The Board of Aviation Commissoners on Tuesday discussed the second annual Air Show of Warsaw, which will feature aircraft, helicopter and balloon rides, airplane versus car races, a balloon glow and dusk aerobatics show. Admission to the Aug. 15 and 16 air show is free. Parking is free on the 15th and $5 per car on the 16th. The aircraft and helicopter rides are scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday and attendees can watch an open air performer practice from 3 to 9 p.m. The airplane versus car races are Friday from 6 to 7 p.m. and a concert with the Time Travelers begins at 7:30 p.m. and lasts until 9:30. The balloon glow and dusk aerobatics show is scheduled from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday. Events on Saturday include a balloon launch and rides starting at 7 a.m. and additional aircraft and helicopter rides, with aircraft arrivals and displays from 8 a.m. to noon. A model aircraft demo will begin at 10 a.m. with the national anthem and a parachute demo following at noon. A warbird review will begin at noon and a Candy Bomber drop will begin at 12:40 p.m. Saturday. Aerobatic performances are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. with a jet review following from 3 to 4 p.m. The air show will wrap up from 4 to 6 p.m. with a post-show concert and additional airplane and helicopter rides. The show will feature a beer garden and food vendors. At a previous BOAC meeting, Alan Hoover, Historic Flights Foundation events organizer, said last year, HFF planned for 500 to 1,000 attendees but the event drew around 7,000 people to the field and another 2,000 to 3,000 people in nearby parking lots. Parking and facilities were insufficient as a result. Hoover said this year, HFF is planning for 10,000 attendees and “what-iffing” 20,000. The event will employ local law enforcement to coordinate traffic flow and mapped out parking areas and hopes to even utilize some sort of shuttle service. Last summer’s event was the largest air show in Indiana and Hoover said he hopes to keep that title this year. He expects this year’s event will cost around $30,000, compared to last year’s bill of around $11,000, but said the commerce the event will bring to the city of Warsaw will help offset the cost. In other business, the BOAC also received preliminary FAA approval for new airport guidance signs and approved Williams, Beck & Hess to clean and inspect the fuel farm for $7,542 as the low bid. Airport Manager Nick King also informed the board that Warsaw Area Career Center will start an aviation class in the fall and King said he has been working with them to promote aviation among high school-aged students.
