Organizers of the Flin Flon Rotary Air Show want people living in the area round the Flin Flon Municipal Airport to know what to expect when the Canadian Forces Snowbirds come to town on Wednesday, July 13.
Rotary is asking everyone for patience and understanding, says Gerry Clark, one of the organizers.
“The July 13 air show is going to be a massive intrusion into the routines of people living out in cottage country, especially at Bakers and especially at Blonde’s [Beach],” he says. “Hopefully everyone can make plans to minimize the inconvenience.”
A large crowd is expected, which will have an impact on Hwy 10 traffic from Flin Flon to the airport.
The gates open at 4 pm on July 13. Clark says people are expected to arrive as early as 3 pm.
As well, volunteers and support staff will be in the area earlier in the day, working to set up food concessions, sound systems and other facilities.
“So moving between Flin Flon and Bakers is bound to be slower than usual,” says Clark. “If you don’t need to be on the highway between 3 pm and say 10ish, it would be wise to avoid it.”
The Snowbirds are the Canadian Air Force’s (CAF) air demonstration squadron. Their breathtaking aerobatic flying thrills audiences across the country.
Flin Flon Rotary Club has organized the July 13 air show in support of the new emergency ward at the Flin Flon General Hospital.
The Snowbirds’ 2016 tour commemorates the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), the joint air crew training program launched by Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand during the Second World War. Also performing at the Flin Flon airport will be CAF’s CF-18 demo team. This year’s distinctive yellow, red and black paint colour honours the BCATP.
Flying demonstrations at the Flin Flon airport are scheduled to start at 7 pm.
To help minimize the impact of traffic, Rotary has organized a park-and-ride service that will operate between Walmart and the airport. Cost to ride will be
$5 and buses will be on a continuous schedule, leaving as they fill.
Rotary is also counting on parking hundreds of vehicles on the Blonde’s Beach fire guard, an open area near the airport. “That’s why it looks so good these days,” says Clark. A work crew has been out cleaning off the area.
“For all the working folks getting off work at 5 pm [who] can’t avoid the air show crowd, just expect to be a little slower getting home to the lake,” he adds.
Clark says cottagers do have advantages when it comes to the air show.
“Rotary hopes the way you will choose to look at the evening of July 13 is that you are in the most convenient place to see the most spectacular show seen here in a generation,” he says. “All you need to do is grab a lawn chair and stroll over. And when it’s over all you have to do is stroll home.”
Organizers also want to let people know that the hours at the Paradise Dump have been changed on July 13 to alleviate potential traffic problems. The dump will operate on a shortened shedule that day, from 10 am to 2 pm. Normal hours on a Wednesday are 10 am to 5:45 pm.
