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Gowen Thunder Air Show Takes To Boise's Skies This Weekend

Kyle Green
/
Idaho Statesman
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, top, and the Royal Canadian Snowbirds fly over Boise on Thursday afternoon.

The first big air show in 20 years is set for Boise's Gowen Field this weekend. The headliner? The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron.

The Thunderbirds will be joined by their Canadian counterparts, the Snowbirds, as well as the Wings of Blue Jump team and other aerial attractions, including a World War II fighter plane from Nampa's Warhawk Museum. Several military aircraft will make up ground displays, including the controversial F-35 which will not be airborne during the show.

Two big issues are parking and security. Eight first-come, first-serve parking areas will be available from Scentsy and Blue Cross in Meridian to Micron on the east side. Upwards of 50,000 people are expected for the show and they will undergo TSA-type screening before entering Gowen field. Parking and security details are on the airshow website.

General admission is free. Gates open at 8:30 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday, and the aerial events get underway at 10:30. The Thunderbirds are expected to take to the skies mid-afternoon.

Even if you can't make it to the air show you will likely be able to imagine it as the sounds of the jets echo throughout Boise this weekend.

For more local news, follow the KBSX newsroom on Twitter @KBSX915

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