AirshowStuff Forums

Westmoreland County Air Show 2024
August 17th - 18th
Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
https://www.westmorelandcountyairshow.com/

Featuring
- USAF F-35A Lightning II Demo
- USAF Heritage Flight [F-35A Lightning II and P-51 Mustang]
- Patrick McAlee [Pitts S1S]
- Jerry Conley [DH-115 Vampire]
- Erik Edgren [Taylorcraft T-Clips]
- Scott Francis [MXS]
- The Jersey Jerks [T-6/SNJ Texans]
- Kevin Russo [T-6 Texan]
- Thom Richard [P-40 Warhawk]

Announcer: “Fast” Eddie Leuter

Latrobe has moved from June to August per the 2024 ICAS calendar.

n33d4sp33d_85 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2023 5:31 pm Latrobe has moved from June to August per the 2024 ICAS calendar.

Loved our first visit earlier this year and hope to come back next year. What prompted the date change?

passedgas46 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 16, 2023 3:35 pm

n33d4sp33d_85 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2023 5:31 pm Latrobe has moved from June to August per the 2024 ICAS calendar.

Loved our first visit earlier this year and hope to come back next year. What prompted the date change?

Only speculation, but maybe it's so they can book either the Thunderbirds since they currently don't have anything planned that weekend or hopefully one of the European display teams; likely the Frecce Tricolori. We shall see when we get closer.

That was my thought as well. You'd think the move is to accommodate a jet team being that they didn't have one booked when the 2024 preliminary schedules came out last December. That timing could coincide with a team from across the pond as well if those rumors are true. Also, as a Western Pa native I love the switch just from a weather perspective . August, while warm typically has drier and sunnier weather than May or June, which is peak thunderstorm season.

Matt

Just a thought, but could the date switch be for more prosaic reasons, such as approximately 800 other shows taking place over Father's Day weekend and the associated competition for acts? Let's wait until these rumored North American tours by European jet teams (which would be amazing, by the way) are actually announced before speculating about shows switching dates around to coincide with them.

Take it easy pal. I was simply speculating about the rumors of a late summer tour by one more of the European teams. Not once did I say anything about this show even rumored to have one participating.

Plus, while I get your point about less competition for shows maybe that time of the year as opposed to June, typically smaller civilian shows like this one will take the jet teams when they can get them spanning several potential months over the summer. Even if that means it's during "a competitive show weekend". This show has shifted before to accommodate jet teams. I even recall one year a show planned in April that I believe may've been cancelled during the Sequester.

Matt

CultOfTheWyvern wrote: ↑Thu Oct 19, 2023 8:11 pm Just a thought, but could the date switch be for more prosaic reasons, such as approximately 800 other shows taking place over Father's Day weekend and the associated competition for acts? Let's wait until these rumored North American tours by European jet teams (which would be amazing, by the way) are actually announced before speculating about shows switching dates around to coincide with them.

MattEv14 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 19, 2023 9:22 pm Take it easy pal. I was simply speculating about the rumors of a late summer tour by one more of the European teams. Not once did I say anything about this show even rumored to have one participating.

Plus, while I get your point about less competition for shows maybe that time of the year as opposed to June, typically smaller civilian shows like this one will take the jet teams when they can get them spanning several potential months over the summer. Even if that means it's during "a competitive show weekend". This show has shifted before to accommodate jet teams. I even recall one year a show planned in April that I believe may've been cancelled during the Sequester.

Honestly, both of you have very compelling statements.

The amount of unconfirmed information that gets thrown about across all facets of these forums is incredible. Yes, the speculation on this kind of stuff is fine and makes for good discussions both on here and off of here - I've even overheard a young kid talk about "multiple European teams" and "2024" when we were in Atlantic City for that airshow. I wasn't up for asking that person to cite sources. I regret not doing that now; that kid is probably a forum member for all I know.

As for the Thunderbirds, it's my understanding they have one weekend off in August as a mid-season break. They've had that for as long as I can remember. In my younger years my dad would go out of his way to obtain the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds schedules and I seem to remember both teams having a weekend off in August; the Blues following a weekend off every eight weeks schedule. There's two weekends in August 2024 that don't have the Thunderbirds scheduled. Perhaps the new Latrobe dates is that weekend the team isn't off?

Regardless of the reason, my now wife and I are hoping to return next year!

Well said! Couldn't agree more. Now with regards to the T-birds, I do have my doubts of them returning primarily because they were just here in 2023. Very few shows (seems like with the exception of Huntington Beach) get them back to back years. Not saying it's impossible, but probably unlikely. Guess we will see how it plays out when the schedules are released later this year.

Matt

The USAF F-35A Lightning II Demo Team will be making it's Latrobe debut next year!