Flying High Over North Georgia

Mark your calendars now for late October and get ready for a road trip to Rome for a “drive-in” airshow specatular featuring some amazing planes and more...

BY BRENDA LITTLE

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will headline Georgia’s Premier Tailgate Party at the eighth annual Wings Over North Georgia Air Show on Oct 24-25 in Rome, GA. To provide a safe environment for air show attendees, the 2020 event will utilize a drive-in format for the air show, offering spectators the perfect mix of social distancing while watching some of the top military and civilian aviation performers.

“My team and I have worked diligently with local and regional officials and authorities to find creative and safe ways to host this year’s air show and avoid cancellation,” asid John Cowman, president of JLC AirShow Management and organizer of WONG 2020..

“We transitioned to a drive-in air show model that fully satisfies the wide range of safety concerns while allowing us to bring exciting entertainment at a family-style venue to the residents of the tri-state area. We believe this is the ‘shot in the arm’ our community needs right now, especially during the fall, one of the most beautiful times of the year in our area.”

The USAF Thunderbirds will serve as the headlining and final performers on Saturday and Sunday in their six signature red, white and blue F-16 Falcons.”

Russell Regional Airport will be transformed to a giant drive-in style parking lot for the two-day event. There will be a limited number of tickets that must be purchased in advance. Tickets will not be sold onsite during show days.

The USAF Thunderbirds will serve as the headlining and final performers on Saturday and Sunday in their six signature red, white and blue F-16 Falcons. The Thunderbirds are internationally known for their hard-charging demonstration of precision formation flying, pushing their F-16 “Fighting Falcons” to the limit. Their precise flying routines make the Thunderbirds a must-see at 2020 Wings Over North Georgia Air Show.

The U.S. Army Golden Knights and the U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II Demonstration Teams will round out the lineup of military performers.

Opening ceremonies will begin each day with the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team. The elite group of skydivers will launch the start of aerial performances during the national anthem and will later return for a full demonstration highlighting the skill and expertise of the world’s top military parachutists.

The Golden Knights have performed and competed for more than 50 years at more than 16,000 shows in all 50 states and 48 countries.

The A-10 Thunderbolt Demonstration Team served as co-headliners for the 2018 WONG Air Show. The aircraft offers a number of unique capabilities such as rapid roll rates, low and high-speed maneuverability, and short takeoffs and landings, making it an invaluable close-air support asset.

The jet is designed for close air support (CAS) of friendly ground troops, attacking armored vehicles and tanks, providing quick-action support against enemy ground forces.

Airport parking lots will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There will be pre-show aerial demonstrations for those arriving early. Opening ceremonies will kick-off each day around 12:30 p.m. The Wings Over North Georgia airshow is an FAA, DoD, and International Council of Air Shows approved event.

For information on drive-in parking tickets, event FAQs, and a complete list of performers, visit WingsOverNorthGeorgia.com for ollow the air show’s Facebook page.

General airfield parking tickets will be sold for $130 per vehicle with a limited number of front row airfield parking tickets for $300 per car. There will be no restrictions on the number of people admitted per car as long as there are as many installed seatbelts as passengers.