ST. GEORGE – In conjunction with the upcoming Thunder Over Utah Air Show in Utah’s Dixie March 17-18, Dixie State College of Utah will welcome the United States Navy Blue Angels to campus for a special community event on Friday, March 16, beginning at 8:30 a.m., at the Eccles Fine Arts Center Mainstage Theater.
The event is free and open to all DSC students, faculty and staff, and the community to attend.
The convocation will feature a formal program introducing the U.S. Navy Blue Angel pilots and crew, along with a performance by Northwest Passage, the Navy’s top-40 style rock band. This will be a great event for all high school and college age students and the community to meet and greet the Navy Blue Angel pilots, who will share their thoughts on flying, leadership and what it means to be a front runner in America.
In addition, there will be a Navy Simulator Ride on site in the Eccles parking lot that will be open to the public that morning until 12 p.m. The Navy Simulator is a full-motion ride with high-definition video and surround-sound that simulates the environments in which the U.S. Navy operates, whether under the sea, on the ocean, or in the air and outer space.
For more information, please contact the DSC Public Relations Department at 435-652-7544, or Dan Puleio at Navy Recruiting District Denver Public Affairs at 303-866-1984, ex. 300.
The Thunder Over Utah Air Show will be held at the new St. George Airport on Saturday and Sunday, March 17-18. The event features the United States Navy Blue Angels, single-ship military demonstrations, classic warbirds, civilian performers, static aircraft displays and fun activities for kids and families. For tickets and more information, visit www.ThunderOverUtah.com.
Thunder Over Utah… What a ripp-off of the public. The Blue Angels are already paid for as part of our military. Their mission is to enhance Navy and Marine Corps recruiting efforts and to represent the naval service to the United States. They should not allow themselves to be exploited for someone elses profits as they are for this show!
A better representation is the USAF Thunderbirds. Watch for a open house at either Nellis AFB or Hill AFB. Typically these shows are totally free (except for food and drink concessions) and have more displays and flight domonstrations.
American citizens deserve to be treated to these shows that feature teams that they have already paid for through their taxes.
Mr. Walker, You don’t really know what you’re talking about. Even though the Blue Angels are taxpayer funded through the Military, they charge $6000 per show ($12000) in this case, the show sponsors are also responsible for accommodation expenses of up to 60 hotel rooms above and beyond what the DoD max lodging rate covers, in addition the show sponsors must provide an athletic facility and 31-35 vehicles for the team to use as ground transportation, some of these are donated for use by local dealers but most have to be rented, the gasoline and full coverage insurance for these vehicles must also be paid for. On top of that the sponsors provide 50 cases of bottled water, 130lbs of ice + enough food and other beverages to feed their 65 person team for three days during the shows, there is also a myriad of ground support equipment that must be supplied for the team along with hangar space and a 55 gallon drum of smoke oil all of which has to be paid for by the show sponsor and we haven’t even covered the operational expenses of a show, items such as ticket printing, portable toilets, the cost of permits and fees, some police agencies charge for traffic control etc.
Large airshows on Military bases are paid for primarily by proceeds from concession stands, base operation funding and private sponsors, these shows normally draw hundreds of thousands of people, smaller shows, such as Thunder of Utah have only a fraction of the attendees.
Some people just don’t get it! Mr. Walker is obviously unaware of the cost of putting on an air show. I am quite happy to pay a very small fee to watch the Blue Angels, F22 Raptor, V22 Osprey, C130. I will be joining the 40,000 + other attendees that feel the same way. Mr. Walker will most likely sit on his front porch and yell at young hooligans all weekend.
Oh yeah, I guess he also missed the article about the economic impact the show will have. Its estimated that this will bring over $4,000,000.00 to the community.
Congratulations to the people responsible for bringing such an excelent show!!!
Excelent idea and such an event should make all the people in St George very proud. Iam!!!
I am ready for the next one!!!