Aero Expo 2004, June 19-20, Will Be A Present For Father's
Day
If you're looking for someplace different to take your dad on
Father's Day, the city of Akron and the Military Aviation
Preservation Society (MAPS) Air Museum have a suggestion. The Aero
Expo 2004: Defenders of Freedom Air Show will be held June 19-20 at
Akron Fulton International Airport.
For the third year in a row, the show will return to the Fulton
airport, Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic announced this week. The air
show is the third largest in the state. Sponsors are hoping to draw
a crowd of 42,000, surpassing last year's crowd of 30,000.
This year, the show will feature the FG-1D and F-2G Corsair
airplanes. The gull-wing planes -- 4,000 in all -- were built in
Akron by Goodyear during World War II. They carried an R28 engine
and flew 400 mph. The warbirds, which were used by the U.S. Marines
and Navy, only number about six airworthy models today, one F-2G
and five FG-1Ds. The only F-2G Corsair and one of the FG-1Ds will
fly in for the event.
"These are living treasures that won't be around much longer,''
said Joseph Chevraux of the MAPS Air Museum, a nonprofit museum
dedicated to preserving historic military aircraft and aviation
artifacts. "We promote the history and restoration projects of
aviation.''
All former pilots, mechanics, designers and builders of the
Corsairs are asked to contact the MAPS Air Museum to be recognized
in a special ceremony at the air show.This is the fifth year for
the show. It started at Akron-Canton Airport in Green, where the
museum is located. In 2002, construction projects at Akron-Canton
forced the air show to relocate and it has done well at Fulton.
"We hope to eventually alternate the air show every year so that
it will be held at each of the airports,'' Chevraux said. He added
that MAPS welcomes any additional sponsorship opportunities.
Chevraux said MAPS has been working with other area air shows.
So far, fly-bys include a B-2 stealth bomber, an F-117 stealth
fighter and a B-52 Stratofortress. The Canadian Skyhawks parachute
team will appear. The group, made up of Canadian military
personnel, is only performing at three air shows in the United
States this year. Among the other attractions: The Firebirds Flight
Demonstration Aerobatic Team will perform both days. There will
also be aircraft displays that will include helicopters from the
Ohio National Guard and the Army 101st Airborne Division.
Gates will open at 8:30 a.m. both days. The show will run from
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Presale tickets are available at any
Acme supermarket for $8. Tickets will be $10 at the gate.