A chance to share the wonder of flight

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Originally uploaded by fanslerdusti

The Wellington Noon Lions Club has some very big decisions ahead! We all know we can’t rely on a handful of people to make this Aviation Festival a success this year - it has to be everyone working together. This year there will be more emphasis on personal commitments of both time and money to the air show from our club members and their businesses and the Wellington community... Oh, I hope this thing is a GO! :-)

Presented to our club were the possibilities of bringing in SEVEN different air show acts this year. That means not a 30 minute air show, not a 45 minute airshow, but a whole afternoon of watching air show performances! Everything from military demonstrations and historic, vintage aircrafts to the most famous acts in the air show circuit with the return of not only Matt Younkin and the Beech 18 but the possibility of four of the Younkin and Franklin performances. I couldn’t have been more impressed with the Beech 18 last year. I loved it’s bright colors and size — this year we could have planes twice as big as the Beech 18 out on the runway! I can’t even imagine!

The emphasis this year will be to give more festival-goers the opportunity to not just watch the skies but to experience flight. If we could bring in the C-47 Skytrain, up to 19 could ride at a time in the historic aircraft. There is talk about the possibility of getting flights in one or even two Stearman Aircraft, including one of the Red Baron bi-planes! I know there would be cost involved, but I’d sign up several members of my family in a heartbeat to give them the chance to experience either! And that’s not even all of the possibilities for this airshow!

We really have the chance to put together a simply incrediable event for this community and this whole region. I would just love to see people lined up at the gate and a full parkinglot!!! I can see it now!

So, the next action of our Club will be to vote on this airshow by silent ballot. I’m in charge of creating the ballot, so if you have any suggested questions, please send them in. I’m asking if the Club supports the financial commitments needed for the performers, hot air balloons, carnival and more. I’m asking for personal commitments on everything from donations to selling wristbands in advance to volunteering time to work as “staff” at the event. If we get a positive response and a commitment from our Club we feel like we can stand on, we will continue our efforts to bring this amazing airshow to our community. It’s a unique event because it combines aviation with hot air balloons, live entertainment and carnival rides and food... It takes a very unique group of people to take care of all aspects of a production like this. We’re lucky to have so many insiders in the air show circuit and with airport management experience, but its up to the rest of us to sell sell sell! :-)

So, here’s to a positive ballot return and a fantastic event!
Fingers crossed!