ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - When the gates opened at the Atlanta Regional Airport Saturday morning for the Air Dot Show, spectators started rolling in — including Air Force JROTC cadets from Mundy’s Mill High School in Jonesboro.

The show was supposed to feature the Air Force Thunderbirds, a demonstration squadron that flies fighter planes, but the team was grounded due to the government shutdown.

Group Commander Shawna Grant said seeing the Air Force Thunderbirds would have been special, “just to say that we saw them.”

“But it is what it is, and we’ll experience the other aircraft,” she added — like the vintage World War II planes performing aerobatics, parachute teams and the Full Throttle demonstration team, who fly experimental aircraft.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Thunderbirds,

See Full Page