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The weather may not have been ideal for an air show on Saturday, but that did not stop people from leaving the ramp.
From 9am to 3pm, buses after the bus entered the McConnell Air Base, carrying thousands of people to the Frontiers in Flight air show.
But the closing act of the series never saw the light of day.
Several flights had to be canceled due to the low cloud ceiling, including the most popular routine of the US Army Thunderbirds.
The Thunderbirds had to take flight around 15 hours. Saturday, but they need a cloud ceiling of 1500 feet to perform. The scheduled shows were pushed back when the clouds were at 700 feet by 11 o'clock. By 1 pm, the ceiling had reached 1,000 feet and officials were optimistic that the Thunderbirds could take off on schedule.
But at 14:30 the cloud cover had dropped another 200 feet, but there was no Thunderbird performance.
"Today, the air show went really well, despite the weather," said 2nd Lieutenant Daniel de La Fe, chief of media relations for 22 Wing Air Fighter Squadron. "We had high expectations and we had to maneuver and follow the current, regarding the weather.
"The weather dictates what we do, in terms of safety, and we really appreciate everyone in the community that has come to celebrate," said La Fe.
He said there was a new app to download by searching for "22ARW" or "Frontiers in Flight" on Google Play or Apple App Store, which should help people navigate the show on Sunday when clearer skies are waiting.
"The weather seems to want to cooperate. . . . We will be good for the 15 artists, "he said.
Most viewers seemed unresponsive to the lack of Thunderbirds on Saturday.
"It's a shame, but at least it did not rain," said Lance Stiles of Missouri, who visits her family in Wichita this week and brought her three children to the show. "Usually, when I come to Wichita, not much happens, you know? But it was really fun.
Classic rock exploded through the speakers. The smell of grilled chicken floated in the air. A light rain came and went. The pilots talked with curious civilians, explaining their planes and sharing stories. The planes that flew "were great," Stiles said.
"You can not beat time, cool planes, good food. I think the kids have learned something, "said Stiles. "I could come back tomorrow with more people."
Chance Swaim: 316-269-6752, @byChanceSwaim
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