The CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show is an annual event held at the
Dayton International Airport in
Vandalia, Ohio, eight miles north of
Dayton, Ohio. From 2013 to 2019, the show has been held on a weekend in late June. Prior to 2013, and again starting in 2021, it was held in mid-July each year. The history of this flight exhibition dates back to 1910 and the
Wright Company. Dayton is the hometown of the
Wright brothers and is where Orville and Wilbur built their first powered aircraft. The show's main sponsor is
CenterPoint Energy and it is considered to be one of the country's premier aviation events. It was sponsored by
Vectren until 2018.
It is estimated that the 2010 Dayton Air Show attracted nearly 80,000 people and had a $5 million impact on the Dayton region's local economy. The 2012 show is estimated to have a $3 million impact on Dayton's economy.
There was no air show in 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, but the show returned in July 2021.
US Air, Trade & Technology Conference and Exposition
The US Air Trade and Technology Conference and Exposition (USATT) was initiated by Congressman
Mike Turner
Michael Ray Turner (born January 11, 1960) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. Turner's district, numbered as the 3rd district from 2003 to 2013, is based in Dayto ...
to bring together
contractors,
subcontractors, governments and others to discuss issues pertaining to the
aerospace industry
Aerospace is a term used to collectively refer to the atmosphere and outer space. Aerospace activity is very diverse, with a multitude of commercial, industrial and military applications. Aerospace engineering consists of aeronautics and astr ...
. The program focuses on topics such as
UAVs, human performance,
sensor
A sensor is a device that produces an output signal for the purpose of sensing a physical phenomenon.
In the broadest definition, a sensor is a device, module, machine, or subsystem that detects events or changes in its environment and sends ...
s, and
alternative fuels. Although the USATT takes place during the Dayton Air Show, it is not open to the public.
Accidents and fatalities
An accident during a stunt flight resulted in the death of
Jim LeRoy
Jim LeRoy (April 5, 1961 – July 28, 2007) was an American aerobatics pilot. He died upon impact in a crash at the Dayton Air Show in Ohio.
Background
A former US Marine Corps Scout/Sniper, Jim LeRoy held a B.S. degree in Aeronautical/Aerospace e ...
, who was pronounced dead on 28 July 2007, in a military
MEDEVAC helicopter while in transit to
Miami Valley Hospital in
Dayton, Ohio. The crash was attributed to pilot error.
On 22 June 2013, an airplane carrying
wing walker
Wing walking is the act of moving along the wings of an aeroplane (most commonly a biplane) during flight, sometimes transferring between planes. It originated as a daredevil stunt in the aerial barnstorming shows of the 1920s, and became the sub ...
Jane Wicker crashed at the air show, killing both Wicker and pilot Charlie Schwenker.
On 23 June 2017, the day before the air show, a
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it ...
jet of the
United States Air Force Thunderbirds display team, not scheduled to perform, was taxiing to a staging area after a familiarization flight, when witnesses reported a gust of wind flipped the aircraft onto its top in a grassy area next to the taxiway. Both the pilot and a team crew member were trapped in the airplane for one hour; the pilot suffered minor injuries while the crew member had no visible injuries. The Thunderbirds canceled their scheduled performances for both days of the air show.
Effect of weather on attendance
Unusually high temperatures led to greatly decreased attendance for the 2012 show. As such, it was announced in October of that year that the 2013 show would be moved from July to June. That change continued through 2016 (18-19 June 2016). The previous year's air show had lost attendance as well due to weather, however, the loss was due to heavy rains, which also forced the temporary grounding of some acts.
An estimated 51,000 spectators attended the 2016 show, a large increase from the 40,000 of the previous year. This was despite the absence of a scheduled headliner act, the
Blue Angels, following that group's temporary grounding after one of its pilots died in a crash on June 2.
Notes
References
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External links
Dayton Air Show(USATT) Website
{{International airshows
Air shows in the United States
Aviation accidents and incidents at air shows
Tourist attractions in Montgomery County, Ohio
Culture of Dayton, Ohio
Annual events in Ohio
Aviation in Ohio