Thunderbirds Show Columbus AFB Sat. Traffic Advise Needed

[WrapItDog]

Looking for some advise from the Columbus area folks. Last time I went to the Thunderbirds show 20 plus years ago traffic was a cluster 17 coming from Strakville. Hwy 45 was backed up to 82 and took forever.

This time I will be coming in from the north from Tupelo. My options are 45 Alt. to West Point and enter the base at the Hwy 50 entrance or 45 from Aberdeen to the base North entrance. Is it possible to take Hwy 373 (just south of Hamilton) or Barton Ferry Rd and get in the base from either one of these roads? Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[starkvegasdawg]

I hope that's not the case this year. I was planning on taking the kids but was going to wait until later in the day so they would be exhausted when the Thunderbirds performed. Was hoping with this being in Columbus it would not be as big a draw. Went to the air show in Tuscaloosa a few years ago and had to park 4 miles from the airport. That was not a fun day with a one year old and a wife that was 8 months pregnant. After the show I was able to walk the four miles back to the truck faster than I could fight traffic back to the entrance to pick up the wife and kid who were to the point of exhaustion. I will be coming from Starkville and hope things are not as bad as you mentioned 20 years ago.

 

[drt7891]

I went back 4-5 years ago and traffic getting in was not bad at all (came up 45N, took the main entrance in). Getting out took a while, though. We had to park on the main service road about a mile and a half from show center.

Most of the time, if you don't mid walking, these shows are a lot of fun.

 

[WrapItDog]

Coming from Starkville I would go through West Point and enter the base on Hwy 50. Maybe someone who has been to some of the larger attended recent events like the Go 4th Fireworks Show can give us some advice. I called the AFB this AM to try and get an estimated time for the Thunderbirds. They would not give an aprox. time. Only info given was multiple air/flying demonstrations scheduled and the event starts at noon.

Link to Thunderbirds and CAFB Open House
http://www.columbus.af.mil/library/airshow.asp

 

[starkvegasdawg]

Coming from Starkville I would go through West Point and enter the base on Hwy 50. Maybe someone who has been to some of the larger attended recent events like the Go 4th Fireworks Show can give us some advice. I called the AFB this AM to try and get an estimated time for the Thunderbirds. They would not give an aprox. time. Only info given was multiple air/flying demonstrations scheduled and the event starts at noon.

Link to Thunderbirds and CAFB Open House
http://www.columbus.af.mil/library/airshow.asp

That's crap they won't give a time. From past airshows they usually have the main event around 3:00-3:30.

 

[rabiddawg]

Word of advice. If there is any chance of low clouds they will not fly. I have been to 3 air shows featuring the Thunderbirds and have NEVER seen them perform because of low ceiling. I'm not saying don't go. Just keep in mind tgat if that is your only reason it will be a waste of time if there's low clouds.

 

[drt7891]

I've only seen the thunderbirds once... But I know the blue angels have a "low show" they do if there are clouds. Do the thunderbirds not do that?

 

[rabiddawg]

They do not. I have seen the Angels perform many times, some in not optimal weather. The TBirds only have one show and it is high ceiling. Made we question if we really do have an all weather Air Force as they claim.

 

[WrapItDog]

I went to a Tbird show in Merdian and a heavy thunderstorm blew through a hour or so before the show. It cleared up and was smoking hot/humid. The show went off as planned. The unexpected wet t-shirt scenery was a nice bonus. I guess I've been lucky. One Tbird show and several Angels shows all flew as scheduled.