By Ashley Smith
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 5:01 p.m.
Read more: Local, Business, Community, Depot Inn & Suites Kirksville Regional Airport Air Festival, Air Show Director, Randy Smith, Golden Knights, Beer, Wine, Alcohol
KIRKSVILLE, MO.. -- The Depot Inn & Suites Kirksville Regional Airport Air Festival has come and gone after the two day air show entertained Heartland residents over the weekend.
A lot goes into planning such a large event. Organizers say they raised over $29,000 this year through sponsorships in exchange for advertising in the air show program. The air show cost about $35,000 to put on. The Depot Inn and Suites made up the difference as the title sponsor.
There are still some bills to pay and expenses to take care of but they say they didn't lose money on the event.
“It was a huge success and wonderful weather and pretty good turnout. I wish we had more people turnout. We had about 400 cars,” said Air Show Director Randy Smith.
Smith says double the amount of cars would have really put them over the top but they definitely had more cars this year than last year. He estimates between 2500 and 3000 people stopped by on Saturday.
He says there were no major problems this year and they're already planning for next year. He says they will try to have the Golden Knights land on the field of a high school football game if possible during the 2010 air show. Tentatively the date for the 2010 air show will be September 11th.
“Really is it worth it to do this Friday night component if there isn't an air show involved with it? The dinner wasn't as successful as we had hoped. We counted we served 143 people, we were shooting for 300,” said Smith.
Smith says those that attended the dinner stayed for their meal and to meet the pilots but they didn't listen to the band for very long.
You may remember there was some controversy before the air show regarding whether or not to allow alcohol to be served at the dinner and dance on Friday. Smith says he doesn’t think it affected the dinner in a negative or positive way.
“I think most people came down to see the airplanes fly and then leave. And most people I think came back on Saturday but I don’t think selling beer down there -and they sold some wine-, I don’t think it made a bit of difference. And we may do that again next year, we may not,” said Smith.
Smith said they had 140 volunteers that they couldn't have done the show without. He said they utilized service groups from Truman State University and Rotary Club also helped.
