There wasn’t any rain in sight for fans who attended the show, but there were plenty of black smoke clouds floating through the air simulating actual explosions during a battle re-enactment.
Sharon Rostovich, aviation director at Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport, said about 22,000 people attended the weekend air show, but only about half of Saturday’s turnout came out on Sunday. “We had a phenomenal turnout this weekend, considering. The flu scare may have kept some people away and the weather kept people away,” she said.
Aviation fans were sprinkled across grassy fields in lawn chairs with umbrellas and lying on blankets enjoying the beautiful weather while taking in the show. Carnival-type foods and attractions were also a crowd pleaser during the two-day air show.
Volunteer Nick Hooke of La Porte offered helicopter rides on behalf of the Collings Foundation to raise money to restore war birds. He said about 50 people over the last two days had climbed aboard the helicopter to take a ride around Temple.
Hooke, who was in the Air Force and served in the Vietnam War, said this was only his second time at an air show. While Hooke did enjoy watching the battle reenactment, he said, “No one can simulate the real thing completely, but it is realistic enough.”
Kids and adults who were young at heart could strap themselves into a harness and bounce around on a trampoline to hone their back-flip skills on the power jump without the concern of falling.Brothers Brayden, 9, Tristan, 11, and Justus Czajkoski, 14, of China Spring had a turn on the power jump ride and said it was awesome. The two younger brothers said it was their favorite attraction at the show while Justus said he most enjoyed the Vietnam reenactment.
A flight simulator was available to give rides that mimic a P-57 Mustang. The simulator made a complete barrel roll and played actual footage of a flight through the Mojave Desert on a screen.
After Paul Garcia, 14, of Waco finished his ride on the simulator he said, “The ride was kinda cool.” His 13-year-old brother Jeffrey Smallwood didn’t give it quite the same review. “It was okay,” he said.
Previous Temple airshows offered a night show, but this year it had to be skipped due to expenses. Rostovich said that it will return, although it may not be next year.
