Wings of Freedom III in Sidney Sept. 7 & 8

The Wings Of Freedom III Air Show will roar into the Sidney Richland Airport, Sidney, MT Saturday and Sunday, September 7 and 8. Pre sale tickets are on sale now at the Sidney Chamber of Commerce and Sidney financial institutions. Adult tickets are $15, students $10, ages 5 and under free. Cost at the gate will be $20 for adults and $15 for students.

Headlined by Team Aeroshell, the event promises thrills and chills to last a lifetime. The southern based pilots fly AT Texan planes which were built from 1938 into the 1950s and were used as training planes for US Airmen in WWII. “Team Aeroshell is loud and in-your-face, performing right in front of the crowd. People will be thrilled,” said air show committee member Alan Seigfreid.

Making its debut at the Sidney Air Show is the Shockwave Jet Truck. This is a full jet truck which will hit over 300 mph on the runway. “It’s his first time in Sidney and we’re excited to have him. He puts on a heck of a show,” Seigfreid said.

Crowds from the last Wings of Freedom Air Show will enjoy returning crowd pleasers Jim Peitz with his aerobatic Bonanza, John Mohr with his Stearman, Phil Petrik with his T28 and Kent Pietsch with his Jelly Belly Interstate Cadet which he will land on a pickup in front of the crowd. Also returning for a thrilling performance are Gene Soucy flying his Grumman Ag Cat and wing walker Teresa Stokes.

New performers include Jeff Boerboon in his Extra 300 and Skip Stewart flying his Pitts Special. “All these performers are fantastic,” Seigfried said. “This will be a great show!”

Saturday morning starts off with a fly-in breakfast hosted by the Sidney Lions Club from 7-11 a.m. The breakfast is open to the public and air show tickets are not necessary to attend. However, those without tickets will be asked to leave before the air show starts.

The Air Show committee is delighted to have the “Sky Talker” Danny Clisham as the announcer for the show. “He makes the show go,” Seigfreid stated. Clisham announces air shows all over the U.S. and knows all the performers. “He’s at the top of his game,” Seigfreid added. Clisham is also a pilot and has won multiple awards.

Professional air boss Ralph Royce will be in charge when the show starts, after briefing the pilots and necessary staff on weather conditions, obstacles, etc. “He is the air traffic controller for the show,” Seigfreid explained.

Parking will be at the Richland County Fairgrounds, just a short walk from the airport. Limited transportation will be available for those who need it. Please bring your lawn chairs, sunglasses, umbrellas and comfortable shoes. There will be concessions on the grounds as well as restroom facilities.

When the last plane lands, the airport returns to normal. Silver Airways is accommodating the air show and their customers to maintain flights.

Saturday evening, a special performance by Aaron Tippen with the Copper Mountain Band will take place at the Richland County Fairgrounds. Tickets are $25 and available now at the Sidney Chamber of Commerce office and Sidney financial institutions. Tippen is friends with Team Aeroshell and loves to attend air shows and entertain the crowd.

The Air Show committee is thrilled with all the sponsors who have stepped up to make this and future shows possible. Those include Blue Rock Products; Hurley Enterprises; Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson; Sidney Red-E Mix; S/L Enterprises; In memory of John Prevost; Franz Construction; KC Sand; In memory of the pilots in the Steppler and Foss Families; Walt McNutt, Tri-County Implement, Yellowstone Court; Exploration Drilling; Hi-Line Trucking; XTO Energy; Hotel Albert Lounge & Casino; Wells Fargo Private; 1st Bank; South 40/Winner’s Pub; Beagle Properties; Stockman Bank; Don & Amelia Steinbeisser; Bud & Ann Groskinsky; Dave & Bobbie Roberts; Continental Resources; Jensen Agency Insurance & Real Estate; Missouri River Realty; Epic Integrated Services, LLC; Action Auto; Eagle Country Ford; Gem City Motors.

To purchase tickets for either event, or for more information, call the Sidney Chamber of Commerce at 406-433-1916.

 

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