By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Nothing is locked in place, schedules are still being sorted out, but the plan is to have another Airfest show in Great Bend in 2021. The airshows bring in warbirds from several different eras as spectators get a chance to see the classics in the air.
The idea was to host the event every three years and with a lot of success in 2018, Great Bend will try to put together another show next fall.
Great Bend Municipal Airport Manager Martin Miller says he has
already started reaching out to his contacts.
"I have contacted a number of airshow performers to see what their 2021 schedules look like," said Miller. "Usually in December, some of the big airshow associations start putting together calendars. We try putting together a timeframe that puts the most talent here."
Miller says Great Bend did receive plenty of visibility from the successful
2018 show that included two B-29s, Fifi and Doc, appearing at the same airshow
for just the second time. Miller felt that good press would help attract aircrafts and talent to come to Great Bend in 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic wiped
out the majority of airshows in 2020, so there will be high demand for the pilots
and aircraft associations next year.
"It is always important to have support from sponsors," Miller said. "That may affect the quality and duration of the show. That's a big deal. It's important we have support from the community."
Even with cold, wet weather, roughly 8,500 spectators came through the gates
for the three-day event in 2018.