| Plane truth about ERAU's high-flying air show
Staff Writer Last update: 08 November 2003 |
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You
probably have a general idea of what to expect from this weekend's Wings
and Waves air show.
Top-notch "top guns" performing heart-pounding aerial acrobatics.
Fearless sky divers leaping from above in a free-falling ballet of sorts.
A performer who leaves the perfectly safe confines of a plane's cockpit to
stroll about its wings -- all the while in mid-air, mind you.
Twice. Once today, and again on Sunday.
Here's something else to expect from the air extravaganza along the
beach: You and tens of thousands of your closest friends all vying for the
best view of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's celebration of 100
years of flight.
Organizers are expecting upwards of 200,000 spectators to swarm the
beachside area. And it's no wonder, considering that some of the top air
show performers in the nation are taking part in the biennial event.
So here's an "insider's guide" to help you nab a great spot for
watching and sound like an expert with some fast facts on the top acts.
IT'S NOT THE HEAT, IT'S THE HUMANITY
On any given Saturday, the beachside -- particularly the Daytona
Beach pier-Boardwalk-Bandshell area -- is hopping. Throw in a special
event, and it makes a can of sardines look downright roomy. So, if you
want to park beachside, plan on arriving early.
The "waves" part of Wings and Waves begins at 10 a.m. with air-and-sea
rescue demonstrations and high-performance off-shore racing. The air show
begins at 11 a.m. and runs until about 4 p.m.
While beach driving (and parking) is prohibited in that "core area,"
there are several lots and a parking garage at the nearby Ocean Center.
Daytona Beach police will have message boards letting motorists know about
the traffic and parking situations.
If you'd rather get there another way, you can head downtown to the 200
block of North Beach Street. A park-and-ride shuttle service will be set
up there. For $5, a shuttle bus will take you from Riverfront Park to the
Peabody Auditorium, one block west of the beach.
FROM BRIDGE TO SHINING BRIDGE
The Bandshell area may be "event central," but this is an air show,
an event that needs a lot of room.
The staging area over the Atlantic Ocean is two nautical miles long,
said Eric Doten with ERAU.
For spectators, that means you can get pretty good surfside views
anywhere between the Granada bridge beach approach in Ormond Beach to the
north, to the Port Orange bridge approach to the south.
"The closer you can get, the better you can see," Doten said. "But if
you're on the beach, you'll be able to see them."
Those north and south of the heart of the action will get to see the
performers doing their turn-arounds and exits, a show of its own, Doten
said.
They don't call the Bandshell the center of the action for nothing,
though. Being nearby has its advantages -- namely, a "jumbo-tron" screen
that will broadcast close-up images of the performing planes. And some of
the planes also have cameras mounted in the cockpits for a true bird's eye
view, said Jim Hampton with ERAU.
An announcer will also be doing a play-by-play of the show, "providing
color, who the people are, their background and what tricks they do,"
Hampton said.
If you're not within hearing distance, the show will also be broadcast
on WNDB-AM. That's right: "AM," as in "radio." Don't scoff at hearing an
event that should be seen. The radio broadcast should help you keep track
of exactly who and what you're watching.
While the Bandshell area may offer the best views from land, another
mode of transportation could anchor you at an even better vantage point.
Boaters will actually have one of the best seats in the house -- a
mooring area in the Atlantic just east of the staging area.
For precise details on where the mooring area is, and how to get there
(important because boats are prohibited from entering the staging area) go
to www.wingsandwaves.org/boaters
Right now, rain isn't in the weekend forecast. But Hampton said showers
wouldn't put too much of a damper on the show, unless they're severe.
If that's the case, there'd be a rain delay of sorts until the show
could get moving again, he said.
WHO'S WHO
Alright, you've parked your car or moored your boat, you've picked
out a great viewing spot, and the only moisture in the air is sea-spray.
What else do you need to know?
How about . . . just who will be doing what?
· Well, to start with, there's the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds pilots,
who take to the skies in their F-16C Fighting Falcons. These nimble
fighter planes can reach top speeds of 1,300 mph.
And, as they roar overhead, you can shout "Best Wishes," since this is
the Thunderbirds' 50th anniversary. By the way, four of the pilots earned
their master's degrees from ERAU.
· Members of the Misty Blues All Woman Skydiving Team will add to their
already impressive number of jumps at today's show. So far, they've had
more than 40,000 jumps and have picked up 33 world records.
· Teresa Stokes doesn't jump from planes. But she does walk around on
them.
Stokes and Gene Soucy will perform an aerial tango that just makes
people plain ol' nervous.
Stokes is an acclaimed "wing walker." And Soucy is a renowned flight
show veteran, who can maneuver his "Ag Cat" plane -- think high-speed crop
duster -- for wing walking performances, a good ol' smoke and noise
routine and a nighttime fireworks show.
For more details about all of this weekend's performers, log on to www.wingsandwaves.org
BEST VIEWING: from the traffic-free beach zone behind the Adam's
Mark Resort, 100 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach. Second-best: along the
beach, two miles in either direction.
PARKING: Ocean Center lots, adjacent garage (fees for both), but
limited spaces, so arrive early; also note changeable message boards in
area about routes, traffic conditions.
SHUTTLE: $5, from Riverfront Park area in 200 block of North
Beach Street, to Peabody Auditorium (and back).
TAKE: coolers, binoculars, beach towels and chairs, radio:
WNDB-AM (1150) to broadcast live 1 to 4 p.m.
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