On Friday 125,000 fans were welcomed to the first day of the Airpower air show in Zeltweg, and on Saturday there will probably be even more. A highlight of the day is the overflying of two US Air Force B-52 bombers. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen is also expected.
A sigh of relief from those responsible Friday evening: Despite more than 100,000 visitors, there were no significant incidents, according to the army everything went peacefully. The weather was ideal (no rain, not too hot), and the forecast for Saturday is excellent. In the early morning only a few clouds cloud the clear blue sky.
traffic jams on arrival
On arrival, however, the fans will have to be patient again. At around 08:00, traffic on the S36 is already behind in both directions at the Zeltweg-Ost and Zeltweg-West exits. The waiting time in the parking lots is 30 to 40 minutes. On Friday, fans had to wait up to two hours for their parking ticket (even though the parking spaces were not fully occupied). The military points out that in Fisching and Kraubath there are Park & Ride areas where you can park without a ticket and take the shuttle to the site.
American bombers approaching
The second day started with the specially composed “Vibes in the Sky” and the take-off of a Hungarian Gripen jet and an Austrian Eurofighter. The flight schedule from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM is identical to that Friday. Big exception: two strategic American bombers of the type B-52 Stratofortress are today only allowed to fly about 100 meters above the airport. You are expected in the afternoon.
Second visit from Van der Bellen
Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen will also be announced before lunch. This is remarkable because the Greens have always been very skeptical about Airpower. It wasn’t until Friday that the Styrian Greens spoke out in favor of an international show for civil defense and aid organizations instead of the air show.
But Van der Bellen was already there during the 2016 election campaign and did not leave the big stage to his liberal competitor Norbert Hofer. This time there is another election campaign, but as president and thus commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Van der Bellen also has an “official mission”. Other prominent names are expected on Saturday, including ex-ski jumper Thomas Morgenstern and former biathlon world champion Dominik Landertinger.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
