TICO air show gets OK for takeoff this weekend

From the Florida Today new website:

A dilemma over airspace restrictions has been resolved between NASA and the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum.

Organizers of the 32nd annual TICO Warbird Airshow scheduled for Friday through Sunday worried a no-fly zone before Wednesday’s launch of the shuttle Discovery would interfere with the museum’s largest fundraiser.

“Clearly this is something important to the public and to the museum so we decided to be good neighbors and to make adjustments to our normal air flight restrictions,” said NASA spokesman Allard Beutel. “We can shorten it slightly without compromising safety and security of the shuttle.”

It was feared the no-fly zone would either affect the arrival of pilots for the air show, or that a shift in the shuttle launch schedule would force cancellation of the annual event altogether.

Col. Terry Yon, the museum’s public relations director, worried pilots would cancel because attending a two-day air show was not worth the expense. Rescheduling the three-day show was not an option because of arrangements with the Federal Aviation Administration.

“We were facing the possibility of some very dire consequences for the Warbird Airbird Museum,” Yon said. “It’s been a tough year for all nonprofits and this air show is our main fundraiser.

We critically need the fundraising dollars.”

The flight restrictions for a rocket launch would not affect the air show and Discovery’s launch may now have a positive impact on attendance and revenue. If the shuttle is scrubbed, Yon said thousands of tourists would be searching something else to do.

“Every time there’s a shuttle launch we have an increase in people coming in,” Yon said. “We’re hopeful of being able to hitchhike off of the launch and have people visit the air show and the museum.”

Yon said he has been instructed to have all aircraft on the ground by 4 p.m. the day of the launch and that would have virtually no impact on the show, which usually ends about 5 p.m.

“We’re good family with NASA. It’s just one of those things,” said Yon, who recalled another scheduling concern last March with shuttle Endeavour. “We seem to attract the shuttle to our little three-day window.”

Fantasy of Flight Annual Pass

Straight from their e-newsletter:

Annual pass holders, it’s time to celebrate! Since year-round loyalty deserves a reward (and we can’t just hand over the keys to the hangars), Fantasy of Flight is adding tremendous value to your Annual Pass, including the following benefits:

  • Year-round admission to Fantasy of Flight plus admission to our annual events, such as Splash-In, Roar ‘n’ Soar, and Mustangs and Mustangs, etc.
  • Discounted hot air balloon flights
  • Free birthday lunch at the Compass Rose Diner
  • Exclusive specials in the Gift Shop and Compass Rose Diner
  • And-perhaps most exciting-first access to “Open Cockpit Days” at no additional charge! (See feature above for details.)

If you don’t have an Annual Pass already, drop by the gift shop at Fantasy of Flight to get one today. Only $69.95. A fair price to earn your wings!

Fantasy of Flight & “Living History” Symposium Series

Fantasy of Flight just announced a new program that they will be hosting which seems to be pretty cool;

“Living History” Symposium Series
Fantasy of Flight will bring history to life in 2009 with a new “Living History” Symposium Series. Guests will learn first-hand the personal stories and experiences of some of America’s most courageous heroes.

The first presentation is about the Tuskegee Airman as part of Black History month. Airmen in attendance will include Leo R. Gray, Hiram Mann and Eldridge F. Williams.

More details can be found here: http://www.fantasyofflight.com/livinghistory/

“Wizard of Orlampa” videos on YouTube

Over on YouTube, there are some videos from the show called “Wizard of Orlando.” According to Mr Weeks, this is a show about the goings on at the Fantasy of Flight Museum. Here are two of the videos on YouTube along with the show intro, the first one about the TP-40N and the second about the Fokker TriPlane.