If you’ve never seen the Blue Angels, you’re in for a rare treat. I love airshows, and this one will be over the top. The last time Lincoln hosted an airshow, the crowds were large and the traffic was immense. This show should draw an even bigger audience—not to mention the complication of a University Nebraska home football game on the same day.
Yesterday, there was a large fully-functional exercise involving all the key players: Airport Authority, police, fire, military, emergency management, and so forth. Scores of personnel and equipment were involved. This follows a large table-top exercise conducted at the Health Department last month. A full years’ planning has gone into the event—more than anything I’ve seen during my career other than last summer’s national Special Olympics.
Despite the planning, however, we are at the mercy of geography. No amount of advance planning and no quantity of soldiers, airmen, police officers, deputy sheriffs, state troopers, and volunteers can overcome the reality that there are only a handful of lanes that can get you into and out of the airshow.
Based on past experience, I don’t look for this to be an insurmountable problem for the pre-show arrival. After the show, however, when everyone seems to want to leave at the same time, the delays will be long. We will do our best, but you’d be well-advised to plan on a relaxed mosey after the show. Stick around and spend some time at the static displays. Pack a picnic. Have a blast, and then avoid the frustration of the peak traffic.
We’ll need to take the opportunity next month to update this photo with our latest patrol car graphics!
11 comments:
Cute graphics on the plane! Not sure that model of the Hornet would be as effective for law enforcement as this aircraft.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxCTt4bbuqk
A bit off the subject, but have you ever considered parking one of your older vehicles, something that was no longer fit for duty, along a route somewhere that is notorious for speeders or other traffic rule violators? I've heard of other departments putting up cardboard replicas of patrol cars or even uniformed officers along such areas. I saw an empty patrol car parked along a stretch of road in one of the towns we passed through on our trip. I'm not sure if it was a decoy or not, but it definitely made me take a look at my speedometer. Locals would catch on pretty fast, but I bet the overall effect would be a reduction in unsafe driving in the area, and even some distance beyond.
I for one have enjoyed seeing the Blue Angels a couple of times, but know with our country in such debt, I don't see the need to waste all of this money on these shows. I wish someone would put out the actual dollar figure that these shows cost us tax payers so all could make an educated comment about the wasted tax dollars.
Your local Chamber of Commerce and Lincoln businesses are sponsoring the event. All governmental entities are being compensated for their time. No tax dollars will be used for the air show.
http://www.pnj.com/article/20110812/NEWS01/108120319/Budget-cuts-could-clip-Blue-Angels
This article says $26 million, other sources go as high as $40 million. I believe the Navy defends the cost as good for recruiting.
I knew a post like 9:47 would probably come along, much like foot fungus in the jungle, but I didn't think it would be so soon.
Thanks for this post! I missed the show the last time the Blue Angels came and will be looking forward to this! I will also remind my friends and family to be patient and hang out after the show is over :)
You mention that there was a "a large fully-functional exercise" for this; would that have anything to do with the small plan that was flying over 1st & Superior a couple weeks ago? We noticed a lot of police and fire personnel present near the church and wondered what was going on.
9:47...we tried that once along South St, near Prescott school. Put a manikin in an officers shirt behind the wheel...might have slowed down traffic but we got two complaints that the "officer" wouldn't pay any attention to the citizen at the window...
I think I'll have an air show.
6:21
Reminds me of a time I was in the hospital. A young nurse in training was trying to take my pulse and having a hard time finding it in my left wrist, which was common because of bone damage I had as a kid. After a while of her fumbling around trying different spots, I asked, "Didn't they tell you my left arm was a prosthesis?" She dropped it like a hot potatoe and came around the bed to check on my other arm saying how sorry she was. I wasn't sure whether to tell her the truth or save her the embarrassment of having believed my little joke.
I read once where the empty patrol car back fired on the real thing. Out in the country, kids shot at the patrol car knowing it was empty, then somebody came along and shot at the real thing. Fortunately, they had a bad aim. Having those "police" cars at the local banks is a JOKE.
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