TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems is off limits within five miles of Tinker Air Force Base without permission. When the base hosts the Star Spangled Salute Air Show May 20-21, there will be zero exceptions.
Maj. Robert Hughes, 72nd Operations Support Squadron Director of Operations, said a temporary aircraft flight restriction will include UAS, commonly referred to as drones, will be instituted May 19-21.
The free public air show is scheduled to include about a dozen aerial demonstrations, headlined by the Air Force Thunderbirds’ F-16 Fighting Falcons.
“The primary reason for the temporary flight restriction is flight safety for everyone involved,” Hughes said. “We don’t want any of the planes to hit a UAS, and wake turbulence from flying demonstrations could knock a UAS out of the sky.”
UAS operation within five miles of the base requires specific authorization from Airfield Operations.
Air show gates will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 20th and 21st. Flying acts will perform from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.