County airport clearing runway for August airshow

The National Warplane Museum is bringing a C-47A Dakota transport such as brought troops to D-Day to the Clarion County Airport’s open house and air show later this summer.

SHIPPENVILLE – The Clarion County Airport will host an airshow, “Fire, Smoke, Sparks!” on Aug. 12 and 13, at the airport. Gates will open at 3 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday. This year’s show will feature some new attractions.

Airport manager Don Kimbal says this year’s event will be a legitimate air show, complete with entertaining demonstrations of aerobatics.

Billy Werth, an acrobatic stunt flyer, Manfred Radius, a German pilot, and the C-123K retired military plane will be flying at the event.

Werth has over 6,000 hours of flight time. He spent 600 of those hours teaching people how to fly upside down. He should provide some high-flying entertainment.

Also performing for the crowd will be Radius who has been flying since he was 17. He will pilot a sailplane; more commonly called a glider which is a non-engine powered aircraft. He will do a day and night show which includes aerial fireworks.

The Thunder Pig C-123K will fly for the first time at this show, and will travel from Air Heritage Aviation Museum as a static display. Built in 1956, it served the U.S. Air Force until 1985, when it was dropped from inventory.

Also providing entertainment on the ground will be the Tulsa County Heatwave Jet Car doing a burnout Aug. 12, and a fast drive down the runway on Aug. 13.

Other attractions include American Pie Band on Aug. 12, sky divers both days, jet car races, a bounce house for children and food concessions.

A fly-in, drive-in breakfast will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, and a Wine and Dine dinner will be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 13, with guest speaker, Hank Hufnagel.

From noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, there will be a Knight Cruisers Car Cruse-in as well.

Admission tickets are available online at a reduced presale rate of $8 for adults; $7 for senior citizens (66 and over) and veterans (with identification) and $4 for children ages 5 to 18 years. A family pass is available (online only) for $20 and provides admission for two adults and two children. All tickets are good for either day, but can be used for one day only.

VIP tickets, available online only includes front row access in Catered VIP Tent with free wings, sliders, non-alcoholic beverages, tables and chairs and Pilot Meet and Greet. Only 200 spots available for just $50 per person (no children’s price)

Wine and Dine tickets (available at the gate also) are also available on the website. This ticket does not include access to the airshow. Tickets are $40 on line or $50 at the gate.

Tickets at the gate are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and veterans and $5 for children.

To purchase tickets online visit www.clarionairport.com.

The facility

Clarion County Airport is a business-class general aviation airport with a 5,000-foot asphalt runway.

The runway and instrument approaches are capable of serving most of the general aviation fleet in most weather conditions.

Aviation-grade gasoline (100LL Avgas) and type A jet fuel are available, and Kimbal says the airport offers some of the lowest prices around.

The airport’s assistant manager is Aidan Stahlman, hired in February of 2015.

Stahlman is a licensed pilot capable of handling any of the airport’s operations and functions. “She runs the show when I’m gone,” Kimbal said.

Serving the community

Kimbal said the airport is important to the economic development of Clarion County, providing transportation needs for local business and for those flying into the county for professional and business purposes.

Business flights are steadily increasing, and the airport’s Facebook page displays photos of corporate jets and turbo props using the facility.

The airport property includes two seven-acre pieces of land set aside for business development one area for development needing direct access to the runway and a second for facilities without a need for access.

Kimbal see the airport serving humanitarian and educational functions as well.

The airport supplies an aviation connection for medical services. Angel flights, volunteer pilots taking critical patients to specialty medical care at remote hospitals, can use the airport as a base.

Kimbal called for Angel Flight volunteers on the airport’s web site.

“I ask you to consider getting involved. It benefits the ill, it inspires our community to see the benefit of General Aviation and it gets them involved, and finally it’s a good thing, a decent thing.

“All of us at one time or another day dreamed about being a hero, this is your chance, to make it real.”