Stormy weather has canceled the second day of the Frontiers in Flight Airshow at McConnell Air Force Base.
A slow-moving storm hit the Wichita area about 6:25 a.m. bringing brief heavy rain, lightning and 50 mph wind gusts, according to the National Weather Service in Wichita.
[9:30 AM Update] Scattered storms will continue through midday with the strongest storms capable of wind gusts near 50 mph, heavy rain, and frequent lightning. pic.twitter.com/qNynGkg4ZC
— NWS Wichita (@NWSWichita) August 25, 2024
“Because of damage to services, we are unable to execute a safe airshow,” the base said in a news release Sunday morning.
Base officials are still assessing the damage.
As of 11:32 a.m., the base was waiting for lightning to move out of the area before sending people out to assess damage, chief of public affairs John Van Winkle said.
“This is extremely disappointing, as we’ve been planning for two years for this airshow and looking forward to hosting our neighbors from the Air Capital and nearby communities, across Kansas and literally from the surrounding states,” Winkle said. “But one thing you learn in both aviation and hosting public events is that Mother Nature always has a vote in what you plan to do. And sometimes, like today, she can ruin all your plans.”
Base personnel will detonate the show’s pyrotechnics this afternoon after the weather clears.
“A few of the show’s aerial performances use pyrotechnics and can’t take those with them,” Winkle said. “So the safest and smartest move is for our Explosives Ordnance Disposal team to do a controlled detonation of that pyro.”
Source Agencies
