Schedule Rearranged To Accomodate An Appearance By The Air Force Thunderbirds

The Rhode Island National Guard has announced that the Open House Air Show has been pushed back by one week so that the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team can perform at the event.

The Rhode Island Patch reports that the event will now be held over Father's Day weekend June 20-21. However, because of the date change, the RaptorDemo team will no longer be on the program, according to a Rhode Island National Guard news release.

The show was cancelled last year for the second time in its 30-year history due to an unusually large number of National Guard deployments. The show was first cancelled in 2013 due to budget cuts.

The Thunderbirds "have served as the United States Air Force's premier air demonstration squadron since 1953," the National Guard said.

"The Rhode Island National Guard is looking forward to opening our gates to display the talents and capabilities of our amazing Airmen and Soldiers," said Lt. Col. Christopher N. Allen, a director of the air show. "We also welcome the opportunity to host the fabulous military and civilian aerobatic acts. We can't wait to see everyone for a safe and exciting Father's Day weekend with the Rhode Island National Guard!"

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report