Thursday, September 20, 2012

TOP STORY>>Heritage and Heroes: most successful air show, open house in base

Little Rock Air Force Base announced today that the airshow and open house, hosted by the base Sept. 8 and 9, was the most successful air show the base has ever hosted. Preliminary estimates on attendance put the total spectator count at over 260,000, well above the previous airshow in 2010 that hosted 225,000 visitors. Additionally, the base exceeded the food and beverage sales in 2010. These numbers make the Little Rock Air Force base event the largest 2-day event in Arkansas and event organizers are already preparing for a bigger guest list in 2014.

According to air show director Lt. Col. Mike Kirby, “We will gear up for over 275,000 spectators on Oct. 17-18, 2014, and plan to provide an even better event. We are very proud of the smooth traffic flow, and the quality of event this year. Our number one goal was to showcase our Airmen, the military mission, and the pride we all have in protecting our nation and defending our freedom. I think it was mission accomplished.”

Finally, the weather helped support the largest airshow the base has ever seen, with clear blues skies, highs in the mid 80s and a slight breeze out of the north.

These factors, combined with detailed planning and preparation, reduced the overall need for medical assistance at this year’s show. Medical assistants reported that there was a 60 percent decrease in calls for assistance compared to the 2010 air show. This is just another indicator of why the 2012 air show will go in the record books as the best air show that Little Rock Air Force base has ever hosted. Updates and post comments can be tracked on the air show website, www.littlerockairshow.com.

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