Crowds gathering Saturday morning were saved from recent sweltering weather as cooling winds blew over the airfield. In addition to displays of aerobatics, there were a variety of booths pitching ultra-light airplanes and promoting the history of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.

The show began with Staff Sgt. Larry Jarrett of the U.S. Army’s elite 101st Airborne Parachute Demonstration Team jumping from a C-23 Sherpa cargo plane and unfurling a U.S. flag as he spiraled down to a landing.

His arrival was followed by many different pilots showing off the capabilities of their planes.

Four members the Screaming Rebels T-6 Texan Aerobatics Team flew World War II-era training planes and demonstrated maneuvers used in air combat.

Pilots like the Screaming Rebels recalled the dangerous aeronautical activities of the country’s veterans. But some performers celebrated nothing other than the joy of taking to the air.

Pilot Steve Falon rose high in the sky in his brightly painted Pitts S1S biplane. He proceeded to dazzle the crowd with a series of elaborate climbs, dives and rolls over the field.

Larry Schlasinger, flying a black Russian-made training plane, the YAK 52, rocketed high into the sky. At the peak of his climb the engine went silent. The plane rolled over and began to plummet back to the ground, seemingly powerless and doomed to crash. After breathless seconds that seemed to last much longer, the engine roared back to life. Schlasinger pulled the plane out of its dive and flashed across the sky at high speed.

"Praise be the holy mother of acceleration," the announcer shouted.

Reedsburg resident Karla Paradise and her son Willie Paradise, 8, were among those watching the show. Willie Paradise said his favorite plane is the YAK 52. Karla Paradise said the family has a professional interest in aviation. They own Aeroparadise, a firm that does custom aircraft interiors and graphic designs. They are based at Reedsburg Municipal Airport, she said.

"We’re big-time fans of airplanes," Karla Paradise said.

Also attending were Arcadia resident Trisha Pehler, her son, Carson, 6; and daughter, Casidi, 2.

"They’re great," Carson said as the aircraft engines rumbled around him.

He said his favorite plane is the T-6 trainer flown by his grandfather, who is part of the Screaming Rebels. When he grows up, Carson said he wants to be a pilot like his grandfather.

Mauston resident Ron Leeseberg attended with his fiancee, Rebecca Drinkwine, his daughter and her five children, also of Mauston.

Leeseberg said he came to see a famous World War II fighter plane that made several passes and rolls over the crowd during the show. "I came to see the (P-51) Mustang," he said.

"I just love seeing how they go up in the air and do cool tricks," said Brooke Drinkwine, 11, one of Rebecca’s children.

The final excitement of the day came shortly after 4 p.m., when a dot appeared on the southern horizon and quickly grew into the formidable shape of the U.S. Air Force A-10 "Warthog" ground attack plane. It roared over the field, banked back again and rolled several times as the pilot passed over the crowd.

It was so close that the plane’s talon, a 30 millimeter multi-barrel cannon used to bust enemy tanks, could be seen protruding out in front of the pilot’s canopy.

The plane made several passes over the airfield, including a simulated strafing run, before roaring back south to Truax Airfield in Madison.