View Full Version : Air show?
Anyone going to the air show at the Aurora Res this weekend? I'd love to see the Thunderbirds (supposed to fly at 12:45 Saturday) but that's about it. Tyring to find a place nearby I can hide on my bike to watch without getting chased off by the Arapco Deps LOL.
mcantar18c
05-29-2015, 11:31
My wife is part of the organization that's putting it on (and the Rocky Mountain National Airshow, too). When I get home from work I'll ask her if she can do anything for board members.
Pretty bummed I have to work this weekend, but the good news is it will be in Hawaii so that makes up for it
SideShow Bob
05-29-2015, 16:20
I'll be watching it from my yard. Granted, I won't see the close crowd passes, I will be able to see the turnarounds. Saw the T birds doing some practice runs and returning to Buckley yesterday.
They were going nuts over my house this morning. I'll post a few pics I grabbed off the deck. Re-thinking about grabbing tickets now, was a great show.
http://i.imgur.com/8AOTZW6.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/YPxJWjb.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/T3Y9mhD.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/Vi4s51s.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/YKFJjwP.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ZFfg8EX.jpg
Last one, you can see how close they were...
http://i.imgur.com/timv2oh.jpg
My wife, baby girl and I will be there tomorrow from 10:30am on, until we're tired or our daughter gets cranky (yes, we will have ear muffs for her when needed). Drop me a PM if you want to exchange numbers and make each others acquaintance.
Aardvark
05-29-2015, 16:57
What air show?! I work on Buckley and this is the first I've heard about a show!
There's an airport out there?
wctriumph
05-29-2015, 18:14
I like the Thunderbirds better than the Blue Angels. The Thunderbirds just put on a more exciting show.
Anyone going to the air show at the Aurora Res this weekend? I'd love to see the Thunderbirds (supposed to fly at 12:45 Saturday) but that's about it. Tyring to find a place nearby I can hide on my bike to watch without getting chased off by the Arapco Deps LOL.
There is a big church near Cherokee Trail High School that overlooks the reservoir area. Right off of Smoky Hill Road.
hollohas
05-29-2015, 19:36
I saw them practicing while I was at Aurora gun club this morning. One went ballistic right off the ground and finished with some inverted stuff when he got way up there... it was truly amazing to see. Another came by much closer and slower with the smoke on, pretty cool too.
There is a big church near Cherokee Trail High School that overlooks the reservoir area. Right off of Smoky Hill Road.
A buddy told me that the roads into the reservoir area are backed up all the way to Southlands. I'm really thinking about an alternate plan like this. I'll have the little guy with me in my big jeep in case any of you other guys are around.
mcantar18c
05-30-2015, 09:36
Wife can't do anything... she's too sick to be there today. Sorry gents.
A buddy told me that the roads into the reservoir area are backed up all the way to Southlands. I'm really thinking about an alternate plan like this. I'll have the little guy with me in my big jeep in case any of you other guys are around.
Dang! We were about to head out to see the Thunderbirds. Good thing I live nearby. E-470 looks backed up and I'll assume Gun Club Rd is just as bad.
Bailey Guns
05-30-2015, 12:59
I heard the traffic was a real nightmare out there. As much as I enjoy airplanes and seeing the T-Birds, I'm not willing to put up with that kind of brain damage to see them.
Bailey Guns
05-30-2015, 13:00
Nice pics, Brian!
xblaze45
05-30-2015, 13:01
Dang! We were about to head out to see the Thunderbirds. Good thing I live nearby. E-470 looks backed up and I'll assume Gun Club Rd is just as bad.
Ooooo thunderbirds!!! Saw them in an air show in Oklahoma back in high school ROTC. Great show you'll love it.
Well, we didn't make it to the show, but we did watch it from our backyard. Our tickets for Saturday are being accepted on Sunday because of the traffic jams and people complaining.
Anyone know why they are having the show at the reservoir this year vs Jeffco airport where they have previously held it?
Saw some jets fly over the house.
My family and I went, spent 3 hrs in traffic and I live on Quincy and picadilly!!! Was fun but don't think I would pay to do that again.
Well my daughter-in-law convinced me to join her, the 19 month old grandmunchkin and her mother for the show today (my son is out of town unfortunately). We got there about 8:30, got parked easily enough, wandered around, put the kiddo in the SEAL Fast Attack Vehicle-he loved that, picked out a spot on the beach and had a really good time. We stayed to watch the Thunderbirds and then like most of the crowd headed out.
The Thunderbirds couldn't have asked for better conditions and we the spectators got a great show to watch.
Getting out of there was a complete cluster-fuck. The area where the buses dropped was too tight so if a bus in line dropped all it's passengers it couldn't get around the ones in front still unloading. There was massive miscommunication between the cops, the "traffic/parking attendants" and the bus drivers. Leaving was a total mess. It took close to 50 minutes from the time we started waiting for the bus, getting to the car, getting out of the parking lot and hitting Quincy. This reminds me of why I rarely go to events anymore-well, besides hating crowds LOL.
However, my little guy had a great time, learned a new word-"jet" and I got to spend quality time with him.
This was the worst planned event I've ever been too. Though I have never been to a Gathering of the Guggalos. I don't get it the Arapahoe count fair is in nearly the same spot, and it was way more resonably run. Stay home on Sunday because all the over flows from today are going to be allowed to come.
I know you cant park on Quincy, gun club, or 470, but what about in the neighborhoods to the south of the Res? My plan is to park in there and just walk in on that side of the res? This will put you on the south side anyway and if you want to see the Tbirds without staring into the sun you are far better off.
I don't understand why they charge for this. Last I recall Aurora Res is funded by tax payer money and I know the Tbirds are funded by taxpayer money. Really wish they would do this right and have it at Buckley like a proper airshow. Every other AFB I have ever been to does free airshows? Why is Colorado brain dead when it comes to airshows?
Here are what I think my best pictures that I took today out at the Aurora Reservoir.
http://imgur.com/a/wF90d#0
http://i.imgur.com/HnGgwk3h.jpg
Some of my photos from today:
http://imgur.com/a/wF90d#0
Traffic and parking was a shit show. Took an hour and a half between getting on to Quincy at Gun Club, and actually parking the car. The shuttle buses weren't moving, so I hiked it the mile and a half to the res, managed to walk up to beach two minutes before the T-bird started.
I was on the south side watching from the South Shore neighborhood. The cops were patrolling the neighborhoods and they were not letting anybody into the reservoir at any of the walk in gates on the south side.
clublights
05-30-2015, 20:55
My Company is providing power for the whole event .
But I have missed it because I was in Wyoming doing another show .
Looks like an awesome show, at least I got to see an awesome aircraft carrier and a destroyer leaving Pearl Harbor today
Great-Kazoo
05-30-2015, 21:38
Nice. What time you get there. They say gates open 2 hrs early tomorrow.
hurley842002
05-30-2015, 22:18
Here are what I think my best pictures that I took today out at the Aurora Reservoir.
http://imgur.com/a/wF90d#0
http://i.imgur.com/HnGgwk3h.jpg
Awesome pic, but don't we have a thread about the show already?
Nice. What time you get there. They say gates open 2 hrs early tomorrow.
I left my place in Parker at 10am, it took about 40 minutes to get to Quincy and Gun Club, then one and a half hours to get to the reservoir from there. Walked onto the beach at 12:28, with the Thunderbirds starting their display at 12:30.
Awesome pic, but don't we have a thread about the show already?
Yeah, I hadn't seen that thread at the time.
Looks like an awesome show, at least I got to see an awesome aircraft carrier and a destroyer leaving Pearl Harbor today
Did you kick the ass of the guy driving that hospital ship?
We watched from a hill off Smokey Hill today - I'm sure it wasn't as great as being on the beach there, but it was nice. Glad we didn't try to make it in. I have several friends who left too late (left their house at 9 or 9:30 to get to the reservoir before noon supposedly) who were stuck watching the tbirds from Gun Club or Quincy. They are not happy. On the other hand, I did have a smart friend who went the long way around - I70 I assume, and then came back down Quincy from the East, he guessed it saved at least an hour if not more off their drive time. If you're going tomorrow, might be an option worth trying. Zip East on I 70 and then cut down south to Quincy and come from the East.
Hope the weather is as good tomorrow. We plan to watch again, from outside the park though.
Ridge - nice pics!
The traffic was nuts. Cut off all my routes for work.
Supposedly if people still can't get in today funds will be refunded. Never had issues like these at the Broomfield shows.
BPTactical
05-31-2015, 10:28
Anyone know why they are having the show at the reservoir this year vs Jeffco airport where they have previously held it?
My money would say:
1- US 36 and the surrounding area is under major renovations, nobody wants to deal with the traffic hassles.
2- And this is the biggie- whenever there is a show at RMA(Formerly Jeffco) there is always plenty of whining from the area residents about the noise, the risk etc.
Well then why the hell did you buy a place near an airport that has been there 50+ years?
RMA has been under the microscope since the mid 90's when a F86 burned in south of the airport near Ball Aerospace during a show.
I still gotta ask - is there an airport out there? I looked on Google maps, didn't see one. To me, an airshow's gotta have lots of planes on the ground, static displays, etc.
Big Wall
05-31-2015, 11:32
No airport. The Thunderbirds flew out of Buckley and it sounded like the others we're flying out of Centennial and RMA. The show was really slow but it was worth it to see the Thunderbirds. The lady announcer was annoying and messed up the pledge of allegiance
I still gotta ask - is there an airport out there? I looked on Google maps, didn't see one. To me, an airshow's gotta have lots of planes on the ground, static displays, etc.
Buckley is close of course, which is what I assume the big jets use, and there's also a couple of what'd you'd probably call little regional airports there. Front Range airport is my guess as to what the little guys use. It's just a little NE of Watkins.
Sounds like a piss-poor attempt at an airshow to me.
Buckley is close of course, which is what I assume the big jets use, and there's also a couple of what'd you'd probably call little regional airports there. Front Range airport is my guess as to what the little guys use. It's just a little NE of Watkins.
That's what I think. Centennial and Front Range for the civvies. The announcers yesterday said that they were working with 3 airports for this. I figure Buckley for the Thunderbirds, and I saw unique aircraft flying in to Centennial last weekend.
I still gotta ask - is there an airport out there? I looked on Google maps, didn't see one. To me, an airshow's gotta have lots of planes on the ground, static displays, etc.
they had a few static displays there. I'm guessing they were towed out there from the surrounding airports.
No airport. The Thunderbirds flew out of Buckley and it sounded like the others we're flying out of Centennial and RMA. The show was really slow but it was worth it to see the Thunderbirds. The lady announcer was annoying and messed up the pledge of allegiance
This ^ +100!! We were sitting near the boat launch and could barely hear any of the announcers (not always a bad thing except when the Thunderbirds were in the air). The music came out loud enough but not the voices. A friend and his wife went today, curious to hear how their experience was. Hopefully from here on out the show will be back in Broomfield.
My money would say:
1- US 36 and the surrounding area is under major renovations, nobody wants to deal with the traffic hassles.
2- And this is the biggie- whenever there is a show at RMA(Formerly Jeffco) there is always plenty of whining from the area residents about the noise, the risk etc.
Well then why the hell did you buy a place near an airport that has been there 50+ years?
RMA has been under the microscope since the mid 90's when a F86 burned in south of the airport near Ball Aerospace during a show.
36 is almost completed, I can't see any delays due to traffic. I've heard about the complaints from people/assholes that live nearby though.
HoneyBadger
05-31-2015, 15:36
Nice pics, Ridge. Best airshow I ever saw had the thunderbirds right over our heads. It was a blast.
gnihcraes
05-31-2015, 16:27
RMA has been under the microscope since the mid 90's when a F86 burned in south of the airport near Ball Aerospace during a show.
It was a sad event to witness. :(
I heard today that the cops were out on the roads, telling people that if they weren't past a certain point at X time, that they weren't going to make it, and should turn around and go home.
It's too bad - I enjoyed having the show down here in our neck of the woods, can't believe they'll ever have it there at the reservoir again though, not without some major overhaul and widening of the roads.
My wife looked online Friday afternoon and saw ticket prices were $25 for the online discounted tickets and wisely said she'd rather do something else. I'm glad we didn't find ourselves in the traffic fubar...
This airshow proves two things:
1- There are a large number of air-minded people in Colorado.
2- There is a serious lack of proficient people to organize an airshow in Colorado.
It seems like RMA is still doing their late summer airshow at JeffCo. It sounds like this might have been a smaller venue solely to fit in the Thunderbirds schedule, which I'm appreciative of.
Might make the trip to see family in Seattle the beginning of August, go see the Blue Angels at Seafair, YEAH!!! They're better anyway because they have to land on ships..........[Coffee]
MrsCantar357
06-01-2015, 22:48
Hey guys, I wanted to clear a few things up and also apoligize for the parking fiasco.
The reason we did not have the show at Jeffco airport was due to the taxiway being paved and having to accommodate the Thunderbirds' schedule.
We will be having our annual airshow (RMA) at Jeffco this August and if any other events are held at the Aurora Res it will be after the city adds 2 more lanes and a second entry/exit point.
If anyone purchased tickets and was unable to get to the show due to traffic we will be offering refunds. You can email us at refund@cosportaviation.org
If you have any other questions or just want to bitch about something, feel free to send me a PM and I'll do my best to answer.
Thanks!
mcantar18c
06-01-2015, 22:52
*RE-paved. Geez, at least get your facts straight.
I enjoyed the show, personally. The traffic situation sucked, but that's more the fault of the venue, and not the event.
My only complaint regarding anything the organizers did was needing tickets to purchase food, and not making it clear beforehand that that would be the only way to buy food.
*RE-paved. Geez, at least get your facts straight.
ha, oh come on, give her a break. You know what she meant. Are you two related "Cantar" and all...?
MrsCantar357
06-02-2015, 22:17
I enjoyed the show, personally. The traffic situation sucked, but that's more the fault of the venue, and not the event.
My only complaint regarding anything the organizers did was needing tickets to purchase food, and not making it clear beforehand that that would be the only way to buy food.
Anything to do with vendors is not within my jurisdiction but I will make sure that information gets to the right ears.
Nice to hear you enjoyed the show!
MrsCantar357
06-02-2015, 22:19
ha, oh come on, give her a break. You know what she meant. Are you two related "Cantar" and all...?
Much worse, married...
mcantar18c
06-02-2015, 23:06
Much worse, married...
That means we're related, hun.
She's a blonde, folks.
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