Dayton Air Show Crash

Homestead would take on London and Berlin in the air expo wars in new plan

Miami-Dade County hopes to transform the Homestead air base into a new hub for aviation deals in the Americas.

County commissioners are expected to vote Tuesday on $7.5 million in bond money for road improvements and other infrastructure upgrades on land adjacent to the downsized base, the first step in a plan to make it the site of a new commercial air show.

Built around military plane deals and VIP tours of new aircraft (rather than the airborne acrobatics of public shows), the aviation expo would be the Western Hemisphere’s answer to the renowned Paris Air Show and the only major commercial aviation show this side of the Atlantic.

“We want to bring the world’s aviation industry here,’’ said Frank Nero, president of the Beacon Council, the tax-funded economic development agency pushing for the show. “We’re looking to showcase Miami and South Florida — and actually the whole state of Florida — and [show] that this is a good place where they can set up operations.’’

Breaking into the crowded air-show market will be a challenge for the Miami International Aerospace Show. Nero hopes to have the first show in the fall of 2012, leaving just 18 months to prepare the site, raise money for operations and, most importantly, obtain commitments from major aviation manufacturers to spend about $1 million each to set up the pavilions, called “chalets,” and VIP areas needed to woo buyers at a show. “Some of these chalets look like five-star restaurants when you walk into them,’’ Nero said.

The county is giving the Beacon Council until August to line up those commitments, though Nero said a 2014 show will be the goal if they can’t be ready for 2012. Because Paris holds its air show on odd years, Miami would wants to be on even years.

But the biggest hurdle could be getting the big players in aviation to make time for Miami at all, said Joel Johnson, a former senior executive at the Aerospace Industries Association and now an executive director at the Teal Group Corp. in Fairfax, Va.

“The record of international air shows held in the U.S. is unblemished by success,’’ Johnson said, noting past attempts to start similar shoes near Washington’s Dulles airport; and in Dayton, Ohio and San Diego. “You simply haven’t gotten the participation because the Americans in particular don’t see the reason to be there.

Indy Transponder: Indy Transponder 19-MAY-2011 1853z

&Nbsp;- Navy Sports | The eyes of thousands will be transfixed on the skies over the Naval Academy next week when the U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, returns to Annapolis for an appearance during Commissioning Week. Countless spectators with their feet firmly planted on terra firma will walk away from viewing the team's practice session (Tuesday) and aerial show (Wednesday) with their own heads in the clouds after gazing in awe at the precision of the pilots performing wingtip-to-wingtip formations... Organizers, agencies gear up for regional airshow May 21-22  - WPCVA | An online timer counts down the days, hours, minutes and even seconds until the big show this weekend. The Lynchburg Regional Airshow, which will feature the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels, will be held at the Lynchburg Regional Airport from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, and Sunday, May 22... Balloonfest to Bring In Vintage Planes from Military Air Museum - WHMI | Authentic World War 2 aircraft will be featured at this year’s Michigan Challenge Balloonfest through a partnership with the Yankee Air Museum in Ypsilanti. Local businesses met with representatives from the museum at the Howell Chamber of Commerce Wednesday to discuss the attractions, which will include a Lockheed T-33 jet trainer and an operational B-25 Mitchell bomber. For the price of $400 apiece, the B-25 will take up to seven passengers at a time on 35-minute flights around the county... Air show returns to GarCo Airport (July 8-9) - Citizen Telegram | Come one. Come all. The Garfield County Air Show is back and promises to be a big show. To celebrate the completion of the new Garfield County Airport, the airport staff has arranged a spectacular air show that will entertain and amaze residents and visitors alike. The air show will include aerial acrobatics, ground displays, a country music concert, kid's attractions, food, games and aircraft rides that will make this year's air show the most memorable to date... NASA sending Super Guppy to Dayton - Indy Transponder | Dayton, Ohio – The Vectren Dayton Air Show Presented by Kroger will have a distinctive static display at this year’s show, the NASA Super Guppy. The Super Guppy is rarely seen by the public and has been in Dayton only once in the show’s 37-year history, the centennial event in 2003.

Airshow Accidents, Ramstein Airshow Disaster, Sknyliv Airshow Disaster, List of Airshow Accidents and Incidents

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