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Army Golden Knights to rain down on Prairie Air Show

Posted December 18, 2007 10:00 pm

Jordan Wilson

To go along with the world-renowned Blue Angels, Peoria air show officials announced Tuesday the rest of the lineup for the 2008 show.

Brett Krause, director of the Prairie Air Show, highlighted The Golden Knights Parachute Team and an F-15C Eagle demonstration as two other main attractions for the April 19-20 air show.

Even with the new additions, Krause stressed the appeal of the Blue Angels, which only performs about 20 times a year while receiving more than 60 requests. Krause said the Blue Angels simultaneously fly six jets about 18 inches apart from one another and are undoubtedly the biggest draw to this year's festival. The act last visited Peoria in 2004.

"They're truly the most sought-after act in the world," Krause said.

With these additions to complement the Blue Angels, all four branches of the Armed Services will be represented. The U.S. Air Force provides the F-15C Eagle, the Blue Angels represent the U.S. Navy and Marines and the Golden Knights represent the U.S. Army.

According to the Army's Web site, goarmy.com, the Golden Knights are the most-winning parachute team in the world.

"The lineup built for 2008 would rival any air show in the country," Krause said.

The lineup also boasts TinStix of Dynamite, an act that features two aircraft crossing each other, barely avoiding collision, while pyrotechnicians ignite explosives on the ground where they cross.

The 2007 air show drew about 35,000 visitors, and organizers are hoping for an even bigger turnout this year. Krause said ticket prices will jump Jan. 2 because of high prices of jet fuel. However, he said any tickets bought in 2007 will be sold at the 2007 price, which is $10 for adults and $6 for children.

Aside from a change in price, the 2008 air show will launch about three months earlier than it did this year, which should make it the first major Midwest air show in 2008.

The show was originally scheduled for July, but Krause said the date had to be moved up in order to accommodate the Blue Angels.

While April 2008 may bring Blue Angels to the skies, April 2007 brought with it unseasonably late snow, which is one reason Krause said moving the date so early could be a gamble.

"We'll just pray, pray and pray some more that we have a great weekend the third weekend of April," Krause said.

Mark Moehlenkamp, the president of Oasis Marketing, said his company is already busy promoting the 2009 show, which will be the 25th edition.

Jordan Wilson can be reached at (309) 686-3251 or jwilson@pjstar.com.

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