Southern Wisconsin AirFEST
What might you see.....and hear..at an airshow? Skilled performers pulling 9 Gs or more in fast planes with odd names like MX 2? Yep. Vintage Warbirds overhead in near perfect formation? Yep, that too! Military Jets with names like Viper and Hornet flown by daring fighter pilots with names like Catfish? YES! That too. Static displays of aircraft from tankers to freighters.....YES.
At The 7th annual Southern Wisconsin airfest, you would have seen much more. You see a team of very professional air show PEOPLE.....people who KNOW the air show business.....a dedicated and committed TEAM of experts who are in control and making sure the show runs 100% smoothly. There is never chaos or confusion at this show. Parking and admission procedures are well planned and smooth. Security is highly professional and fan friendly. Performers are treated like the stars they are. Media is welcomed and given much freedom to do their jobs.
All this happens under the direction of Julia Dacy, Executive Director of the show. Husband Phil Dacy handles the announcing. One of the best in the business...Airport manager Ron Burdick makes sure the facility is top notch ready......Air Boss Dennis Kane keeps the show moving nicely....Ground support manager Scott Duck is everywhere watching over statics, aircraft movement and more. President Brent Fox on the grounds with his warm smile making fans welcome. Many others who should be mentioned.
This writer was at the show on Saturday. Weather was absolutely perfect for an air show.. and for the hundreds of photographers who were on hand.The show opened with a very emotionally moving tribute to Ken Hendricks, killed last year in a fall at his home. Ken owned ABC Supply, Major sponsor and supporter of the show for all its 7 years. The Golden Knights (gold team) performed and then presented the American Flag to Kens widow, Diane. Once underway, the show was thrilling and entertaining. Susan Dacy in her 450 hp Stearman......she has never missed a show here....she is sister to Phil Dacy (announcer). She is a Captain for American Airlines and flies an MD 80.
Michael Goulian was there in an Extra 300SHP......but with 330 horsepower. Goulian has 2 decades of air show performing experience. Another act was the 3 ship AeroStars in Yak 52 aircraft. A real crowd pleaser with their tight formation routines .
The concluding act was the Canadian Forces Snowbirds.....9 planes in tight formation with skill and precision to absolutely take your breath away. Space here won’t permit mention of all the acts. But take note that this show had NOT ONE, but TWO jet team demos. From Oceana NAS came the F/A 18 Hornet team. Some call them the Gladiators. From Eglin AFB in Florida came the F 15 West ACC team. Some fans still speak the older term, TAC demo. And this show had Not ONLY a Hertige Flight, but a Navy Legacy Flight as well.....Heritage was the F 15 Eagle with a P 51 flown by local favorite Vlado Lenoch. Legacy was the F/A 18 Hornet with a Navy Buckeye, a bird rarely seen at airshows. Janesville is NOT a large Wisconsin city when compared to Milwaukee or Madison. The airshow is presented about half way between Janesville and the nearby town of Beloit. But Air FEST is a LARGE show in many ways. And 2008 was one of the best ever. Thanks to Julia Dacy and a team of true airshow professionals.
Story by Wayne Gauldin and photos by David Jacobson & Larry Wilcox