
These Duluth Airshow Phone Calls Are Comedy Gold
I get a laugh out of this every single year. The Duluth Air and Aviation Expo presented by Essentia Health and Members Cooperative Credit Union is back this weekend. It's going to be a fun year at the airshow, with a ton of warbird airplanes coming, like the P-38 Lightning!
I love hearing the sound of jet engines roaring through the skies, and seeing the unique planes over the Northland. It's one of my favorite weekends of the summer.
I also look forward to Airshow organizer Ryan Kern's posts about the phone calls that come in every year with some real head-scratching questions.
"I Don't Like Walking"
Parking questions are pretty common. But common sense isn't, apparently. One person asked if they can park inside the gate of the airshow, because they don't like walking. What?
"I'm allergic to grass, can you accommodate me?"
Another person called in to ask if they could accommodate them somehow because they are allergic to grass. What?
Read More: I Got To Fly In A WWII Plane Over Duluth's Lift Bridge
TURN OFF THE NOISE!
This one, you'll just have to read it it's entirety. You can't make it up.
C: I am trying to sleep and you guys keep making all this noise.
Me: What do you mean?
C: I can't sleep all I hear is noise coming from the airport and I can't sleep, its driving me crazy. I call 911 and they told me there is nothing they can do!
Me: You called 911 to let them know you can't sleep because of the noise?
C: Yes I live in the Hermantown and its too loud.
Me: Ma'am today is Thursday, and we are not flying today, so I am not sure what noise you're hearing but its not from us.
C: Yes it is I see an airplane flying and it keeps going by me.
Me: Again, we are not... (interrupted)
C: There it goes again I just heard it again!
Me: (I actually hear it)...ma'am can you put the phone closer to the noise you're hearing?
C: LISTEN!
Me: No idea what I am listening to but it is a buzzing that sounds like an old school alarm clock...
C: Oh you know what you're right its my alarm clock that's going off...
Me: (breathe Ryan, breathe)...thanks for calling Ma'am, glad the airshow office could help you figure it out.

Can you have the Thunderbirds fly when I want them to?
Another person called asking if they can have the Thunderbirds fly earlier in the day, because that's when they'll be there. Oh, and they wanted the P-38 to fly early in the morning.
It doesn't end there. Ryan also shared calls that he's received in the months leading up to this weekend.
My Nearly Blind 88-year-old father needs to bring his ATV to the show.
Q: We are bringing our 88-year-old father to the airshow, who is mostly blind and he can’t walk or see very good.
A: Love that. He will have a great time!
Q: We have a trailer so wondering where we can park?
A: I’d recommend the Teal Lot and shuttle in.
Q: No we have a trailer for his 4-wheeler so he can get around.
A: Huh?
Q: He has a 4-wheeler to get around.
A: Didn’t you say he was mostly blind and 88?
Q: Yes.
A: We don’t allow UTVs of any kind at the airshow.
Q: Well that’s the only way he can get around.
A: (I am forming a mental picture of an 88-year-old blind man driving his 4 Wheeler around at the airshow, WTH)! Sorry we don’t allow motorized vehicles on the ramp.
Q: I believe you’re violating some law! (Hangs up).
"I won tickets to the Blue Thunder."
You're just going to have to read this one for yourself. There is no Blue Thunder that we are aware of.
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Gallery Credit: Sophia Crisafulli



