The new Baer Field Heritage Air Park only hints at the legacy of Fort Wayne’s Air National Guard base.
Rain and low clouds shut down the Fort Wayne Air Show earlier than expected Saturday, but today’s events will continue as scheduled despite a good chance of rain.
The show was slated to close at 5 p.m. Saturday, but air show officials decided to stop letting in spectators about 2 p.m. because of the weather.
“It let loose on us pretty good. The ceilings are too low to continue flying this afternoon,” said Capt. Rebecca Metzger, public affairs officer for the Air National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing. “But before the rain hit, it was incredible.”
She said the rain prompted many people to leave at once, snarling traffic. About that time, Journal Gazette photographer Swikar Patel was on his way to capture images of the air show, and he got caught in a lengthy backup on Ardmore Avenue. He said it took him an hour to drive a half-mile.
Today is the last day of the three-day air show at the Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base, and events are expected to go off as planned.
“We will see what Mother Nature brings to us,” she said. “We are holding our breath and hoping we will have a good day of flying tomorrow.”
On Saturday evening, the National Weather Service was predicting a 70 percent chance of rain for today.
The air show will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, with various aircraft on display. The airborne performances will run from noon to 4 p.m.
Spectators should park at Wayne High School or the Air Trade Center at Fort Wayne International Airport. The red and green lots will be closed, Metzger said.
