houses and slides, a zip line, parachute drop and helicopter rides available for purchase.
Food and merchandise vendors and a display of military, vintage and personal aircraft will round out the offerings.
For more details about the Blue Angels and all the other exciting aerial acts, visit www.veroairshow.com.
Visual Journalist Keith Carson and Staff Writer Mary Schenkel contributed to this report.