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Wyo. Guard grounds annual air show

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Wyoming Air National Guard won’t host its annual air show this July because of deployments, construction at the airfield and other issues, but the performance by the Air Force Thunderbirds will go on as planned July 28.

Both shows usually run during Cheyenne Frontier Days.

“It was a tough decision, but we would not have been able to provide the top-notch air show the community deserves this year,” Col. Dennis Grunstad, commander of the 153rd Airlift Wing, said in a press release. “We decided to not lower the bar.”

Other factors cited in the decision to cancel were several major inspections of the field this year and less money available because of military assistance in Haiti.

The guard air show draws thousands of people and typically features displays of modern and vintage military aircraft, stunt flying and parachute drops.

“It’s fully understandable,” said Rod Hottle, general chairman for Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Hottle said that while the National Guard show is an excellent event that adds to Frontier Days, the big draw is the Thunderbirds, which regularly attracts tens of thousands of spectators. The Thunderbirds have performed at the event since 1953.

So Frontier Days ticket sales and tourism in general should be unaffected, officials said.

Dale Steenbergen, president and chief executive of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, said there are benefits to the air show not being held.

“From my point of view, we really like having all of that construction at the base,” Steenbergen said.

Work on the Wyoming Air Guard base at the west end of the Cheyenne Regional Airport brings jobs, he said.