City adds flyover to July 4 festivities
What more could the City of Russellville add to its Fourth of July festivities that already include a day full of live music, festival food and a car show? A patriotic flyover, of course.
Red Thunder aerobatic team will perform three flyovers at Sloss Lake as part of Fourth of July in Russellville, in addition to displaying their planes at the Russellville Municipal Airport for a portion of the day.
“We’ve been trying to do it for years,” said airport manager Harry Mattox. “I think to see these airplanes adds to the attraction.” People enjoy “the mystique of aviation and the sense of adventure – maybe the sense of danger, too.”
For Councilman Gary Cummings, who heads up coordinating Fourth of July for the city, it’s all about patriotism.
“No other country in the world build planes like the United States does. We mastered that a long time ago,” Cummings said. “It shows our power … our strength, our determination to succeed.”
Red Thunder, which will feature five to seven planes, will fly over about noon, about 2:30 p.m. and about 7:30 p.m. July 4. Each show will last about five minutes.
A special treat between the noon and 2:30 p.m. shows will be available, as the planes will be on display at the Russellville Municipal Airport. The community is invited to come meet the pilots and check out their aircrafts. Mattox will also be grilling burgers and hotdogs and have chips and drinks; people can purchase lunch for a $5 donation.
