Cites Slow Fundraising, Issues With Neighbors

The "Wings Over Waukegan" air show planned for the city north of Chicago has been cancelled by its organizers.

"It is with a heavy heart that I regret to inform you that the board of directors of the Waukegan Airshow has decided to cancel Wings Over Waukegan that was scheduled to take place this year on September 12 and 13 at the Waukegan Airport," wrote Grant B. Farrell President and Airshow director Waukegan Regional Airshow, on the show's official website.

"This cancellation is due to the fact that we were unable to meet our financial obligations to allow us to move forward and successfully produce a safe and enjoyable show this year. This was compounded by the fact that there were certain logistical issues related to relocating some neighbors that border the airport that live in the FAA mandated flight box that we were unable to overcome."

The show was to have included a demonstration by the Navy's VAF-106 Virtual Tactical Demonstration Squadron. But that requires a larger-than-normal air show box, and the occupants of 23 homes within the box would have to have been relocated for the two performances September 12 and 13, as well as a three-hour rehearsal on September 11, according to a report from The Chicago Tribune. Farrell told the paper that most had agreed, but not everyone was willing to be out of their homes during the air show and rehearsal. He said that while the financial issues were pressing, the failure to guarantee a "sterile" air show box for the jet demonstration was "the one that broke the camel's back."

"I apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause you, and I thank each and every one of you for your hard work and extra-effort to help create this one-of-a-kind experience in our community, and I look forward to seeing all of you as we prepare for a re-tooled show on September 10, 2016."

The show drew an estimated 15,000 last year. Farrell said in 2016, the show will likely be scaled down to a smaller, one-day warbird show that requires a smaller aerobatic box.

FMI: www.waukeganairshow.com/