SNOWBIRDS ON OPERATIONAL PAUSE FOR EJECTION SEAT ISSUE According to multiple published media reports, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds are taking an “operational pause” until an issue with the ejection seats on the team’s CT-114 Tutor jets can be resolved. The team was preparing for its Friday practice show at the Bagotville International Air Show in Quebec when a pre-flight check identified the problem. The brief pause has been identified as a precautionary measure to ensure the team’s safety until an investigation by the Canadian Air Force’s director of flight safety can be completed.
The team did not fly at the Bagotville show. The next scheduled performance for the Snowbirds is a one-day show in Baddeck, Nova Scotia this Wednesday, followed by a weekend show on the 20th and 21st in St. Thomas, Ontario.
PARIS CELEBRATES A CENTURY OF AIR SHOWS THIS WEEK Despite widespread gloom within the aerospace industry, the Paris Air Show begins today, celebrating 100 years of air shows. Major aviation events throughout Europe are claiming the title of “first air show” in this centennial summer, but – whatever the merits of their individual claims – Paris seems to have won the title.
More aerospace trade show and exhibition than air show in the North American model, the biennial Paris Air Show focuses on aircraft sales and, during its 100 years of operation, has become an enormous and elaborate event. But, despite the centennial hype, this year’s show is likely to be one of the most subdued in recent memory with the current recession and this month’s Air France Airbus A330 accident putting a damper on the typically festive tone of this major aerospace event.
COLBERT FLIES WITH THUNDERBIRDS During the New York Air Show on Long Island over the Memorial Day weekend, comedian Stephen Colbert provided his Comedy Central television audience with a unique twist on the standard military jet team media ride. Have a look at this report as Stephen Colbert flies with the Thunderbirds.
BUSH 41 CELEBRATES 85TH BIRTHDAY BY JUMPING WITH KNIGHTS In what has become a tradition for former President George H.W. Bush, the former World War II naval aviator celebrated his most recent birthday with a tandem parachute jump with the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team. The event took place in Kennebunkport, Maine at St. Ann's Episcopal Church, which is the same location where the former president's parents were married.
Family and friends gathered to observe the jump, looking skyward as the former president and his tandem master SFC Michael Elliott, made their descent toward the target area and a near-perfect, stand-up landing. All five of his children were present, including the 43rd President, George W. Bush.
"It was a great exhilarating feeling, I don't feel a day over 84," noted the President. "It sends a message around the globe you don't have to sit around just 'cause you're an old guy drooling. Get out and do something, get out and enjoy life," he added.
INDY OFFERS FREE TICKETS TO BLOOD DONORS For the third consecutive year, officials with the Indianapolis Air Show offered a free air show ticket to anybody who gave a pint of blood during a three-day period just prior to the June 6-7 event. In addition to encouraging blood donations during a particularly critical time for the Indianapolis area blood banks, the program generated additional ticket sales among those blood donors who attended the show using their free ticket and brought friends and family members who then bought their own tickets.
Each of six different blood donation centers are given a small supply of tickets and an information sheet that explains how to buy additional tickets on-line or on-site on show day. The blood center promotes the program with its own radio spots, providing additional publicity for the show. In each of the three years that the program has been run, blood donations have spiked and the air show promotion has outperformed similar promotions conducted by the blood donation center for other events with different organizations. On each day of the show, blood donors are saluted for their donation by the announcer over the public address system.
CONGRATULATIONS TO SKIP AND CHRISTINA STEWART On Friday, May 8, Skip and Christina Stewart welcomed the arrival of their first child, Skye Aliana Stewart. The aptly named Skye came into this world weighing six pounds and ten ounces. Congratulations to Mom and Dad. And Skye: welcome to the air show family!
ACADEMY SPACE FILLING UP FAST Five and a half weeks before the big event, there are less than ten spots now available for the ICAS Academy on July 16, 17 and 18 at the Vectren Dayton Air Show. Past experience tells us that the last few remaining spots are likely to get scooped up within the next week to ten days. Click here for detailed information on the 2009 ICAS Academy.
ICAS RELEASES PRELIMINARY CONVENTION SCHEDULE ICAS recently released the preliminary schedule for the 2009 ICAS Convention, which includes information on the dates and times for each of the convention’s major events. This year, the Air Force Air Shows Workshop will be held on Saturday, December 5. Our sponsorship workshop, Air Shows 101 introduction to Air Show Air/Ground Operations and Welcome to Las Vegas reception will be held on Sunday, December 6. Our opening keynote presentation, the announcement of the 2010 North American military jet team schedules and the first exhibit hall sessions will be held on Monday, December 7. The Marketing Competition Awards Luncheon and a special Aaron Tippin concert will be held on Tuesday, December 8. And the final exhibit session, final education sessions, and traditional Chairman’s Banquet will be held on Wednesday, December 9.
ICAS offers heavy discounts to members who register for the convention early. To get the lowest possible rate, click here and register today.
GREAT BOOTHS STILL AVAILABLE Well-positioned booths on the trade show floor at the 2009 ICAS Convention are still available. But past history tells us that the very best booths will be scooped up during the next several weeks. If you have not yet reserved your booth, click here to get detailed information on the cost and location of available booths. You may also call (703-779-8510) or e-mail (connors@airshows.aero) Karen Connors at ICAS headquarters to reserve your booth on the exhibit floor at the world’s largest air show industry business meeting.
FOUNDATION SEEKS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS, HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS The ICAS Foundation is currently seeking applications for the ICAS Foundation/General Aviation Manufacturers Association Scholarship, the Sean DeRosier Memorial Scholarship, the Jan Jones Memorial Scholarship, the French Connection Memorial Scholarship, the Charlie Hillard Memorial Scholarship, the Red Barons Memorial Scholarship, and the Leo Loudenslager Memorial Scholarship. For more information on the qualifying criteria and application details, visit the website page explaining the ICAS Foundation scholarships. Deadline for submitting scholarship applications is August 1, 2009.
The Foundation is also soliciting nominations for the ICAS Foundation Air Show Hall of Fame. Recipients will be recognized during the Chairman’s Banquet at the 2009 ICAS Convention, December 6-9, 2009 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. To nominate an air show legend, visit the ICAS Foundation website and read the ICAS Foundation Air Show Hall of Fame information page.
© International Council of Air Shows, Inc. 750 Miller Drive, Suite F-3 Leesburg, Virginia 20175 Phone: 703-779-8510 Website: http://www.airshows.aero/ E-mail: icas@airshows.aero
Monday, June 15, 2009
ICAS Fast Facts -- June 15, 2009
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