Barnstorming to Business

The excitement of air shows has not changed ... and that is perhaps the only thing that has not changed with air shows in the past 25 years. For more than 100 years, air shows have been among North America’s largest spectator events.

In times past on a hot summer evening, friends could sit outside a hangar for a daily debrief and a few ice cold adult beverages and plan an air show for the following month. They could each make a few calls and a month later a family fun air show would inspire the next generation of pilots.

Today an air show takes no less than a year’s worth of detailed planning and actions by professionals with all types of skill sets.

John Cudahy. President of the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) offers some insights.

“The economics of organizing and conducting air shows have changed significantly during the last 25 years. Not so long ago, it was possible to spend $15,000 or $20,000 and put on a world-class air show. Today, a single performer can sometimes charge that much for their performing fee.

“Increases in fuel prices and insurance premiums are driving up costs, but air shows have also become larger, more complex, and more expensive to organize and conduct. The good news is that the increased cost of running an air show has made air show event organizers more organized and professional. The financial and safety risks are too high to take casually, as the industry was 25 or 30 years ago.

“From marketing, sponsorship, and ticketing to air/ground operations, logistics, and crowd management, air show professionals are exponentially more sophisticated in their overall event management skills than they were just a few years ago.

“The last quarter century has been marked by the emergence of corporate sponsors as a key player in the air show industry. In exchange for a platform to communicate their corporate marketing message, sponsors have provided a new and important source of revenue to air show event organizers. This additional revenue has, in turn, allowed air shows to become larger and more elaborate entertainment events.

Mid-size event: $400,000

As John indicates, costs have increased significantly. A medium-sized event will cost about $400,000 to stage, and many of today’s big shows have seven digit budgets. Ticket prices have increased very little, so support from sponsorships has become critically important.

From the sponsorship perspective, what was once a nice thing to do for the local folks has become an opportunity to market products and services to crowds from 20,000 people to over 100,000, for more than a four-hour period. Many air shows are now televised, providing continuing exposure for the show and the sponsors. For less money than a 15-second TV spot, a corporate sponsor can reach the target demographics in a positive and fun setting. Sponsors can also use the air show venue as a location to host customers, or as a reward for employees.

Cudahy adds; “The newest generation of sport aerobatic aircraft have fundamentally changed the civilian aerobatic performances at North American air shows. Building on the success of the Pitts Special as a special purpose aerobatic aircraft, designers have put the power of strong, light building materials to work in building aircraft that have dramatically changed the kinds of maneuvers that can be performed in air shows and at aerobatic competitions.

“Thanks to airplanes like the Extra 300, CAP 242, Sukhoi 31, Edge 540, and MX-2, an air show pilot’s ability to entertain is no longer limited by the strength of the aircraft. Tumbling maneuvers that were virtually impossible 30 years ago are now commonplace at most shows. And, as a result, air show audiences are being treated to a much more dynamic and exciting type of aviation entertainment.”

Corporate sell: Demographics

In addition to offering entertainment by the various professionals in their flying machines, air shows have had to become multi-faceted entertainment events. Shows must provide a little something for everyone. ICAS does many surveys to determine who is going to air shows. Some of those demographics may surprise ...