THUNDER IS JUST 50 DAYS AWAY AS OF SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26

2000-02-25T10:41:30

Fifty days and counting. That’s how long until the skies over Louisville and Southern Indiana are once again filled with the sights and sounds that make up Thunder Over Louisville. The annual air show and fireworks spectacle is now just seven weeks away, and will be more anticipated than ever.

Thunder 2000 – the Kentucky Derby Festival’s opening ceremonies - will be held on Saturday, April 15, with the theme “A Millennium Thunder.” The 11th annual extravaganza on the Ohio River promises to deliver the kind of breathtaking pyrotechnics and aerial showmanship that draws visitors from all over the country. The FoodFest and Airshow begin at 3 p.m.; the fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

The Thunder Airshow will rival past years and will feature stunt teams and private and military aircraft. It will include crowd favorites such as the Aerial Allstars Skydiving Team, Steve Hill Aerobatics, the North American Aerobatic Team, Mohr Barnstorming and the Lima Lima Lima Precision Aerobatic Team. The military portion of the event will showcase a variety of aircraft. Among those scheduled to appear are T-34, -37 and -38 Trainers, the KC-135 Jet Refueler for Stealth Fighters, Coast Guard HH-65 Helicopters and an F-16 Jet Fighter demonstration. Three riveting aerial demonstrations will also be part of the show. Two UH-69 Blackhawk Helicopters will demonstrate their fire-fighting capability by extinguishing a fire utilizing the “Bambi Bucket,” which carries in excess of 600 gallons of water. A Blackhawk Helicopter will rappel members of the Kentucky Air National Guard onto a barge to demonstrate a rescue technique used when aircraft cannot land. A para-jumper from the 123rd Special Tactics Flight of the Kentucky Air National Guard will simulate a downed aircraft scenario by para-jumping into the river. A UH-60 Helicopter will be deployed to recover the jumper from the water.

This year’s Thunder Over Louisville was in jeopardy until five sponsors – Blue Chip Broadcasting, Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., Caesar’s Indiana, Ford Motor Co. and United Parcel Service – stepped forward to provide sponsorship for the event. The new team of companies and the ongoing Thunder Funder program will ensure Thunder’s longevity.

A generous Thunder fan will start the fireworks show. Late last year, when it appeared 2000 Thunder Over Louisville might not take place, the Festival received a touching letter from 12-year-old Matt Marks of LaGrange. Matt was so distressed at the thought of not having Thunder, he sent in his allowance to help save the show. Because of his generous and heartfelt offer, Matt will turn the key that will ignite the initial volley of pyrotechnics to kick off the fireworks show.

Zambelli Internationale, America’s “first family of fireworks,” will once again stage the massive show that can be seen for miles around. As quoted in a 1998 Discovery Channel documentary, “Fireworks,” “Thunder is (currently) the largest fireworks show in the world … quite possibly ever.” Said Derby Festival President Mike Berry, “Our new sponsors aim to please a community that has come to expect a bigger and better Thunder every year,” said Berry. “That tradition will certainly continue in 2000.”

For the 11th year, Visual Presentations has been contracted to produce the pyrotechnic spectacular of Thunder. “I’m thrilled to be involved again,” said Wayne Hettinger, president of Visual Presentations. “And I’m proud to be associated with the Derby Festival and this internationally renowned event.” Hettinger said this year’s fireworks will make the Second Street Bridge “dance” to the accompanying music, and the fireworks will “appear more animated in the venue.” He said to appreciate this special effect, “you will have to be there.” Hettinger added that the show will feature a “musical sampling from the last century” and the finale will be a “red, white and blue salute to America.”

Thunder Over Louisville, which attracts more than 600,000 people to both sides of the Ohio River, provides an economic impact of $14 million to the local community. The Festival’s signature event kicks off a three-week-long civic celebration which includes more than 70 other special events, including the miniMarathon, Great Balloon Race and Pegasus Parade.