City of Wichita Mayor Carlos Mayans, along with Wichita Festivals, Inc. President/CEO, Janet Wright announced details of the 2006 Wichita Flight Festival at a press conference, Monday, July 17, 1:00 pm, at Colonel James Jabara Airport, Midwest Corporate Aviation Hangar One, 3512 N. Webb Road.
The 2006 Wichita Flight Festival will celebrate the City and State’s general aviation heritage. Held at Colonel James Jabara Airport in Wichita, the three-day event will kick-off with a Friday night air-show and musical concert. The fun will continue Saturday and Sunday with a three-hour air show each day by nationally know air-show performers, educational seminars, exhibits, aerial and ground displays of a wide variety of vintage and current aircraft from throughout the region, the Kansas Aviation Gallery featuring displays from all the major aircraft manufacturers in Wichita and museums from throughout the State of Kansas and a Kids’ Concourse.
The Festival starts Friday night with a concert by Blues Traveler.
“Blues Traveler is a great addition to this year’s Festival as the group appeals to both younger and older audiences. Their diversity of music is a perfect match to the kinds of entertainment and activities the Festival offers,” stated Janet Wright, President/CEO of WFI.
Blues Traveler released their first album in 1990, self-titled “Blues Traveler.” Their first hit single, “Run Around” was one of the biggest singles of 1995. Since then the group has released six albums with their album “Bastardos!” released in 2004.
“We are very excited to bring top level entertainment to this event,” said Paul Gray, Vice Mayor of Wichita.
The weekend air-shows feature world famous performers Manfred Radius, “Sons of Legends” Kyle Franklin and Matt Younkin, John Mohr, Patty Wagstaff, Gene Soucy and Theresa Stokes, Jim “Fang” Maroney Featuring The “Super Chipmunk,” and the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team. The Festival will close with a high-energy performance by the US Air Force F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team, flying an F-15 Eagle fighter jet.
The Festival’s aircraft static displays include a wide variety of military, vintage and current including an F-86 Sabre Jet. This same Jet was flown by Wichita’s Col. James Jabara when he became the world’s first jet ace during the Korean War. The Festival will also feature a collection of interesting warbirds, including the “Yellow Rose,” a classic B-25. Other highlights include a vintage Tuskegee Airmen AT-6, Travelair 4000, UC-78 Bobcat and a Blackhawk helicopter.
“The festival will truly showcase Wichita’s rich aviation heritage. It’s going to provide everyone with an opportunity to get up close to some historic and exciting aircraft as well as see some amazing feats in the air. It shouldn’t be missed,” noted Wright.
Friday night tickets are $30. Tickets for Saturday or Sunday are $5 each day. Children under 10 are free with a paid adult admission. Tickets are available for purchase at the Kansas Coliseum, Select-A-Seat outlets and Wichita Festivals, Inc. Tickets go on sale today, July 17.
WFI was hired for the management, production and marketing of the 2006 Wichita Flight Festival by the City of Wichita.
2006 Official Wichita Festivals, Inc. Sponsors: AirTran Airways, Bud Light, Coca-Cola, Conrady Western, Cricket Communications, Don Hattan Chevrolet, Fahnestock Heating, A/C and Electric, Jajo Studios, Inc., Metro Courier, Printing, Inc., Signs Now, VPM, Inc., Wichita Marriott Hotel and York International.
2006 Wichita Flight Festival Sponsors include to date: City of Wichita, Cessna Aircraft Company, Clear Channel Outdoor, Clear Channel Radio, Cox Communications, Electromech Technologies, Goodrich Corporation, Greater Wichita Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, Mid America Radio, Midwest Corporate Aviation, Murfin Drilling, Raytheon Aircraft Company, Sedgwick County and Spirit AeroSystems.
For more information about the Festival, volunteering or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Susan Burchill, Marketing and Public Relations Director at (316) 267-2817, or susan@wichitafestivals.com.
Wichita Festivals, Inc. is a non-profit corporation with the purpose of creating diverse community celebration within the Wichita community. The primary event produced by Wichita Festivals, Inc. is the Wichita River Festival®.
Creating an economic impact of more than $19 million annually, the Wichita River Festival is celebrated its 35th year in 2006 and annually attracts more than 350,000 visitors. The Festival has become one of the top special events in Kansas and was recognized in 2006 as one of the top 100 events in the United States by the American Bus Association.
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