Air Show set for August

Wednesday, 28 May 2014 18:31

Tillsonburg Airshow returns later this summer, August 23rd at Tillsonburg Regional Airport -- this time under a new name.

TILLSONBURG -- Those looking for some sky high entertainment this summer can look forward to the return of The Ontario South Coast International Air Show.

The annual Tillsonburg event, formerly known as "The Tillsonburg Airshow," takes place August 23 at Tillsonburg Regional Airport.

Last fall, organizers announced they were changing their name to Ontario's South Coast International Airshow as a way to attract more Oxford business and make it more of a County wide event.

Organizing Chair Andre Brisson talked to Heart FM about one of the acts already scheduled for later this summer.

"We just signed Kent Pietsch, from JellyBelly, he's got a little Cadet plane he uses to land on the rooftop of an RV, he also does a dead-stick routine from 5,000 ft, engine off, and comes all the way down and lands on the runway right in front of someone. Usually that's the children's favourite from all the air shows I've been to."

Pietsch has performed hundreds of routines for airshow audiences throughout North America.

Brantford Ontario pilot Danny Richer is also scheduled with his aerobatic routine in his former British jet-powered training and light attack aircraft.

Also at this year's air show, is the Commemorative Air Force Red Tail Squadron, sharing the inspiring legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen – America’s first black military pilots and their support personnel. Their success in triumphing over adversity during WWII still inspires people of all ages to rise above obstacles they may face.

The Canadian Harvard Formation Team which will also be offering some flying experiences at this August's air show.

If you cant wait that long, Brisson says the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and CF-18 Demo Teams will be performing June 14 and 15, also at Tillsonburg Regional Airport.

Brisson says organizers were able to land the Snowbirds after the cancellation of a date in London for June.

"We found out that it was opened up and then we applied to offer it as a secondary site to be rescheduled."

Brisson says the same thing happened in 2012, where runway expansion in Brantford moved the show to this area.

Tickets are $10 for youth and $20 for adults.

General admission tickets can be purchased for both shows at Tillsonburg Regional Airport, or at the Station Arts Centre

Brisson reminds those interested in attending the Snowbirds aerial performance to consider buying their tickets not only for the Snowbirds next month -- but also the annual August 2014 Airshow at the same time, to receive a 40 percent discount on your August Airshow tickets.