Winds Keep Most Planes Grounded at Desert Air Show

High winds forced the cancellation of most of the aerial performances planned for Saturday’s open house and air show at the high desert base near Lancaster.

Dust-blowing winds of more than 50 mph grounded such highly touted flights as that of the SR-71 Blackbird and ended the event an hour early. Only a handful of aircraft actually got off the ground.

Even though attendance, estimated at 175,000, exceeded expectations, many people left early after the airborne grit in their hair and eyes became too much to bear. The crowd had thinned to about 60% by early afternoon, and by the time the event was brought to an end at 3:30, only a few thousand people remained.

Spokesman John Haire said base officials and the public were understanding, though disappointed.

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“You can plan an air show, but you can’t plan the weather,” Haire said.

“There’s really no one to blame for the weather,” said Erik Degnan of Lancaster as he sat patiently with his father and a family friend during a temporary, wind-induced halt of all flying.

Cancellation of the SR-71 prevented what would have been the reconnaissance craft’s only air show appearance in the world this year. Other canceled flights included those of T-38, F-16 and F-18 jets.

Three parachute demonstrations, including the traditional flag jump during the opening ceremonies and the Survival School parachute test team, were canceled early in the day. A trio of multi-plane aerial reviews that were to highlight cargo planes and the aircraft of the Air Force Test Pilot School were also grounded.

A storm in Reno even affected Saturday’s flying schedule. A pair of privately owned MiGs that were scheduled to fly in the show were not able to get to the Mojave Desert base.

Even so, the air show had plenty to offer spectators. Keeping with tradition, retired Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager, the first man to pilot a plane faster than the speed of sound, flew a T-38 to Mach 1 to mark the start of the open house with a sonic boom.

A B-2 stealth bomber was able to entertain the crowd with fly-bys and simulated bomb drops. A trio of F-117 stealth fighters also wowed the crowd as did the Northern Lights, an aerobatics team that marked its first Edwards AFB appearance with a display of rolls, loops and dives.

Dozens of aircraft were on display and many, including NASA’s shuttle-carrying 747 and several cargo planes, were open for up-close viewing.

Next year, Edwards officials are planning a two-day air show to include many special features to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Air Force.