WICHITA, Kansas (KWCH) – McConnell Air Force Base said attendees at the 2024 Frontiers in Flight Airshow can expect some significant changes compared to the 2022 event.
The air show will take place on August 24 and 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at McConnell AFB. Admission and parking are free.
All attendees over the age of 18 must present a government or federal government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, for entry. Non-U.S. citizens over the age of 18 may use a passport or permanent resident permit for entry.
Guests are permitted and encouraged to bring their own drinking water in a non-glass container, which can be refilled throughout the day to prevent heat-related injuries.
There will also be free water stations for refilling personal water containers in the public parking lot and on the air show ramp. These locations are marked on the map, as well as cooling tents, portable toilets and first aid stations.
Distances
Although parking is available, the total length of the flight route means that you still have to walk long distances. The airshow site itself measures 1.1 km from north to south and is full of parked aircraft, stands and displays.
General Parking
Parking is available off base, in the Cessna fields, north of McConnell, west of Rock Road, and south of Pawnee Street. The distance from the regular parking lot to the air show entrance is about 0.5 miles, so the base has organized buses in the middle of the general parking lot to transport people to and from it and the air show entrance (entrance #1 on the air show map). These distances, combined with typical Kansas August temperatures and the heat-intensifying effect of concrete runways, make it especially important for air show visitors and staff to stay hydrated.
Accessibility Parking
Disabled parking spaces are available by completing the following form online: https://www.frontiersinflight.com/guestinfo#accessibility
Those approved to park will receive a parking pass via email which they must print out. The pass will allow them to park at select locations on base.
Lost Children
For those bringing small children, wristbands are available at the flight line entrances where adults can write a phone number and place it on the child’s wrist. Should adults and children become separated, this phone number will facilitate quick reunification with their adults. The Lost Child RV is located near the Kids Zone and near the Boeing Dreamlifter. The Dreamlifter will be the largest aircraft on the ramp, at the north end of the runway area and near the STEAM and Kid Zones. Diaper changing stations and a dedicated breastfeeding area will also be located nearby.
Permitted and prohibited items
For a complete list of items guests are permitted to bring, as well as a list of prohibited items, visit the air show website at www.frontiersinflight.com.
Times for aerial acrobatics
The flight demonstrations begin every day at 12 noon. The main act, the US Navy’s Blue Angels, take to the skies at around 3 p.m. each day of the air show.
Aerial acrobats
The confirmed aerial acrobats for the air show are:
- Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornets
- Fat Albert (Blue Angels support C-130J Super Hercules)
- F-35 Lightning Demo Team
- P-51 Heritage Flight
- 2x A-10 Thunderbolt II formation demo
- Torah, Torah, Torah
- “Swamp Fox” P-51
- Twin Beech 18 “Matt Younkin”
- Havilland DH 115 “Vampire”
- Bill Stien “Edge 540”
- Tom Larkin “Mini Jet”
- Brian Correll “Pitts II”
- KC-135/KC-46 refueling demo
- “Supercars” from Precision Exotics
Clydesdales
The Budweiser Clydesdales are scheduled to perform at 11:30 a.m. on all days of the air show.
Aircraft on display
The confirmed aircraft on static display can be seen on the air show map, which is current at the date of publication. The aircraft on display are:
- B-29 Superfortress
- KC-135 Stratotanker
- KC-46 Pegasus
- Fat Albert (C-130J Super Hercules)
- A-10 Thunderbolt IIs
- F-15 Eagles
- F-16 Fighting Falcon
- F-22 Raptor
- F-35 Lightning II
- B-1 Lancer
- B-52 Stratofortress
- Navy P-8 Poseidon
- C-17 Globemaster III
- RC-135 rivet joint
- T-38 Talons
- T-6 Texas
- T-1A Jayhawk
- T-41 Mescalero (Cessna 172)
- T-53A Kadet II (Cirrus SR-20)
- Boeing Dreamlifter
- A-26 Invader “Lady Liberty”
- LearJet 36A – around-the-world record holder
- Stearman biplane
Army exhibitions:
In addition to the Air Force, Wichita is home to a number of reserve and guard units from all branches of the military. The largest of these units on site is the Army Reserve’s 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command, which has its headquarters here. The 451st ESC coordinated the appearance of several Army air and ground units at the event, bringing a little extra steel and firepower to visitors. These include:
- Light medium tactical vehicle
- Highly mobile multi-purpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV)
- Common light tactical vehicle
- UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter
- HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter
- CH-47 Chinook helicopter
For more details on suppliers, displays, premium seating and more, visit https://www.frontiersinflight.com/.
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