The 52nd annual Dayton Air Show is set to begin Saturday with nearly all of the displays and performers already in place, giving the weekend a ready-to-go feel before the first aircraft takes off. Gates will open at 9 a.m., and flying is expected to start around 10 a.m.
The show is expected to draw more than 30,000 people, and organizers are warning attendees to plan for heavy traffic. Scott Buchanan said he would try to arrive between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. because there will be a lot of traffic just to get set, and he advised visitors to arrive early. Drivers are also being told to follow the directions of parking directors once they reach the grounds.
That early arrival advice matters because tickets at the front gate cost $33 each for anyone who did not buy in advance. For visitors who are still deciding when to leave, the practical answer is simple: the air show starts before the flying does, and both the parking lot and the entrance gates are expected to fill fast.
The Dayton Air Show weekend brings aircraft displays and performances from around the world, but the immediate issue for Saturday is access, not the lineup. With most of the participants already on site and the crowd expected to top 30,000, the biggest challenge before the show opens will be getting there in time to see it.
