Forecast for Westmoreland air show: Bright skies, heavy traffic

Thousands of people are expected to travel to Arnold Palmer Regional Airport this weekend to view the air show hosted annually at the Unity site.

That means motorists should expect traffic to be heavier than usual on routes 30 and 981 in the vicinity of the airport.

Traffic tends to be heaviest around the time the gates open — 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday — and when the show ends — 5 p.m. both days, said Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority. The board operates the airport and plans the Shop ’n Save Westmoreland International Airshow.

The authority meets with state police to coordinate plans for controlling traffic, he said.

State Trooper Steve Limani urged those who aren’t headed to the air show to avoid the area, if possible.

“Expect delays and give extra time for travel if you drive through that area,” Limani said. “Many drivers get distracted looking up at the airplanes.

“We will be out helping with traffic control and backlogs.”

Two lanes of vehicles will enter the show along Route 981, opposite the former Big Lots store, and then will queue and park inside the airport grounds.

“There might be a little bit of a (traffic) backup before the gates open, but after that we should be in good shape,” Monzo said.

Last year, when the air show was held Aug. 17 and 18, it attracted about 30,000 spectators each day, he said.

Parking available

According to the air show website several variations are available for parking, all on the air show grounds.

• General admission parking can be accessed from Route 30. Enter the Gate 3 across Route 981 from the Big Lots plaza. Parking is $10.

• Those with preferred seating tickets should enter from Route 981 at Aviation Lane. Preferred ticket holders may park in lots C, B or D.

• Those with a VIP ticket arriving via Route 981 from Route 30 should travel halfway around the roundabout (second exit) to pass the main terminal parking areas on the right and continue up the hill to VIP parking on the right, just before the public safety building. VIP ticket holders traveling from Pleasant Unity and beyond should pass the public safety building and enter the VIP parking area on the left.

Sunny and hot

The National Weather Service is calling for sunny skies Saturday and Sunday with highs between 88 and 92 degrees. Starting on Sunday morning, however, it has issued an extreme heat watch that will remain in effect through Wednesday evening, with heat-index values ranging between 100 and 105 degrees.

The heat watch advises people to drink plenty of fluids, try and stay out of the sun as much as possible and be sure to check on neighbors and relatives.

Air show highlights

Opening ceremonies will take place at 12:10 p.m. both days, followed by the U.S. National Military Academy’s Parachute Team doing a demonstration flag jump during the national anthem.

Erik Edgren Taylorcraft aerobatics will take place at 12:25 p.m. both days, followed by an FM-2 Wildcat demonstration by Thom Richards and then the Laurel Highlands Aeronautical Academy flight.

The later afternoons will include aerobatics with the Vampire Airshows DH-115 and demonstrations of two World War II-era planes, the P-51D Mustang and F4U Corsair.

The aerial show will close out each day with a 2:40 p.m. show by the Canadian Forces Snowbirds.

Staff writer Patrick Varine contributed to this story.