Recreation

Look Up

Chippewa Valley Boy Scouts bring back air show featuring Blue Angels

Claire Jeffries |

The only way Tim Olson, one of the organizers of the air show and former president of the Chippewa Valley Chapter of Boy Scouts of America, could describe the show was, “Impressive. You’d have to see it for yourself.” Some of the performers will be the U.S. Army Golden Knights, the U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet Demo Team, and headlining the show, the Blue Angels. The last time the Blue Angels were in the area was in 1998. The local Boy Scouts have been planning an air show for the past five years, but due to the Blue Angels’ tight schedule, they didn’t get them until this year. But the Scouts are very excited for this year’s air show. “When the [Blue Angels] arrive, everyone in the Chippewa Valley is going to know,” said Olson. The jets are supposed to arrive on Sept. 11 at 11am. Olson has organized many air shows in the area, his first being in 1983, and he says that when the jets come, there are always “a few calls to 911 wondering what’s going on.” The Friday before the performances, many of the pilots will be visiting schools in the area such as North, Memorial, and Chippewa Falls high schools and talking with the students. It seemed perfect that the Boy Scouts host the air show because of the “uniform, the military style, and some of the pilots are former Eagle Scouts. It just seemed like a good fit,” said Olson.

    Chippewa Valley Air Show • Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13-14 • Chippewa Valley Regional Airport • 8:30am • $14 advance, $20 gate, FREE children under 13 with paid adult admission • 831-2345 • www.2008airshow.com