TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

ST. PETERSBURG: AirFest Offers Weekend Of All-American Fun

ADVERTISEMENT

By STEPHEN THOMPSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 20, 2007

Updated: 10/20/2007 11:11 am

Video: Sneak Preview | Photos

ST. PETERSBURG - You could say the St. Petersburg AirFest started with a bang Friday morning - literally.

A jet truck - essentially a 1957 Chevrolet pickup souped up with twin jet engines, for a total of 25,000 horsepower - barreled down a runway at Albert Whitted Airport - and made a sound so loud that neighbors called 911 thinking there was some kind of emergency at hand, said Haydee Santana, a spokeswoman for the event.

The jet truck was one of the features of the festival's media day, an effort by organizers to drum up advance publicity for the airfest, which technically began Friday evening and continues through the weekend.

The fest features pilots performing stunts, including one in which a man will walk from a biplane to a helicopter, Santana said. There also will be military flybys, parachute jumps and, on the ground, displays of vintage aircraft.

The festival continues today at the airport, 107 Eighth Ave. S.E. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 12, and free for children younger than 6. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT