The upcoming Living Skies Airshow at the Estevan Regional Airport will feature half a dozen performances and numerous static displays.
The airshow will take place on Sept. 17. Gates will open at 11 a.m. for viewing of the ground displays, and the show will start at 12:30 p.m.
Richard Reetz, who is the manager of the airport, and Coun. Greg Hoffort, who is the city council representative for the city's airport liaison committee, are co-chairs of the airshow committee. They released the names of the performers and gave other details about the event at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon at the airport.
“Due to the hard work of the airshow committee, we’re able to put on a top-notch airshow,” said Hoffort.
He predicted it would be a great event for the community, and it would build on the success of last year, when the Canadian Forces Snowbirds were the featured attraction.
“It’s going to be an event that will have something for the whole family, something for the airplane enthusiast and the average citizen of Estevan,” said Hoffort.
Reetz added there will be vintage aircraft and some high-energy acts. Some performances will involve multiple planes.
“Normally you’d have to go to Moose Jaw or Regina or Winnipeg to see an air show with this many performers … but we’re going to have it right here in Estevan,” said Reetz.
Brent Handy Aerobatics will return for this year. Handy, who was the opening act last year, flies the Pitts Special, a high-powered aerobatics plane.
He has performed all over Canada and the U.S., is a former member of the Snowbirds, and now serves as one of their trainers.
“Everybody that I talked to had rave reviews of him,” said Reetz.
Yellow Thunder is a two-plane aerobatic demonstration team. Using Harvard planes, powered by 600-horsepower supercharged radial engines, they fly in formation.
The Vanguard Squadron is a U.S.-based ethanol-powered, four-plane aerobatic team that has been performing since 1985.
The Geoff Latter Airshow is an aerial ballet demonstrating the flying qualities of a fully-restored Nanchang CJ-6A from the People's Liberation Army Air Force. It has a unique look and sound, and creates lines in the sky through its smoke system.
Stefan Trischuk Pipisterl Aerobatics uses the most advanced aerodynamic and engine technology to produce an efficient private aircraft.
Finally, Sky Dive South Saskatchewan is a Moose Jaw-based skydive team that will entertain the crowd while promoting its business.
Reetz said he has seen Handy, Yellow Thunder and Sky Dive South Saskatchewan before.
“Every performer has their own niche,” said Reetz. “There’s no two that are the same, so it will be fun to watch.”
He hopes they will have some military aircraft as part of the static displays, as well as local planes and other aviation groups.
People will want to be on the site to see the performance, Reetz said. When the Snowbirds were here last year, they needed a lot of room to turn around, meaning that people who weren’t at the airport still saw the Snowbirds flying overhead.
But the aircraft will be flying lower and will have shorter turns.
“You’re going to want to be up close, because they’re going to be up close,” said Reetz. “They’re going to be right in front of you.”
Estevan is home to a great airport, they said, and they hope the airshow will showcase it.
“We have so much to offer in our community, and this is another great example of what can be done in our community,” said Hoffort. “A lot of these performers are big city air show types of performers, so the fact that we can bring a show like this, and an entertainment package like this to our community, speaks very highly of our community, of the volunteer air show committee that is putting this on, and of the airport facilities.”
Reetz said the airshow will be weather dependent. Not only are they hoping for a warm, sunny day, but they need the wind to co-operate. He expects the performers could handle winds of 30 to 50 kilometres per hour (km/h), but a 60 km/h wind with strong gusts would ground the aircraft.
The airshow has a $50,000 budget. Hoffort predicted the sponsorships and the gate admissions will cover the costs, and the committee is confident they will at least break even.
If there is a surplus, the money will go to an improvement fund for airport.
Ticket prices are $15 for an adult and $5 for a youth under the age of 12. Parking will be on site, and Reetz is hopeful the parking issues from last year will be resolved.
