Claremore Air Show takes flight this weekend

Wednesday, October 3rd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Private planes used in air shows will be back in the sky this weekend. The second annual Claremore Regional Airport Air show will host thousands of spectators interested in flying. News on Six reporter Heather Brooker takes a look at their preparations on the ground and in the air.

â€œTiger" Tom Klassen is flying high in Claremore. He's been an air show pilot for 5 years and says flying makes him twist and turn with excitement. "It's in your blood. My mom says I must have suffered a head injury as a child but Iâ€™ve always wanted to be a pilot and an air show pilot." This weekend he'll be taking off in an air show for the first time since the September 11th attacks. He says he's not nervous about any attacks in Claremore, but as a commercial pilot it's always in the back of his mind. "We're taught to be submissive, deal with the hijackers, get the aircraft safely on the ground without hassle from the hijackers.â€

Organizers of the 2nd annual Claremore air show say donâ€™t' expect anything too different in the way of security. Local Police, Fire and Ambulance will all be on hand in case something happens. Tim Fleetwood with the air show, "We're glad to have it. Get people out and get people flying. We were hung up in our flyers but we're back now." Fleetwood says they expect more than 5,000 people to attend the air show with 150 planes on display. And he says even with tighter security at the major airports, they don't expect any problems in Claremore. "This is the safest recreation we can have."

Pilots like "Tiger" couldn't agree more. "I'm really looking forward to the crowd coming out and look at aviation as a positive thing instead of a negative thing.â€

The Claremore Air show takes flight this Saturday and Sunday. There will be a total of 6 acts in the air show along with vintage and military aircraft on display.