By Rick Palsgrove
Groveport Editor
A variety of planes will soar and roar through the sky at the upcoming Columbus Air Show.
The Columbus Air Show Presented by Scotts will be held at Rickenbacker International Airport, 2241 John Circle Drive, Columbus, on June 16-18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is the first air show in Columbus in about 20 years.
Performers and attractions at the air show include: the United States Navy Blue Angels; the United States Air Force F-22 Raptor; Ohio Air National Guard; the United States Marine Corps C-130 “Fat Albert”; the B-17 “Yankee Lady from the Yankee Air Museum; an F-5 Tiger; the C-47 “Hairless Joe from the Yankee Air Museum; the B-25 “Rosie’s Reply” from the Yankee Air Museum; the P-51 Mustang “Old Crow” based in Central Ohio; and more.
There will also be ground displays, air racing, exhibits, civilian superstars, vintage aircraft, and other experiences.
According to the Columbus Air Show website: There will be some flying in the morning. The heaviest concentration of flying will be scheduled to occur between noon and 4 p.m. The show will not publicly release specific times for each performer and the schedule can change without notice. Aircraft and performers are anticipated to be the same for each day.
The Blue Angels will be scheduled to do a rehearsal demo on June 16. There could also be some practice flights on June 15.
All tickets and parking passes for the air show are available online at www.ColumbusAirShow.com. Visit www.ColumbusAirShow.com for other information and follow the show on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Traffic
The volume of visitors to the air show and accompanying traffic on the area roads in and around Groveport are a concern for Groveport Police Chief Casey Adams.
Adams said the Groveport Police are planning to increase traffic patrol during the days of the air show.
“This extra patrol will be responsible for keeping traffic flowing as normal as possible along State Route 317, Groveport Road, and the roads that lead in and out of the warehouses surrounding the airport,” said Adams. “The extra patrol will also handle calls for service at the warehouses, handle traffic complaints, and any auto accidents that may affect traffic flow during the air show times.”
Adams said air show officials told him that about 15,000 spectators are expected to come to the air show daily. He expects the heaviest surge of traffic outbound from the airport to be from 3:45-6 p.m.
According to the air show website, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has developed traffic plans and will have several officers helping direct traffic at intersections along Alum Creek Drive and Rickenbacker Parkway and other key intersections.
According to Adams, air show officials indicated that half of the visitors to the show leaving each day will be directed south on Rickenbacker Parkway into Pickaway County to State Route 762 (Duvall Road) to U.S. Route 23. The other half will be directed north on Alum Creek Drive and then choose between using Alum Creek Drive to I-270 or State Route 317 west to U.S. Route 23. He said accidents outside of the airport will be handled by the primary police jurisdiction along with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
