Page 7 - Aerotech News and Review, October 15, 2021

High Desert Hangar Stories
Reflections on an air show

Where we find ourselves now as we look to the future

by Bob Alvis so well? was the same thing, and even though
special to Aerotech News As many of you know on the Friday the show did not have the massive
before an air show weekend, they have crowds looking for shade under the
A couple weekends ago I had the what they call a rehearsal day for all wing of a C-5A or other large military
pleasure of being a team member the teams and aviators to practice in aircraft along with the FED EX and
again to help with operations at the a show format so they can work out UPS cargo planes, it was still an im-
California Capital Airshow at Mather their routines before going on stage pressive show of people — who were
Field in Rancho Cordova. for the community on the weekends. well behaved and abiding by public
Going into the second year of a pan- As the Friday event began to take health requirements.
demic, it was nice to once again be shape, it became apparent there was After it was all said and done, and
a part of a three-day show and spend an opportunity for more of the view- thousands went home with the memo-
the week helping to make it all come ing public to find a place at the air ries of a first-class air show, I cannot
together with an amazing team of show as limited ticket sales were the see why a return to shows that reflect
professionals who know the air show order of the day for Saturday and Sun- the qualities of what they put on up
business very well. day’s shows. What ended up happen- here in Rancho Cordova cannot be
Prior to leaving for the week, about ing was a genius idea. On the Friday, duplicated at other venues in our part
a month before, the obstacles that a twilight air show was presented as of the state.
shutdown our air shows here in the a giant tailgate party and the park- One thing that does stand out is how
Southland began to become an issue ing lots were turned into the viewing the mandates and restrictions put on
again and I wondered how the state as area as families and friends put out by the state greatly reduced the foot-
a whole would deal with a reissuing of their lawn chairs and kids spread out print of the volunteers and guests re- Photograph by Bob Alvis
mandates that makes these events hard blankets in the back of trucks and, to questing to be a part of the show. The Spectators view a static display aircraft at the Capital City Airshow near
to deliver to the public. As I was driv- quote a famous line from a song, “A costs of the show would still be about Sacramento, Calif. For more photographs from the air show, visit www.
ing up 99 to Sacramento, I was hoping splendid time was had by all!” I can’t the same, but with reduced crowd aerotechnews.com.
all the while I would not get the call really give this part of the shows its sizes and limited ticket sales it would also and with the cancellation of the of air show professionals that, when
that the show had been canceled. Be- justice with words, but I will say the affect the bottom line, so the air show March Air Reserve Base air show in
ing in the backyard of our state capital U-2 demo and the F-35/P-38 heritage went on a diet. Many of the extras we the spring, and other military shows faced with a challenge, knew how to
it is no easy task for show organizers flights with the setting sun lighting up have come to know over the years shutting down around our region, it’s roll up their sleeves and do whatever
to convince leadership that a safe and the birds with a golden glow were be- became just the fact that we expected obvious that the military is finding it it took to put a product in the skies for
entertaining show could be had with yond awesome. The tailgate air show nothing but a pat on the back and a hard in current conditions with new all to see and to be entertained? That’s
little effect on public safety. program filled the sky with about four job well done by show organizers and and changing mission statements just what happened this year at the
New ideas were in the works early hours of top-notch aerobatics, includ- for many of us just to be a part of an along with reduced budgets so it may California Capital Airshow and let’s
on and a couple of phone calls with air ing the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. air show and see success is the only be a while before we roll on to a mili- hope and pray that somehow our own
show management let it be known that On Saturday and Sunday, I found thing we really strive for. For many tary base to be entertained. air shows in our region can rise like
planes would fly, and people would myself at my regular spot on the hot of us reaching into our own pockets The tragedy of the Huntington a Phoenix from a pandemic and find
have a good time and be entertained. ramp — sending birds off to enter- and paying our way is just a part of Beach Air Show was another hard one the local support it will truly need,
And that’s just what happened, even tain. But looking over at the air show the honor of bringing an air show to a to swallow as the Saturday program along with forward thinking people
community and seeing happy people
though the feel of a traditional air crowd I could not see that a limited was well received and was a hit with who put the community first and are
show crowd en masse was not present ticket sales program really took any- with families find a chance to smile the spectators but, in a world where willing to forgo the gloss while just
and forget about a rough patch we
and some of the static displays had to thing away from the experience, as have experienced here in our country we come to expect the unexpected, the being happy to give the citizens an
be reduced. Still, all in all, it delivered food vendors and a limited number over the last couple years. Sunday show fell victim to conditions
in a way that left the thousands that of merchandise vendors stayed pretty So where does this leave us now as out of their control. That still didn’t escape from their everyday lives with
attended happy and content to once busy all day long. Many of the non- we look to the future? Talking with my easy the pain of the thousands that some quality entertainment that only
again be part of an air show family. profits and military displays were also friends at the Planes of Fame about the were looking forward to a Sunday on America can produce .
So what changed to make it work present to fill in the gaps. Sunday it cancellation of their event this month the beach with entertainment over the Until next time, Bob out …
Oh, and a short P.S. from aviation
it all came down to an economics is- water and all the businesses that lost legend Bob Hoover. “Don’t ask me to
sue. A non-profit museum program out of all that desperately needed rev-
doesn’t want to end up in the red, enue to make up for hard times. put on an air show, I just fly in them,
with skyrocketing costs and the pos- So, what do the air shows of the leave the show up to people that know
sibility of a last minute cancellation future look like? Will they look the how to get me up in the air over a
of the program can doom any future same as we have grown accustomed crowd and a safe place to land after-
air shows. to over the past decades? Or will they wards!”
The military shows are suffering look like what an enterprising group I couldn’t agree more Mr. Hoover.

Photograph by Bob Alvis
Photograph by Bob Alvis
A U-2 Dragon Lady takes off at the Capital City Airshow. Air show attendees attend the tailgate, twilight air show Friday evening at the Capital City Airshow.

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