Fire jet truck fuels Air Show

NORTH KINGSTON, R.I. (WPRI)-The Rhode Island National Guard Air Show is taking place this weekend at Quonset State Airport and joining everything aeronautical is the fire jet truck.

The audience will see one of the best shows in North America, which includes everything from jet planes to parachutists.

The crowd will have an intimate performance from driver Neil Darnell from the Air National Guard who is on his tenth year driving the fire jet truck. This truck’s engine is from a Navy jet and can accelerate three times faster than anything the military has, including the Air Force Thunderbirds.

Going from 0-60 miles per hour in one second, it will reach speeds of 365 miles per hour over a quarter of a mile and uses 60 gallons of jet fuel per performance.

The truck holds the air show speed record of 375 miles per hour and the audience will see this taking place from only about 70 feet away. Over his years driving the vehicle jet, Darnell has never had an injury and ensures on-lookers that despite the smoke and fire involved in his performance it is very safe.

You can catch the jet truck’s action twice during each day of the air show performance, with one solo routine and another with the Max Adrenaline Team.

For more information on the fire jet truck and free air show this weekend, visit www.riairshow.org.