New Catalina Air Show In The Works

http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/101/3125-full.html?ET=avweb:e3125:218609a

New Catalina Air Show In The Works

By Mary Grady

Organizing an airshow is always a big job, but the folks working to put on the
next Catalina Air Show, set for October 2016, face some extra challenges. The
show is held on a small resort island, 26 miles off the coast of southern
California, meaning any support gear that can't be flown over has to come on
the ferry. And the island's only runway sits on a small mountain site, with
steep drop-offs at both ends. To make the airshow work, the organizers have
established the show box just offshore, above the harbor, well in sight of all
the coastal restaurants, boaters, beachgoers and tourists. "That means our
audience is not at the airport, but in the resort area at Avalon," says Jeff
Herold
http://www.avweb.com/podcast/Podcast-An-Air-Show-for-Catalina-224694-1.html,
who is heading up the show planning. "So we can't charge admission to the show
-- we have to find other ways to make it work."

Herold's team took over the show last year from its prior organizers, and
created a nonprofit group, the Catalina Island Aviation Foundation, to help
raise funds for the show. Herold told AVweb he hopes the show will help to
raise money to improve the airport, which is a private nonprofit field open to
the public, and also to support the Catalina Island Conservancy's efforts to
protect the island's population of bald eagles. "So all the money we can raise
would go to things that fly," Herold says. The group is looking for sponsors
and also is developing a series of events that will be held concurrent with the
show, including a rock concert, beer and wine tastings, and couples weekend
packages, to help raise money and keep the show coming back year after year.

view on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsXMk7Q2Hp0

Podcast: An Air Show for Catalina:
http://cdn.avweb.com/media/podcast/2015-08-13_JeffHerold-CatalinaIslandAviationFoundation.mp3

By Mary Grady

Jeff Herold has helped to establish a new nonprofit group, the Catalina Island
Aviation Foundation, to preserve and promote the island's traditional air show,
which is held above the harbor at the tourist mecca of Avalon, 26 miles off the
California coast. Organizing a show on a small, remote island comes with
unique challenges, and Herold explains to AVweb's Mary Grady why he thinks it's
well worth the effort

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https://www.facebook.com/catalinaairshowcelebration
In order to provide the same high-caliber event, we will be holding off until
October 2016 to continue the Catalina Air Show.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://catalinaairshow.com/

This stunning video is unique for the eye-level perspective from which it was
shot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WsXMk7Q2Hp0

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/airshow-news/catalina-air-show.html

Catalina Air Show
in Airshow News — by Editor — July 7, 2015


Super Dave Boats 02[3][2]

Watching an air show performed over water beside a picturesque landscape can be
a marvelous experience, although it doesn’t happen too often due to the
difficulties in getting a paying audience. Such is the case with the Catalina
Air Show, which takes place on the beautiful Catalina Island in California.
Seeing warbirds and aerobatics performances over the stunningly beautiful
harbor, filled with sailing boats and motor yachts is thrilling indeed, so we
at WarbirdsNews felt it was worthy of mention. There is a fabulous video promo
from last year’s air show HERE, which should give you all an idea of what a
spectacular event it can be.

A P-51 Mustang flying over Avalon Harbor at the Catalina Air Show last year.
(photo via Catalina Air Show)
A P-51 Mustang flying over Avalon Harbor at the Catalina Air Show last year.
(photo via Catalina Air Show)

PRESS RELEASE:

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – Scheyden Precision Eyewear – a leader in performance
eyewear and organizer of the Catalina Air Show – is working on the
restructuring of the Scheyden Catalina Air Show to become a biennial event and
keep what has become Catalina’s most thrilling event alive and well. View the
exhilaration of the 2014 Catalina Airshow show here.

“Catalina Island is truly a special place where there is far more than meets
the eye. Preserving its infrastructure and natural resources are critical to
its survival. If we can have a truly world class aviation event that raises
funds for certain needs on the island it is a win-win for all.” Says Jeff
Herold, President of West Coast Trends, Inc. and the Scheyden brand.

A Grumman Albatross bobbing in the waves at Avalon Harbor on Catalina Island.
(image via Catalina Air Show)
A Grumman Albatross bobbing in the waves at Avalon Harbor on Catalina Island.
(image via Catalina Air Show)

Planning such a momentous event requires months of preparation, energy, and
capital especially considering it takes place nearly 30 miles off the coast of
Southern California. Other requirements for the show include notifying Air
Traffic Control, the FAA, and establishing TFR’s that can affect the inbound
and outbound flights of the busy LA and Orange County air space. There was also
extensive coordination with the Avalon harbor master, Catalina Express, various
Cruise lines, and the LA County Lifeguards, to provide safe passage for vessels
in and around the high performance low flying aircraft. On top of all of this,
one must consider that a show over shark inhabited waters several hundred feet
deep brings an entirely new aspect to ensuring safety for the pilots
themselves. Helicopters and dive teams were on a constant vigilant should there
have been a mishap.

Herold adds, “Producing a world class air show in a public domain does not
allow a gate for tickets to be sold. To continue an event of this magnitude, we
need to find some heavyweights in the business world that are interested in
branding themselves through an experience that is like no other in North
America. This is an air show that does not take place at some airport in the
middle of a desert or farmland, but at a true resort destination. The ground
entertainment at this air show is downtown Avalon on Catalina Island. Where
else can you sit on the back of your yacht or out on a restaurant patio bar and
watch the best pilots in the world exercise their skills right down to the
waters surface?”

Avalon Harbor, where you can see the air show take place. (photo via Catalina
Air Show)
Avalon Harbor, where you can see the air show take place. (photo via Catalina
Air Show)

Last fall’s show also included Robby Krieger of the Doors and Dave Brock of
Wild Child providing the closest thing to a Doors concert one could imagine.
This along with world class breweries, amazing California wineries, and two
additional musical acts rounded out a weekend that could truly be considered
unforgettable.

Looking to become even better; adding sponsorships, donors, and more
entertainment to an air show of this caliber can increase island awareness and
create even more excitement around an aviation experience like no other. The
Catalina Air Show looks to have its finest event yet in early October of 2016
over the breath-taking Avalon Harbor.

“If we can find the right funding, we can truly make this one of the great
events in the west. It’s really difficult to compare this event with any other
air show in the nation, because when the air show is over the fun is just
getting started!” says Herold.

The Catalina Island Aviation Foundation is a proud supporter of the
preservation of manned and natural flight on one of the Nations most beautiful
islands. The foundation aims to help to maintain Catalina’s own
Airport-in-the-Sky, and nesting grounds for the American Bald Eagles that call
Catalina home through the Catalina Island Conservancy.

For more information regarding Catalina Air Show visit
http://www.catalinaairshow.com.

The Royal Canadian Air Force's CF-18 Hornet demo bird roaring over Avalon
Harbor. (photo via Catalina Air Show)
The Royal Canadian Air Force’s CF-18 Hornet demo bird roaring over Avalon
Harbor. (photo via Catalina Air Show)