U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Headline 2024 Thunder Over the Heartland Air Show

The 2024 Thunder Over the Heartland Air Show presented by CoreFirst Bank & Trust returns Oct. 11-13 at Forbes Field. The show features the United States Air Force Thunderbirds in their first appearance in Topeka in more than 20 years. Tickets will go on sale to the public in late-March. Subscribers to the ‘Air Show Insights’ newsletter will have early access to tickets for 72 hours prior – when they will be at their lowest prices. Fans can sign up for the newsletter by visiting ThunderOvertheHeartland.com.

Vaerus Aviation, in collaboration with Visit Topeka and support of the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority, announced the return of the air show and partnership with CoreFirst Bank & Trust on Wednesday. Thunder Over the Heartland will offer an innovative threeday, two-experience format focused on providing guests an ‘experimental’ aerial event with night air shows and world-class aviation talent.

Said Luke Carrico, Air Show Director, “This will be unlike any air show this part of the world has seen before,” adding that the goal of the Thunder Over the Heartland is to “make the event the destination brand for Topeka and the central United States.”

Following a downtown kick-off party on Thursday of show week, Friday and Saturday will feature Topeka’s first evening air shows, with flying displays beginning mid-afternoon, continuing after dark and including nighttime pyrotechnic aerial performers, a choreographed fireworks display, and wall of fire. Sunday will be a traditional daytime show, with flying beginning mid-day and concluding in the afternoon.

“For 17 years, Vaerus Aviation has celebrated the industry and aircraft that make it great,” said Brooks Pettit, company president. “It’s natural that Vaerus is part of bringing air show back in 2024 with the Thunderbirds leading the way. They are the epitome, the very definition, of aviation excellence.”

Added Carrico, “Our event is entirely about the guest experience. Incredible flying performances will be combined with architectural lighting, and best-in-class hospitality to make this a next-generation aerial event.” The air show will feature a variety of military and civilian aircraft that will be announced in the coming weeks.

Air show organizers were recently in Belgium visiting with the European Air Show Council aiming to attract future international participation. “We intend to make this a sustainable, long-term event for the city of Topeka and the entire region. The Thunderbirds and our night shows are just the start of what’s to come with more details and surprises to be announced soon,” said Carrico.

“With Topeka’s Forbes Field being home to both the 190th Air Refueling Wing, the 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation Regiment, the American Flight Museum, and the Combat Air Museum, this city boasts a proud history of aviation. The return of Thunder Over the Heartland promises to take that heritage to new heights, and we’re excited for the potential to grow. It’s going to be a great event for families,

and one we hope to see return on a regular basis,” said Sean Dixon, president of Visit Topeka.

A limited number of early bird tickets will be made available at their lowest prices to “Air Show Insights” e-mail subscribers who will have the chance to purchase discount tickets prior to the public. Subscribing to the ‘Air Show Insights’ e-mail can be done at www.ThunderOvertheHeartland.com.