Aishows in the US

[Walrus 7]

Need help!

I am trying to gauge the popularity of airshows in the USA. In 1996 Bob Hoover estimated that 26 million people went to airshows in the USA annually. Do you reckon this is still about right? Has it declined at all? Is the number of airshows held annually on the increase, decline or about the same? Can you think of any that have disappeared in the last ten years or so?

Thanks in advance

Walrus

[The Inspector]

In Washington state I can think of the following shows that are no more;
Washington States Official Air Fair @ KPAE
Yakima Air Show
Flightfest @ KBFI
McChord military show (and one damned fine museum that no one can get near unless you can prove 346 years continuous service AND bring both parents)
Port Angeles flyin

can anyone else add ones I may have missed?

[Obergrafeter]

In Texas the Southwest Regional EAA Fly-in that was over 40 years old is no more. Billed as The Texas Fly-In was cancelled suddenly last month.

[warbirdguy]

The Elkhart Air Show lasted 20 years but cancelled their 21st and future shows until further notice.

[Ryan Keough]

We lost Fort Lauderdale this year too... a very large and influential show. NAS Brunswick is having another this year, but not sure if it will be doing it again in 2009 due to the BRAAC closure. Pope AFB suffered the same fate.

[wls3]

CAF show in Frederick, MD.
Armed Forces Airshow at Wilkes Barre-Scranton, PA
Old National Warplane Museum's show, Elmira, NY.
The Biggest Little Airshow, Sussex, NJ

All good shows no longer held.

[warbird1]

There are many, many airshows that are no longer being held due to the high cost of fuel and/or liability/insurance concerns. I think it will only get worse, as airshows continue to reduce the free "perks" and gas. Since operating costs are getting so astronomical, many warbird owners are being very, very selective in the airshows they go to.

Unfortunately, unless these issues get resolved, I think we've already seen the "peak" in airshows and attendance numbers, IMO.

[Obergrafeter]

How could I forget the greatest show of all no longer held........Breckenridge!

[Obergrafeter]

How could I forget the greatest show of all no longer held........Breckenridge!

[dfrat]

McChord is having an airshow this year, and the air museum has moved to Heritage hill where they have an F-106, F-105, F-86D, T-33, F-15, F-101, A-10, C-141, C-47, C-82, C-124, B-18, B-18.

We have the Thunderbirds Performing this year.

[JDK]

There are many, many airshows that are no longer being held due to the high cost of fuel and/or liability/insurance concerns. I think it will only get worse, as airshows continue to reduce the free "perks" and gas. Since operating costs are getting so astronomical, many warbird owners are being very, very selective in the airshows they go to.

Unfortunately, unless these issues get resolved, I think we've already seen the "peak" in airshows and attendance numbers, IMO.

Going off at a bit of a tangent... I think we had a shows 'peak' in the early mid 1990s globally, and certainly in the UK and Europe, as the results of Glasnost came through, and the mix of no-longer required cold war weaponry and interest in the same coupled with availability had a lot of Eastern and Western aircraft on show there. Many of these modern military aircraft are no longer around. September 11th certainly hasn't helped, either, encouraging paranoia within and outside aviation towards the activity, and having licensed and bred an amazing array of mini 'jobsworths' and over-promoted security clowns.

The (small) number of shows in Australia and New Zealand seem to be stable at the moment, but one has to wonder how many shows are sustainable in any given country.

[Mudge]

wls3 wrote:

CAF show in Frederick, MD.
Armed Forces Airshow at Wilkes Barre-Scranton, PA
Old National Warplane Museum's show, Elmira, NY.
The Biggest Little Airshow, Sussex, NJ

Bill, I read in the Martinsburg, WV Journal a couple of days ago that there's an airshow planned for Martinsburg (KMRB) in September. Could this be the Frederick, MD CAF chapter? I know they planned one in '05 or '06 that fell through for lack of sponsorship.
I think that one was about 90% aerobatics and 10% static. Only a couple of warbirds.

Mudge the curious

ps...after a bit of research on the CAF site, they're not even showing a MD or WV wing. I guess that lets them out as the organizer.

Last edited by Mudge on Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:33 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Forgotten Field]

encouraging paranoia within and outside aviation towards the activity, and having licensed and bred an amazing array of mini 'jobsworths' and over-promoted security clowns.

History is full of Maginot lines, and the people who believe in them...

But for God's sake, don't go disturbing the economy...

Now I'm going to go plan on how to spend my "terror dividend" of $1600 or so...

[dors]

definitely on the decline. I used to be able to drive 10 minutes for Harrisburg, PA shows, then they went away. Then it was 30 minutes for Reading PA, then they went away, then 1 hour for Wilkes Barre Scranton PA, then they went away. Then 1 hour 30 minutes for Willow Grove PA..... you can see where i am going with this. Now the closest decent show is a healthy 2.5 hour drive to Andrews AFB, or Dover AFB. But even Dover seems to be falling into airshow oblivion.

It almost seems like organizers want to go big or not bother. Personally I like the small shows. I don't need to see the thunderbirds or blue angels at EVERY event.

[CH2Tdriver]

Walrus,

Have you been over to airshowbuzz.com ? Great site! Join up over on their board and post your question. There are a lot of industry people and insiders on that board who can give you some more insight.

Pete