From ICAS- More than 1,000 air show professionals gathered at the Paris Hotel last week in Las Vegas for the 2013 ICAS Convention, December 2-5. The 47th annual ICAS Convention featured the traditional opening reception on Monday, a keynote address by leadership consultant Jeff McCausland on Tuesday, a stirring panel discussion with three World War II aviation combat veterans on Wednesday, and the traditional Chairman's Banquet at the conclusion of the four-day event on Thursday evening.
During the convention, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds announced their 2014 performance schedules. The preliminary schedule for the 2014 North American air show season can be found here (by date) and here (by map).
MAGIN NAMED 2013 SWORD OF EXCELLENCE RECIPIENT- Magin was recognized for video images that have helped to capture the beauty and drama of air shows since he first became involved in the air show business in 1997. As a technician and as an artist, Magin has used cutting-edge technology to provide our industry with never-before-seen perspectives on the air show business.
First
presented to Paul Poberezny in 1981, Magin becomes the 40th recipient of the ICAS Sword of
Excellence. Other past recipients include Bob Hoover, Leo Loudenslager, Art
Scholl, Dick Schram, Bill Barber and Charlie Hillard.
ROGER AND PAULINE BUIS TAKE HOME 2013 ART SCHOLL SHOWMANSHIP AWARD- The 2013 Art Scholl Memorial Showmanship Award was presented to Roger and Pauline Buis during the Chairman's Banquet at the conclusion of the 2013 ICAS Convention in Las Vegas last week.
For more than 15 years, Roger and Pauline have expanded the definition of air show showmanship with Otto the Helicopter, demonstrating that aerial entertainment comes in many different forms. In the spirit of Art Scholl himself, Roger and Pauline use music, smoke, an engaging storyline, pyro and world-class airmanship to provide spectators with high quality entertainment that is always right out in front of the crowd line.Roger and Pauline become the 28th recipients of an award that has previously been presented to Bob Hoover, Jimmy Franklin, Leo Loudenslager, the French Connection, John Mohr, Tora Tora Tora, the Red Baron Squadron and the Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds.
HOUGHTON RECEIVES INAUGURAL ICAS WINGMAN AWARD- ICAS launched a new awards program with its presentation of the ICAS Wingman Award to Mike Houghton, President and CEO of the Reno Air Racing Association. Made possible by the generous support of Breitling, the new award will be presented each year to an individual from within or outside the air show business who has made a contribution that improves, promotes or safeguards the air show industry.
Mike Houghton, President and CEO of the Reno Air Racing Association at 50th Reno Air Race, Alabama Aviator image-
Houghton was recognized for the work that he did following the horrific accident at the Reno Air Races in September, 2011. By providing courageous leadership during a difficult time, Houghton helped to ensure a professional and effective emergency response on the day of the accident. After the accident, he did exactly the right thing and struck exactly the right tone with the victims and their families, with the media, with investigators and regulatory authorities, and with the key stakeholders in his community. And, in acting as he did, he helped make it possible for the Reno Air Races to continue in 2012, 2013 and beyond.
KOBELT, THRASHERS, ANDREINI INDUCTED INTO ICAS FOUNDATION AIR SHOW HALL OF FAME- Also during the 2013 Chairman's Banquet, three new inductees were welcomed into the ICAS Foundation Air Show Hall of Fame.
"Pappy" Kobelt was recognized for both his work as an air show performer in the 1950s and 1960s, and the role that he played as an air show mentor to so many of the top performers of his day. After he opened Kobelt Airport in Wallkill, New York, it quickly became the aerobatic mecca of its day, welcoming Harold Krier, Charlie Hillard, Bill Sweet, Rod Jocelyn, Jim Holland, Debbie Gary and Leo Loudenslager. Pappy's daughter, Kid, accepted the award on behalf of the Kobelt family.
The Thrasher Brothers - Grady, Bud and Tunis - were active on the air show circuit in the late 1940s. They brought a package deal (car top landings, aerobatics, parachute demonstrations, inverted ribbon cuts, car-to-aircraft transfers) to every show in which they appeared, often acting as both performers and event organizers. The Thrasher brothers performed 384 times all over the United States over a five year period, before ending their meteoric air show careers in 1950 at a show in Charleston, South Carolina.
Eddie
Andreiniwas recognized for an air show career that has now spanned nearly 50 years. In
addition to his talent as a performer flying many different acts in multiple
aircraft, Andreini has earned a reputation as a team player who will do
whatever it takes to help make an air show entertaining and successful. A
fixture on the west coast for nearly five decades, Andreini is known for his
performances in the Stearman biplane, Yak 9, and - most recently - the P-51
Mustang.
BUEKENBERGHS, DRUMRIGHT RECEIVE SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS- ICAS presented two ICAS Special Achievement Awards during this year's Chairman's Banquet. The first went to Gilbert Buekenberghs of the European Airshow Council, the sister organization of ICAS in Europe. Buekenberghs has been the principal driving force behind the Sanicole International Air Show in Belgium for more than 30 years.
Dale Drumright was singled out for her work as an ICAS Board member during the last three years. The air show director for AirPower over Hampton Roads at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, Drumright has served as chairman of the ICAS Foundation and was instrumental in the development of an ICAS Convention-based mentoring program and development of the new ICAS Board Handbook.
KLATT, JACK LINK'S INTRODUCE NEW JET WACO- John Klatt Airshows has joined forces with Jack Link's Beef Jerky to introduce a one-of-a-kind, jet-powered Waco biplane to the air show circuit in 2014. The new plane and sponsorship deal were unveiled during the Welcome Reception at the beginning of last week's ICAS Convention. Based on a similar design flown by Jimmy Franklin from 1999 through 2005, the airplane will be promoted as"Screamin' Sasquatch," a reference to the successful series of television commercials that Jack Link's has used to promote its beef jerky.
During the 2014 air show season, Screamin' Sasquatch will be piloted by both Klatt, a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, and Jeff Boerboon, a former U.S. Unlimited Aerobatics Champion. FMI - http://www.airshows.aero/