Air Show Magic

By Ralph McCormick

AIR SHOW EQUALS EXCITEMENT 

Air shows have a bit of mystery about them.  They occur mostly during the spring, summer, and fall months.  People flock to the airports in various numbers.  Small towns will draw two or three thousand.  Large towns pull two hundred thousand aviation enthusiasts.  It appears that air shows may be an addiction for some or perhaps for all of us. 

For years I have referred to the air show as MAGIC.  Call it mystical, magical, or perhaps even spiritual, but the general public sees it as wonderful, exciting and fun.  They load up the kids, neighbor’s kids, grandparents, friends and enemies in the family car and head to the airport.  Most likely that is the only trip to the airport made by them all year. 

Conceivably, that is the key.  Since there are three hundred million Americans and only about a five hundred thousand pilots, it is possible that the air show creates a draw for non-pilots to view the things that they couldn’t possibly do.  It is important that non-pilots see and understand the nature of flight at its best.  I’ve seen and photographed kids, parents, and grandparents watching the performers with such an expression of excitement and fear.  Excitement for the unique flight they’re watching, fear for the unknown maneuvers they see.  Point being:  They love it.  They see action that only happens at the air show. 

STARTING AN AIR SHOW 

Air shows are few and far-between due to the enormous amount of work and cost.  One may only find two or three air shows in the entire state.   Air show committees will begin the work for the coming air show as soon as the current air show is over (or perhaps before).  That work will continue all year.  Money has to be raised, workers organized, performers have to be secured, and overall items must be addressed.  Would I suggest you begin an air show, you ask?  Sure, why not?  Start up air shows do happen.  One in a small town in west central Oklahoma at Fairview boosts the oldest free air show with continuous operation at over fifty years.  This is a good example of an air show that starts and often continues for many years. 

 

Something that will kill an air show is the lack of funding.  If a show is to succeed, the funds to pay the event performers must be in hand before the air show date.  Gate receipts cannot be counted on to pay them.  Remember Mother Nature will often provide rain for your air show.  Once the funds have been raised, then start securing your performers.  If you get to this point, you’re over halfway there. 

Do I suggest you start your air show, YES!  It is hard work, but a do’able project. 

HOT PROPERTY PERFORMERS

Where do you find performers?  The Internet is a fine place to start looking.  There are websites that provide contact information.  The International Council of Air Show (perhaps you know them as ICAS) is the organization that most aerobatic performers belong.  The ICAS Convention is usually held during the first part of December at various locations around the country.  Performers seek out air shows for the next year, starting near the end of the current year.   

Some of the performers that have been so popular at air shows over the years are Bob Hoover, Marion Cole, Bobby Younkin, Jimmy Franklin along with many others.  These pilots lived and breathed flying and it showed in their performance.  I can still remember seeing Bob Hoover at Oshkosh in the 1980s…… what a class act he was.  These guys were considered HOT PROPERTIES.  Hot properties would and could draw big bucks and big crowds.  Their performances were the ultimate at every show.  To be a HOT PROPERTY, a performer might be moved to the top of the scale not only by their skill but by their ingenuity such as coming up with a jet Waco, using a twin Beech 18, or Shrike Aero Commander.  Today’s Hot Properties are still on the air show circuit and they are HOT.  Look for them!!! 

If there is one question rolling around in many performers’ daydreams it is, “How can I bring something different - even more creative to the business in order to be sought after by show producers”?   That makes the difference between getting hired or not.  The different, unique performance will get hired.  Difference equates to success.  My first view of the jet Waco at Oshkosh certainly kept my attention, as did the Shrike Commander twin engine doing a dead stick loop just feet above the runway while landing.  One word best describes those events, AWESOME!!! 

NOT SO HOT 

Please don’t think that the only way to have an air show is to acquire the hot properties.  There are hundreds of super fantastic aerobatic pilots, who perhaps aren’t a Bob Hoover.  I fly an airplane, but not as well as Neil Armstrong or Frank Borman.  It is fine to shoot for the hot properties, but the cost of putting on an air show with them will be much more.  The cost of an air show is determined by the ability and expertise of your performers.  The general public comes to an air show to see planes fly in unusual attitudes.  They will not always understand or see the difference in pilots whom you choose for your air show.  As a pilot and air show fan, I personally feel that if you get your butt in an airplane and do aerobatic performances in front of a crowd you might as well be considered a pretty darn good property. 

The important item to remember is that the air show event is your product.  They come to see airplanes and lots of them.  This gives the public that contact with your airport and airplanes.  From the city or airport viewpoint, it is good public relations.  In these times, aviation needs a good rapport with the other two-hundred ninety-nine million Americans.  

You can get materials and ideas from Internet websites.  If you want a list of aerobatic performers go to our website www.fly-low.com/links/ or go to the ICAS website.  Contact the performers and you’ll find some of the finest people in the world.