Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson has released a weekend schedule and traffic plan for its Arctic Thunder air show and open house, being held Friday through Sunday.
According to base spokesperson Luke Waack, Saturday and Sunday’s schedule of events from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. is as follows:
9 a.m.: Gates open
10 a.m.: U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team
10:30 a.m.: 3rd Wing aircraft fly-by (E-3/C-17/C-130/F-22/C-12)
10:52 a.m.: Skip Stewart aerobatics in modified Pitts S-2S biplane
11:08 a.m.: Warbirds (P-51/B-25)
11:34 a.m.: C-130 airdrop
12:15 p.m.: Steve and Suzanne Oliver Oregon Aero SkyDancer aerobatics
12:28 p.m.: B-52 flyby
12:44 p.m.: Gary Ward aerobatics in MX-2 monoplane
1 p.m.: Warbirds (P-51/B-25)
1:21 p.m.: Marcus Paine aerobatics
1:40 p.m.: Alaska Joint Forces demonstration
2:34 p.m.: F-22 Demo
3:05 p.m.: U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
5 p.m.: Show closes
JBER’s traffic plans for Arctic Thunder begin Friday, when visitors for the event’s Special Needs Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. should enter the base at its Post Road gate.
During the weekend shows, two JBER gates will be open to the general public. The Richardson gate will accept all vehicles, with bus service taking visitors from parking lots to the open house itself. The Boniface gate will allow access to the open house -- but not other areas of the base -- for vehicles 1,500 pounds or lighter.
Three other gates will be open to limited traffic, with the Post Road and Government Hill gates available to Department of Defense Common Access Card holders. VIPs, distinguished visitors, media, vendors and Arctic Thunder staff may also use the Post Road gate, while the Muldoon gate will allow DOD cardholders to reach the base’s hospital, Joint Military Mall, commissary and base housing.
Internal traffic on base will also see restrictions, with Arctic Warrior Drive closed at Sijan Drive. JBER-Elmendorf residents will have to leave the Government Hill or Post Road gates and re-enter at the Muldoon gate to reach the commissary/mall area, while traffic from open house parking lots to JBER-Richardson will exit the Boniface gate and re-enter the Richardson gate. The Davis Highway will be open Saturday and Sunday for one-way travel to JBER-Elmendorf.
Base officials also recommend some tips to streamline traffic, encouraging JBER-Elmendorf housing residents to walk to the open house and visitors to carpool if possible.
Drivers on JBER will have to have licenses as well as proof of insurance and registration. Vehicles with trailers won’t be allowed into open house parking lots, and any vehicles remaining in the lots after Arctic Thunder’s hours of operation will be towed at their owners’ expense. Camping, grilling and loitering in the parking lots are all prohibited.
More information on Arctic Thunder is available at the air show’s website.
