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High-Flying Fun Expected At 2011 Wings Over Pittsburgh Show

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The sky will be filled with acrobatic aircrafts this weekend.

The 10th annual Wings Over Pittsburgh Air Show takes place Saturday, Sept. 10 and Sunday, Sept. 11 at the 911th Airlift Wing in Moon Township.

High-flying acrobats are sure to draw oohs and ahhs from an anticipated crowd of more than 200,000.

A new act this year is the Heavy Metal Jet Team of Lancaster, Pa., featuring the MiG-17.

"We're doing an air show every weekend," said John Baum, of the Heavy Metal Jet Team. "We leave on Thursday. We practice on Friday. We do a show on Saturday and Sunday. We come back on Monday, and we repeat and do it someplace else."

The Red Bull Helicopter does about 25 shows a year.

The guy that manages the Viper West F-16 Demonstration Team is Canonsburg native MSgt. Carl Falcione, now based in Utah. He says the pilot will give the jet a workout.

"He'll be at altitudes from 200 feet to possibly 15,000 feet, depending on cloud coverage," said Falcione. "He can make that transition a matter of seconds, right before your eyes. It's loud. It's fast and exciting. He's never going to leave your sight. It happens right in front of your eyes.>

Pilots perform under pressure ranging up to nine Gs.

"Afterward, it's like an intense workout, so I'm definitely winded for a little bit," said one pilot. "Then, I sleep pretty well at night."

RELATED LINKS:
Wings Over Pittsburgh
Wings Over Pittsburgh Air Show Flying Into Town

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