Warbird Information Exchange

Does anyone feel that they are having to many collosial air shows this year? Thunder over Michigan, Gathering of legends, Corsairs over Ohio.. Let's face it we can only go to so many shows a year and they are within close proximity to each other. Will the airshow people lose money if attendance is spread amoung several shows? What do you think, Is my thinking wrong?

I'd say that the majority of attendees are from the local area. As those that you've listed are spread out widely geographically, attendance will not be greatly affected adversely by the number of shows.

On top of those listed, you've also got the usual West Coast events such as Chino and Reno, plus the likes of Midland, Oshkosh, Sun 'n Fun, etc, as well as the plethora of smaller shows and military 'open house' that always attract a smattering of warbirds, so I wouldn't say that there are many more than usual this year - certainly, the numbers of shows are well down on the 1980s due to the decline in military shows due to base closures.

I would say that there are still too few warbird airshows to create a real circuit where airplanes can be kept busy touring and earning week in and week out. Especially because three or four such circuits are really needed, one in the northeast/midwest, one in the south, and one west of the rockies, in consideration of the range of the aircraft.

It would be interesting to know what percentage of people really do travel any distance to see airshows. A simple matter of taking a survey. I suppose ICAS or someone has done so. I tend to agree with Mike; the nuts like us that come more than 150 miles to see an airshow are too few to affect their economics. Just guessing though.

The UK has almost as many great shows every year as we do, in an area smaller than Michigan. They seem to do okay. I envy the Brits' ability to drive easily to any show in the country. This year with Oshkosh, Thunder, Mustangs, and Corsairs the lucky sods in the midwest have it almost as good as the Brits. I would think that if this type of thing happened every year, it would benefit everyone in the end by increasing the events/money/visibility/buzz/news coverage of warbird shows as a whole.

August

That's the bummer I'm a midwesterner in New England now!

I agree with Mike in that except for the hard core enthusiasts most of the people that attend the shows are from the local area so I don't think it effects the attendance that much. I'm quite thrilled that the shows mentioned are all a reasonable driving distance from me and I can go to all three. My big problem is finding the money and time. I would rather have too many shows than too few.