2007 Airshow/Gathering

Friday, March 10, 2006
Jim Woods
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Rickenbacker Airport is attempting to land a historic gathering of P-51
Mustang fighter planes and pilots for 2007.
The Columbus Regional Airport Authority, which runs Rickenbacker, and
Experience Columbus, the city¹s tourism bureau, are recruiting the show.
Columbus is competing with two Denver-area airports, Front Range and
Jefferson County, according to The Denver Post.
Joe Marinelli, senior vice president of Experience Columbus, said the
national show could draw 100,000 people and pump $20 million into the
local economy.
Representatives from Stallion 51 Corp., the show¹s organizer, are to
visit Columbus on Wednesday and Thursday to investigate Rickenbacker,
lodgings and area attractions, Marinelli said.
"We¹re extremely optimistic," Marinelli said. The show is significant,
he said, because of the aircraft¹s popularity and because it could be
the last major gathering of P-51 pilots from World War II.
P-51 Mustangs were the aircraft of choice to escort American bombers
during World War II.
The Mustang remained in service with various air forces around the world
well into the 1980s.
The show would be called "Gathering of Mustangs and Legends ‹ the Final
Roundup."
Stallion 51 Corp. is a P-51 Mustang flight operation based in Kissimmee,
Fla.
The company¹s goal is to secure 100 or more P-51 Mustang aircraft,
making it the largest gathering of that aircraft since World War II,
said David Whitaker, vice president of business development.
Whitaker said they also are working with the Air National Guard on the
proposal. He said Rickenbacker had its last air show in 1997.
"We¹re very interested in showcasing Rickenbacker and typing in the
military aspects of Rickenbacker as well as the commercial," Whitaker
said.
Rickenbacker will celebrate its 65 th anniversary next year, Whitaker
said.
Rickenbacker also has a historic tie with the P-51 Mustang, Whitaker
said.
The Tuskegee Airmen, the pioneer black military unit, flew P-51 Mustangs
and were based at Rickenbacker after World War II.

("john smith" wrote)
Friday, March 10, 2006
Jim Woods
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Rickenbacker Airport is attempting to land a historic gathering of P-51
Mustang fighter planes and pilots for 2007.

The Columbus Regional Airport Authority, which runs Rickenbacker, and
Experience Columbus, the city¹s tourism bureau, are recruiting the show.
Columbus is competing with two Denver-area airports, Front Range and
Jefferson County, according to The Denver Post.

Joe Marinelli, senior vice president of Experience Columbus, said the
national show could draw 100,000 people and pump $20 million into the
local economy.


Competing events? ...or, since we're all together - let's tour?

http://www.renomustangroundup.com/index.php
This Reno event was scheduled for this year (2006) but got pushed back a
year, to June of 2007.

Hey, I just found out that Paul Allen's (new) P-51 Mustang is over at our
airport having some work done to it.


Montblack