2024 Defenders of Freedom Airshow

[almighty_tuna]

Here are some of my pics from the air show today.

[nebugeater]

Here are a few of what I took

Air Show-1010 by Loren, on Flickr


Air Show-1017 by Loren, on Flickr


Air Show-1047 by Loren, on Flickr


Air Show-1083 by Loren, on Flickr

[nebugeater]

Air Show-1109 by Loren, on Flickr


Air Show-1153 by Loren, on Flickr


Air Show-1216 by Loren, on Flickr


Air Show-1248 by Loren, on Flickr

[nebugeater]

Air Show-1293 by Loren, on Flickr


Air Show-1350 by Loren, on Flickr


Air Show-1370 by Loren, on Flickr



Air Show-1395 by Loren, on Flickr

[nebugeater]

Air Show-1449 by Loren, on Flickr



Air Show-1466 by Loren, on Flickr



Air Show-1474 by Loren, on Flickr


Air Show-1488 by Loren, on Flickr

[nebugeater]

Air Show-1554 by Loren, on Flickr



Air Show-1568 by Loren, on Flickr


Air Show-1572 by Loren, on Flickr



Air Show-1590 by Loren, on Flickr

[nebugeater]

Air Show-1641 by Loren, on Flickr



Air Show-1649 by Loren, on Flickr


Air Show-1660 by Loren, on Flickr


Air Show-1738 by Loren, on Flickr

[nebugeater]

More can be found here


https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebugeate ... 0319758802

[almighty_tuna]

Ah man, you're one of the lucky ones who got on base! Nice shots, Loren!

[nebugeater]

This was the first show in six years due to runway rebuild, COVID, flood damage, etc. The crowd was good, even with the heat. This was the first year ( I have been to many) that no parking was allowed on the base without a military ID. That is OK if there is a plan in place that is workable, but what was in place needed to be more adequate. They were completely missed the advanced notifications, Signs, the Size of staging areas, and the number of buses, among other things. There were multiple parking and shuttle sites. I parked at Southroads. It was over an hour after parking to get a bus to get to the gates. I was there really early too to get a place to be that worked for photos close to the fence line. Leaving, I was almost two hours waiting for a bus one I got to the staging area, and had I headed toward the gates before the Thunderbirds were done flying. I see reports of people waiting over 3 ½ hours to get on a bus. With people packed together with little or no air and no place to buy water, many were having issues, not knowing the length of time they would need to wait. The medical people did a good job. In my wait, I say at least four ambulances roll in and take people in addition to many medical people helping without taking people out. They were starting to hand out some bottled water to those in need as I got to a bus, but it was way too little too late. There really needs to be some serious reevaluation of the system in place, should be some apologies to the general public, and a new plan that is COMMUNICATED very well before the next show. I sure hope our nation’s defense is better planned and executed than this was. I love an air show, but If there is no plan communicated very well and detailed for future Defender of Freedom shows at Offit, this may have been my last.

[Brad]

Wow, between you and Tuna, plus several social media posts, it sounds like a complete |expletive| show down there. I’m going with my original plan of shooting photos from outside the base like I did last time the thunderbirds were here.

Great Photos!

[nebugeater]

Some comments on social media, including responses to mine elsewhere, say, "Thought |expletive|. It was hot. Plan for it."

That is not the point at all. This was about parking and shuttling. In fact, if it had been 20 Degrees cooler, there would have been a lot more people there, and the issues would have compounded greatly.

[Brad]

What were they using for shuttles yesterday? Today it looked like a mix of everything. Everything from the Huskers team bus to old retired school busses.

[almighty_tuna]

Yesterday looked like a mix as well, heavier on the school busses that I saw.

[nebugeater]

What were they using for shuttles yesterday? Today it looked like a mix of everything. Everything from the Huskers team bus to old retired school busses.

School buses, a few charter buses, and a couple of military buses that I assume were for VIPs.

The first bus I was on was a Council Bluffs School bus. The second was "generic"

[nebugeater]

I didn't do a count, but did anyone else feel that fewer planes were flown at the show this year than at past shows?

[Brad]

I didn't do a count, but did anyone else feel that fewer planes were flown at the show this year than at past shows?

My buddy said they had no bombers this year and the bombers are the backbone of the Airforce.

He also pointed out no F22s or F35s in the air.

[skinzfan23]

We took the shuttle from American Heroes Park on Sunday and thankfully we were boarded right away. I did find it weird that they went all the way to the Fairview Rd exit on Hwy 75 instead of Capehart. Upon leaving, we again boarded immediately. It sounds like they took the criticism seriously and made some adjustments for Sunday's show.

On a side note, I think the Thunderbirds just left. I could hear them flying over right now.

[nebugeater]

We took the shuttle from American Heroes Park on Sunday and thankfully we were boarded right away. I did find it weird that they went all the way to the Fairview Rd exit on Hwy 75 instead of Capehart. Upon leaving, we again boarded immediately. It sounds like they took the criticism seriously and made some adjustments for Sunday's show.

On a side note, I think the Thunderbirds just left. I could hear them flying over right now.

I did see many comments that Sunday was much improved.

I wonder what the crowd size was on Saturday. Vs. Sun.? If it was smaller that would help too

[skinzfan23]

No idea on Sunday's crowd size, but based on recent times when I have gone, it didn't appear that it was too many. I am sure being so hot, the issues with buses on saturday and the fact that out of town people probably preferred to go on saturday to get back home.

The bus driver we had did tell us that they were constantly going on saturday, while on sunday, there were 7-8 buses lined up waiting for people.

[FishFighter92]

Another Sunday customer chiming in...walked right on the bus, waited 15 mins to leave on a bus, show was not as crowded as previous shows. Free water was in an odd location, but it was fine. Plenty of medics carting people away. All around a good time, but did seem like less aircraft flying. They should have provided free sunscreen.

[skinzfan23]

Another Sunday customer chiming in...walked right on the bus, waited 15 mins to leave on a bus, show was not as crowded as previous shows. Free water was in an odd location, but it was fine. Plenty of medics carting people away. All around a good time, but did seem like less aircraft flying. They should have provided free sunscreen.

Agree, even my 8 year old sun said that. It was at the entrance/exit and sitting in the sun. He said that the water was hotter than a jacuzzi.