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Renamed Lauderdale Air Show Takes Flight

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – The highly anticipated and newly renamed Lauderdale Air Show took to the skies Saturday. Thousands came out to watch the show and security at the event was sky high.

All bags and coolers were searched at security checkpoints while officers and bomb sniffing K9s spread out along the beach.

"They really did a thorough check here, I was surprised but it's needed," said a spectator Tonya Smith.

Fort Lauderdale PD decided to step up security in the wake of Monday's Boston bombings.

In addition, air show organizers are donating ten dollars from every ticket sold this week to the victims in Boston.

The Air Show continues Sunday at 1 p.m. and features aerobatic performers and aircraft demonstrations.

Although the famed U.S. Air Force's Thunderbirds aren't at the Air Show this year because of federal budget cuts, organizers landed the Parachute Acrobatic Patrol of the Spanish Air Force.

"We are a little disappointed," said Esteban Darque who came out to watch the show. "We wanted to see the full squadron come out here and tear up the sky, tear up the sea but we were happy with what we got."

The Lucas Oil Parachute Team and U.S. Army Silver Wings skydiving teams are also performing at the show.  Other performers include the Black Diamond Jet Team, Geico Skytypers, Red Bull Helicopter, Air Hogs Stunt Plane, Aerobatic champion Mike Wiskus in the Lucas Oil Pitts, and a P-51 Mustang.

"The redbull helicopter was flying upside down and doing barrellrolls, that's the craziest thing, I've never seen that from a helicopter ever before," said Hammer Lee who came from West Palm Beach to watch the show.

The Display Village opens at 9:00 a.m. while the show takes place from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on both days.

The main gate for ticket holders is located at Sunrise Boulevard and A1A and the premium viewing area is located from Sunrise Boulevard north to NE 14th Court. Tickets for this area start at $35.00.

There are plenty of road closures so Sun Trolley is offering convenient and inexpensive transportation to and from the beach from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

For complete Sun Trolley maps and routes, visit www.suntrolley.com.

Ticket holders are not allowed to bring alcohol inside the designated Drop Zone and Family Zone areas. There will be "cooler and bag check point locations" at:

Northeast 14th Court / State Road A1A (northern entrance to Show Center) Sunrise Boulevard / Sunrise Lane (main entrance to Show Center) Vistamar Street and State Road A1A (southern entrance to Show Center).

Any  non-alcoholic  beverages  should  be  in  plastic,  aluminum  or  other  unbreakable containers.  Glass containers are prohibited beachside.

Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase in the Family Zone which is located south of Sunrise Boulevard to Vistamar Street. It's the closest free admission viewing area to Show Center.

Spectators are allowed to bring small canopies (tents without sides), no larger than 10×10, to the beach viewing area. These canopies are only permitted along the dune line of the beach, which is located along the concrete barrier wall and sea grass line.

There is a boat safety zone for watercraft which extends 2 nautical miles by 4 nautical miles off shore from show center at Sunrise Blvd. and A1A.

For more information on the boat safety zone, tickets, and the show, go to www.lauderdaleairshow.com.

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