By WHITNEE ICE
St. Joseph Post
The Sound of Speed Airshow is coming back to St. Joseph's Rosecrans Memorial Airport May 1st and 2nd after a three-year hiatus.
Airport General Manager Abe Forney says he’s ready for life to get back to normal.
“I’m just excited for people to get out and see smiles on their face when the Thunderbirds hit the afterburner and see the kids out here enjoying it,” Forney tells St. Joseph Post.
Local Pilot Lute Atieh says he thinks this year's show will have a great turnout.
“I’m looking forward to it, simply because we have the Thunderbirds and we haven’t had them for many, many years,” says Atieh.
The Thunderbirds are back this year, but there are some new acts too including Pilot Ken Pietsch. Pietsch pilot’s the Jelly-Belly plane and says he’s been performing since 1974, but this is his first time at this show.
“I’m excited to come to St. Joe, that’s a big show that I’ve always wanted to come to,” says Pietsch. “It’s a pretty popular one on the airshow circuit.”
Owner of Aftershock Jet Truck Neal Darnell says the jet trucks are one the most popular acts at airshows.
“We have four jet trucks and the one that’s going to be in St. Joe is called Aftershock and it is a 1940 Ford fire truck replica. It’s never been a fire truck but it sure looks like one.”
The show gates open at 8am and the day doesn’t end until the Thunderbirds finish their performance. Masks and tickets are required at this year's show.