Vectren Dayton Air Show

The Vectren Dayton Air Show is an annual event held at the Dayton International Airport in Vandalia, Ohio, eight miles north of Dayton, Ohio. From 2013 to 2019 & resuming in 2021, the show has been held on a weekend in late June. Prior to 2013, it was held in mid-July each year. The history of this flight exhibition dates back to 1910 and the Wright Company.[1] Dayton is the hometown of the Wright brothers and is where Orville and Wilbur built their first powered aircraft.[2] The show's main sponsor is Vectren Corporation and it is considered to be one of the country's premier aviation events.

Vectren Dayton Air Show
United States Air Force Thunderbirds at the 2009 Dayton Air Show
StatusActive
GenreAir show
DatesLate June
FrequencyAnnually
VenueDayton International Airport
Location(s)Vandalia, Ohio
CountryUnited States
Attendance80,000 (2010)
ActivityStatic displays
Aerobatic displays
Websitewww.daytonairshow.com

It is estimated that the 2010 Dayton Air Show attracted nearly 80,000 people and had a $5 million impact on the Dayton region's local economy.[3] The 2012 show is estimated to have a $3 million impact on Dayton's economy.

There was no air show in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

US Air, Trade & Technology Conference and Exposition

The US Air Trade and Technology Conference and Exposition (USATT) was initiated by Congressman Mike Turner to bring together contractors, subcontractors, governments and others to discuss issues pertaining to the aerospace industry.[4] The program focuses on UAVs, human performance, sensors, and alternative fuels, among other things.[5] Although the (USATT) takes place during the Dayton Air Show, it is not open to the public.

Accidents and fatalities

An accident during a stunt flight resulted in the death of Jim LeRoy, who was pronounced dead on July 28, 2007 in a military MEDEVAC helicopter while in transit to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.[6][7] The reason of this crash was reported as pilot error.[8]

On June 22, 2013, an airplane carrying wing walker Jane Wicker crashed at the air show, killing both Wicker and pilot Charlie Schwenker.[9]

On June 23, 2017, the day before the air show, a General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon jet of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds display team, not scheduled to perform, was taxiing to a staging area after a familiarization flight, when witnesses reported a gust of wind flipped the aircraft onto its top in a grassy area next to the taxiway. Both the pilot and a team crew member were trapped in the airplane for one hour; the pilot suffered only minor injuries while the crew member had no visible injuries. The Thunderbirds canceled their scheduled performances for both days of the air show.[10][11][12]

Effect of weather on attendance

Unusually high temperatures led to greatly decreased attendance for the 2012 show. As such, it was announced in October, 2012 that the 2013 show would be moved from July to June.[13] The trend has continued through 2016; the 2016 show was held from June 18–19, 2016. The previous year's air show had lost attendance as well due to weather, however, the loss was due to heavy rains, which also forced the temporary grounding of some acts.[14] An estimated 51,000 spectators attended the 2016 show, a large increase from the 40,000 of the previous year. This was despite the absence of a scheduled headliner act, the Blue Angels, following the group's temporary grounding due to the death of one of its pilots in a crash on June 2.[15]

Notes
  1. "Dayton Air Show viewed from the camera's eye". Wilmington News Journal. 2008-02-26. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  2. "Dayton Air Show; Dayton International Airport, July 29 - 30, 2006". EVENT NEWS. NASA. 2006. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  3. "Dayton Air Show annual facts". 2010-10-11. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  4. "USATT". Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  5. "USATT 2". Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  6. "Dayton Air Show Crash Kills Pilot - News Story - WHIO Dayton". Archived from the original on 2008-12-01. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
  7. "Coroner: Pilot Died Instantly - News Story - WHIO Dayton". Archived from the original on 2008-02-22. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
  8. Nolan, John (June 20, 2008). "Federal inquiry cites pilot error in fatal Dayton Air Show crash". airportbusiness.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
  9. Gomez, Alan (2013-06-22). "Plane with wing walker crashes at Ohio air show, kills 2". USA Today. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  10. Staff (June 23, 2017). "Thunderbird F-16 plane flips on its top at Ohio air show". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  11. Associated Press (June 23, 2017). "2 on Thunderbirds jet in Ohio accident in good condition". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  12. Breaking news staff; Barber, Barrie; Driscoll, Kara (June 24, 2017). "Thunderbirds will not perform Sunday at Vectren Dayton Air Show". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  13. Barber, Barrie (October 11, 2012). "Dayton Air Show moved to June". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  14. Barber, Barrie (September 10, 2015). "Blue Angels and WWII act headline 2016 air show". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  15. Barber, Barrie (June 20, 2016). "Dayton Air Show brings in estimated 51K people". WHIO-TV. Retrieved June 20, 2016.

References
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