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Thunderbird Flight Concludes Dayton Air Show

Posted: 11:59 am EDT July 29, 2007Updated: 5:22 pm EDT July 30, 2007

The 2007 Dayton Air Show concluded Sunday, one day after a crash killed veteran stunt Pilot Jim LeRoy.

Tens of Thousands of air show fans were on hand Sunday for the final day of the air show. The crowd swelled with thousands who had attended Saturday's event, but failed to see the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds - due to the crash of stunt pilot Jim LeRoy's plane just before Saturday's scheduled Thunderbird demonstration. Many in the crowd on Sunday told WHIO-TV that the events of Saturday weighed on their minds and gave them even more respect for the performers. LeRoy, who was 46, died Saturday afternoon when his Bulldog Pitts bi-plane hit the ground as he was trying to pull out of a dive.

Fellow pilot Jerry Conley told WHIO-TV "We all know the risks... and work with it in the margin of safety." He said that LeRoy was a great pilot and a good man. "Everybody who flew with Jim and knew him was very proud of him and what he accomplished."

Sunday's performances included the Brazilian Air Force's Smoke Squadron, drawing a heart in the air in honor of LeRoy; and a memorial salute by pilot Skip Stewart and Kent Shockley and the Super Shockwave Jet Truck. Stewart and Shockley were performing with LeRoy on Saturday when the deadly crash occurred.

The event concluded with the F-16's of the USAF Thunderbirds. Video: Thunderbirds Fly-By

Total attendance of the two day event is expected to be near 80,000 - similar to the turnout for the 2006 Dayton Air Show.

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