Allan Wishart
Free Press
The Vanderhoof International Airshow will fly again.
But with the last show having been in the 1990s, organizers are keeping their feet on the ground in planning the August event.
“We took a look at a bigger event,” says Peet Vahi, one of the organizers, “but it wouldn’t have been fiscally responsible.”
Instead, they are looking at a small fly-in event to be held Aug. 11.
“We picked that date so it wouldn’t conflict with the Quesnel Skyfest, which is the week prior,” Vahi says.
This year’s event, he feels, will be more like a throwback to the early days of the airshow in the 1970s.
“We’re looking at a fly-in. Some of the pilots may even just camp under the wings of their planes, like they did in the 70s.”
There had been interest from outside Vanderhoof about whether the airshow was going to start up again, and it looks like there may be a blast from the past as well.
“A couple of the guys who used to entertain at the shows in the 90s are willing to help out and come up for the day.
“They cut their teeth here, I guess, so they want to come back and help.”
The show this year will be aimed at the flight enthusiast, Vahi says.
“We’re going to keep it to two hours with an announcer.”
After that, there will be an opportunity for people to get together without leaving the airport, something they couldn’t have done in the old days.
“There have been so many improvements at the airport. There are a lot more hangars there, so we’re able to hold a dinner and dance on-site.”
Many of the members of the new society have experience working on the Vanderhoof airshow, so while there is a lot of work to do in the next four months, Vahi isn’t too concerned.
“There’s a lot of little odds and ends to think through,” he says, “but we’ve got a core of greyhairs who worked it out before.”