Dearest Ypsilanti, don't plan on sleeping in tomorrow--It's THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN at Willow Run!

Gooooood Morning Ypsilanti, it's Saturday August 9th and those loud as hell aircraft overhead ARE staging a dogfight. Yep, a VERY ambitious Thunder Over Michigan will kick off tomorrow morning at Willow Run airport with a gazillion things to see and do. A World War II remembrance will be held with paratroop drops, tank battles and dozens of different planes from the era.

Now, 45,000 people are expected and some camper areas are filling up NOW, Friday. It's gonna be a beautiful weekend with a slight chance of showers later tomorrow afternoon so plan on heading out. To that end we have this info for you:

Admission
Tickets, available at Meijer stores, are $20 through Friday and $25 at the gate.
Parking is $5 through Friday and $10 at the gate. Admission to a special tent seating area are $25 through Friday and $40 at the gate.

Saturday:
10 to 10:30 a.m. - WWII ground battle re-enactment.
12:15 p.m. - F-18 demonstration and legacy flight.
12:40 p.m. - C-130H Hercules demonstration.
1:20 p.m. - WWI dogfight.
1:40 p.m. - C-47 paratrooper drop.
2 to 2:40 p.m. - WWII ground battle re-enactment.
2:40 p.m. - F-16 demonstration and heritage flight.
3:05 p.m. - Navy warbird flight.
3:25 p.m. - MiG-17
3:40 p.m. - B-17s and B-24s.

Or, for ALL the information, head on over to the website for the Yankee Air Museum

Memorial Day doings around Ypsilanti

Of course there is the wonderful Ypsilanti Memorial Day parade which starts at 9 am at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Huron Street. It will proceed up Huron to Cross Street and from Cross to River Street. Bands from Ypsi High, Willow Run and Lincoln will perform, along with a flyover, Civil War actors, The Daughters of the American Revolution, and Gold Star mothers.

Also at the Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run Airport, a pancake breakfast that will run 8 to 11 a.m., followed by a hot dog lunch. According to the Ann Arbor News the day at the Yankee Air Museum will include:

"At 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., a presentation of the Willow Run story and the past and future plans of the Yankee Air Museum will run, and a model of the World War II bomber plant will be on display all day."

Also of note at the Yankee Air Museum will be a chance to meet former astronaut Jack Lousma. There will also be a $1 dollar raffle to win a flight to Ann Arbor and back in a Stearman G2 World War II biplane.