According to an announcement made on January 4, Whiteman Air Force Base canceled its Wings Over Whiteman air and space show, which was tentatively scheduled for June 2022.
Base officials canceled the event due to “competing mission priorities,” according to a press release.
“For now, Whiteman Air Force Base will focus our resources on carrying out nuclear operations and a global attack … anytime, anywhere,” the statement read.
“This decision was not made lightly, as we know that many of our service members, their families, and the surrounding communities are looking forward to such an exciting event,” said Colonel Daniel Diehl, 509th Bombardment Wing commander. ” We plan to spend the next several years creating the best possible airshow experience for all participants and visitors in 2024. “
The press release went on to say that Whiteman AFB plans to host the next “Wings Over Whiteman Air and Space Show” in 2024.
So it looks like it will be about two and a half years before you can expect to see another air show at Whiteman. The last one I attended was June 15, 2019. So that’s a five-year span of no airshow at Whiteman.
However, there are other options.
The Spirit of St. Louis Air Show is scheduled for June 11-12 in Chesterfield.
Tarkio’s “Best Air Show” is scheduled for July 9 at Gould Peterson Municipal Airport in Tarkio.
The Kansas City Air Show is scheduled for September 3-4 at the New Century Air Center in Gardner Kansas.
The air show and open house at McConnell Air Force Base are scheduled for Sept. 24-25 in Wichita, Kansas.
If you’re willing to drive to Arkansas, there’s the Wings Over Bryant Air Show scheduled for June 25 at the Saline County Regional Airport in Bryant, Arkansas, and the North Little Rock Air Show, scheduled for October 21-22.
There are four air shows scheduled for Illinois in 2022.
There is the TMB Avenger Reunion at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru, Illinois from May 20-21. There is the “Airplane Parade” at Bolingbrook Airport June 4-5. There is “Wings Over Mattoon” at the Coles County Airport on August 20. And there’s the Chicago Air & Water Show on the Lake Michigan Waterfront from August 20-21.
If you like their airshow mixed with pyrotechnics, go see the Dubuque air show and fireworks on July 3 at “Lock & Dam # 11” on the Mississippi River.
If you’re driving to Oklahoma on October 1, don’t miss the Altus Air Force Base open house and air show.
If you want to see the USAF Thunderbirds in 2022, there are about 33 scheduled dates at various air shows in the US.
The United States Navy Blue Angels also have exactly 33 scheduled dates at air shows across the United States.
All this according to milavia.net.
For more information on future WAFB events, visit https://www.facebook.com/wingsoverwhiteman/.
For current information, visit www.whiteman.af.mil or contact 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs at (660) 687-5727 or email 509bw.public.affairs@us.af.mil.
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