Transcript Staff Writer

Tinker Air Force Base is expecting more than 100,000 people to show up on its radar Saturday as the base hosts the 11th annual Star Spangled Salute to commemorate Memorial Day.

The free event will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and feature an array of aircraft, including an AV-8 Harrier, the Red Eagle Stunt Planes, a P-51 Mustang and the AWACS surveillance craft commonly seen jetting across the horizon in this part of Oklahoma.

And while all of those machines are impressive enough on their own, event spokeswoman Jennifer Lacy said the public shows up in droves to see The Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force's elite air demonstration team since 1953.

"The Thunderbirds are the most popular event among the public, so this year the focus will be on them, as usual," Lacy said.

Chris Moler, director of sponsorship and special events for the air show, said watching the Thunderbirds perform was similar to watching a NASCAR race live.

"Any time you see jets flying and the speed with which they travel, it captures the imagination -- it's a fun and unique entertainment," Moler said. "You can go to 50 concerts in a summer, but Tinker only opens their doors to show the public what they are doing once a year, and this is it."

Apparently the speed and power of the war planes captured the imagination of former University of Oklahoma signal caller and current Quarterbacks Coach Josh Heupel, who TInker spokesman Ron Mullan said is scheduled to take a ride in a fighter jet on Friday afternoon.

"Hopefully, coach Heupel's barf bag will be empty when he lands," Mullan said.

Making its first-ever appearance at Tinker is the AV-8 Harrier, a craft made famous by the film "True Lies" and its extensive use in the first Gulf War in 1990. "That's why people love coming to air shows, they get to see planes they'll normally never get to see," Moler said.

Lacy also noted the Harrier, an aircraft with the capacity to take off vertically without the aid of a runway, doesn't show itself too often -- at least not in public.

"The Harriers do a limited number of public events around the country, so this is rare," Lacy said.

The Harrier will perform twice; once during the day and again that night with an accompanying pyrotechnics show.

Another popular demonstration among the public is the re-enactment of the Japanese strike on Pearl Harbor, called "Tora, Tora, Tora." The display features real explosions, live aircraft and accurate recreations of the attacks, and Lacy said people have traditionally enjoyed the performance for its visceral qualities.

Aside from the Thunderbirds and all the other noisy, gas-guzzling machines performing from noon to 6:30, there is still plenty to do for both kids and adults.