LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Clark Memorial Bridge—also known as the Second Street bridge—is officially closed until Sunday at 2 p.m. while Zambelli Fireworks, a Pennsylvania-based company, sets up all the firepower for Thunder Over Louisville on Saturday.
Box by box, the pyrotechnics lined each side of the bridge with fireworks. Spaced out every ten feet, they stretch the Ohio River's whole width.
Further up in the sky, Captain Taylor Hiester prepared, practicing for an air show so low it'll nearly skim the river.
"I cannot wait to look down and see people on top of buildings and on parking garages watching the show. That's gonna be a unique vantage point. Not many people that get to see a show in the country—in fact, this will be the only show in the country—where people will actually get to look DOWN on the demonstration," he said.
The avionics specialist working on the F16 Viper is Staff Sergeant Austin Denny, a Mount Vernon native also focused on the crowd.
"It's an amazing opportunity. It really hasn't hit me yet considering I haven't done it yet. But I'm really excited. Get to see all my friends and family come out and they're all super excited to see what I do in the Air Force," Denny said.
High or low, whether in Kentucky or Indiana, this year's Thunder is ready for the takeoff of a milestone Derby season.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.