Airshow July 8^th-9^th

DULUTH – After more than two years in planning, the Northland’s largest event of the Summer will arrive in six days: the 2006 Monaco Air Duluth Airshow, July 8-9 at the Duluth International Airport.  And the weather prognosis is looking good.

“Weather is one of the biggest threats to an airshow,” said airshow president, Ryan Kern.  “We will be putting out fires all the way up to the end of the airshow, but those are issues we can deal with. We have no control over the weather. Today I’m feeling pretty good, though.”

As with the previous two airshows, the Monaco Air Duluth Airshow will boast exciting aerial demonstrations from award-winning performers, and an up close and personal look at 80 years of aviation history.   However, this year marks a lot of “firsts” for Duluth’s airshows.

“It’s always fulfilling to give the aviation enthusiasts something new in each airshow, and this year I think we’ve done pretty well,” said airshow President Ryan Kern.  “The basic format for an airshow will remain the same.  With limited time and space, you can only accommodate so many acts and displays.  The trick is to give the public variety, and this year might be the best line up we’ve had yet.”

Topping the airshow acts is the return of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds after a 15-year absence. In addition, 2006 will mark the first-time appearance of internationally-known aerobatic pilots Patty Wagstaff (sponsored by Cirrus Designs), Jeff Mahwinney and Mike Wiskus.

Among the other highlights scheduled:

·                     B-2 Stealth Bomber fly by

·                     B-52 Stratofortress Bomber fly by

·                     U.S. Navy F-18 Hornet and F-4U Corsair Legacy Flight

·                     Red Baron Pizza Squadron aerial demonstration

·                     David Burdine’s Soviet-made Mig-17 aerial demonstration

·                     F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-15 Eagle, F-18 Hornet aerial demonstrations

·                     F-18 High Alpha Research Aircraft

“This will be the first time in Duluth’s history that a B-2 bomber will make an appearance,” said Kern. “It’s essentially a flying wing, unique among the United State’s arsenal of military aircraft.  It will be interesting for people to see, in one day, America’s newest bomber, the B-2, and its oldest bomber still in service , the venerable B-52, which is piloted by men and women who were born after it was put in service. I’m also thrilled that one of my favorite planes, the F-4U Corsair, will be here for the first time.”

Along with the various aircraft, the airshow will have the largest display ever at a Duluth airshow from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.  Exhibits from the John Glenn Institute and the Dryden Flight Research Center include space suits and other artifacts from actual space missions, satellites, a space shuttle mock up, a rocket simulator and a variety of hands-on displays.  The display will take up a whole aircraft hanger.

More information about the Monaco Air Duluth Airshow is available at www.duluthairshow.com.  Downloadable images are available for use by the media in the Performers link.