Thunderbirds coming to Topeka after two-decade hiatus

Colter Robinson
·2 min read

TOPEKA (KSNT) – The United States Air Force Thunderbirds are coming back to the Capital City after more than 20 years away.

The Thunderbirds are a team of expert F-16 pilots who perform flying and solo routines showcasing the experience of U.S. airmen. The three-day show called Thunder Over the Heartland will see Thunderbird pilots light up the night sky with an innovative aerial performance.

The show is being put on in collaboration with the Greater Topeka Partnership, Vaerus Aviation and CoreFirst Bank & Trust. KSNT 27 News is the event’s media sponsor.

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“This will be unlike any air show this part of the world has seen before,” Air Show Director Luke Carrico said, 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.”

Thunder Over the Heartland will be from Oct. 11 through Oct. 13 at Forbes Field. Tickets will go on sale in late March. Subscribers to the ‘Air Show Insights’ newsletter will get 72-hour early access to purchase tickets while they’re at their cheapest.

A kick-off party will be on Thursday of show week. That Friday and Saturday will see Topeka’s first-ever evening air shows with flying displays starting in the mid-afternoon and continuing till after dark. At night attendees will see pyrotechnic aerial performances, choreographed fireworks displays and a ‘wall of fire.’ The air show will feature a variety of military and civilian aircraft.

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“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,” said Sean Dixon, president of Visit Topeka. “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.”

Carrico said they hope to make the Thunderbirds appearances a regular long-term event for the City of Topeka and the region.

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