Mark your calendars for Saturday and Sunday, September 24 and 25, 2022 for the “Frontiers in Flight” air show in Wichita and McConnell Air Force base open house.
The Air Force base used to host these regularly, but Wichita hasn’t had an air show/flight festival in several years! As in previous years, admission to the 2022 air show and McConnell open house is FREE.
The base is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform alongside many other professional airshow performers!
Here is your complete guide to the Air Show 2022:
Below you will find…
- Air Show Performance Schedule
- Other things to do/see at the Wichita Air Show
- What to Bring/What to Expect
- How to Get There/Where to Park
(U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Larry E. Reid Jr.)
Wichita Air Show Schedule
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will headline the free event, along with a wide variety of civilian and military static aircraft, including the KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-46A Pegasus throughout the two-day show. In addition to the aircraft on exhibit, the extensive ramp display will include numerous types of military ground transport vehicles, and dozens of assorted vendors and agents from various institutions, organizations and associations.
The base is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform alongside many other professional airshow performers!
The Thunderbirds will close both shows on Saturday and Sunday. Pending any delays, their performance will begin at 3 pm both days.
The list of performers is long! Here are the demos and shows planned for the flight festival weekend. The plan right now is to have the same sequence of performances on both days, so if you can’t make it one day you can come the next and be sure not to miss anything.
McConnell Open House Activities
See what else is happening this week/weekend in Wichita! Click HERE
In addition to performances, the air show and McConnell open house will also have air crafts on display, lots of flight-related and STEM exhibits, and food and beverage vendors. This family-friendly event will be an exciting time for both kids and adults!
Aircraft will be parked on the flight line for you to browse through and learn about. When we went to the open house many years ago, we were able to actually go inside some of the planes! They’ll have the Dreamlifter, DOC, B-52, KC-135, C-130, F-15 and many more.
Also, some of the aircraft that will be involved in the aerial performances will be on display until, of course, it’s time to go get ready to fly!
They’ll also have bathroom facilities (probably portable), a Kids Zone, concessions, a first aid truck, souvenirs, smoking areas, and a Lost Child/Nursing Station if you need it.
What to Bring/What to Expect
Important note: This event is taking place on a United States military base. There are guidelines about what you can and cannot bring into the base with you, so to make your entrance as easy as possible, please take a look at the list of permitted/prohibited items at the air show website.
When entering the base or festival at any gate, expect TSA/airport level security. All vehicles, individuals, and items are subject to search so just go through your car and bag before you leave the house to make sure you don’t have any of the prohibited items.
You can bring strollers and diaper bags for small children, cameras or camcorders (without bags), and lawn chairs. Purses should not be bigger than one cubic foot (12″x 12″x 12″), so pack light.
Food and beverage vendors (including a beer truck) will be onsite in case you get hungry or thirsty! Refillable water bottles (not glass) are permitted, but outside food and other beverages are not.
Air Show Parking and Where to Enter McConnell Air Force Base
McConnell just released the details on parking for the 2022 Wichita Air Show and where to enter the base.
At each parking location, law enforcement will be there to help direct you into the parking lot, and volunteers will be working in the lots to guide you to a parking place.
Secondary/Handicap Parking
The secondary parking area is provided for those who have physical limitations that would inhibit their ability to walk to the air show grounds. This parking area is limited. Shuttles will be provided to take you to and from the entrance to the air show. The secondary parking lot is at Spirit Aerosystems and Air Capital Flight Line, which you can access from Oliver Street near George Washington Boulevard.
Main Gate
The only folks who can drive in through the main gate are DoD cardholders.
McConnell AFB Air Show 2022
Date: Saturday and Sunday, September 24 and 25, 2022
Time: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day
Location: McConnell Air Force Base
Cost: FREE
For more information about the McConnell Air Force Base air show, visit FrontiersinFlight.com
See what’s going on in Wichita, Kansas today.
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[lotc-tags tag=”aviation” span=”+80 days”]
