LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The F-16 has landed.
Thunder Over Louisville takes off Saturday, April 20 above the city's riverfront, but one of the air show's marquee attractions landed Thursday at the Kentucky Air National Guard 123rd Airlift Wing.
The United States Air Force F-16 Viper Demo Team flew in from Shaw Airforce Base in Columbia, South Carolina, and will be a key attraction Saturday as the Air Force celebrates the 50th anniversary of the storied fighter jet.
“Usually, every year, we try to get (the) premier demo teams the various branches have," said Capt. Nick Reinke of the Kentucky Air National Guard, who helps plan the air show each year.
The 123rd Airlift Wing hosts Thunder Over Louisville. Capt. Taylor Hiester and his F-16 Demo Team will be one star of Saturday's show.
“Our job as a demonstration team is to put on a combat capabilities demonstration, and the configuration you see the airplane in behind us is the exact way we take it to war," Hiester said. "We’re super excited to be here in Louisville and put on that demonstration for the people here."
During the show, Hiester said he'll keep the aircraft at a pace around 1,000 feet per second. He'll be working against forces most civilians will ever experience.
While in the air, Hiester has the support of the entire demo team, including avionics specialist and Staff Sgt. Austin Denny, a native of Mount Vernon, Kentucky.
"We're making sure (the jet) is maintained, well-maintained and safe to fly so he can have a great show for the crowd," Denny said.
Denny is part engineer, part tech support and while in town for Thunder, a hometown hero. He's a 2015 graduate of Rockcastle County High School.
“I was talking to my brother who is in the Army, and he was really pushing for me to join the Air Force," he said. "I had no idea what I wanted to do, to be honest with you, and he was really telling me to think about the Air Force."
The Thunder Over Louisville Air Show begins 3 p.m. at Waterfront Park.