Weekend Aviation Expo Scheduled

The skies over the mid-Valley will offer an amazing sight this weekend as aerobatic performers, skydivers and pilots soar during the Van Nuys Airport Aviation Expo.

And on the ground there will be a display of military aircraft, including the huge C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane and such vintage planes as the North American AT-6 Texan, the last known original aircraft from the Tuskegee Airmen Squadron.

More than 300,000 people are expected to attend the annual event, being held a month early due to scheduling conflicts with the Airtel Plaza Hotel, where many of the pilots stay.

Having the event earlier should be a welcome change for those who have had to find shade under the wing of an airplane.

“We had to settle for this date and we don’t have a problem with it, except if we get June gloom,” Van Nuys Airport spokesman Richard French said. But since the weather will be more bearable, “We might just have it early again next year.”

Opening ceremonies are scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by a variety of aerial demonstrations by the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, Clay Lacy in the Pilatus Turbo Porter and Sean D. Tucker in the Challenger II, among others.

As a fund-raiser for Special Olympics Southern California, members of the public will form teams on the ground in a contest to determine who can pull a Boeing 727, weighing more than 100,000 pounds.

At 12:15 p.m. Saturday, the B-2 Stealth bomber is scheduled for a flyover, followed at 2 p.m. by more aerial demonstrations, to include aerobatic pilot Patty Wagstaff in the EXTRA 300S.

The expo runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Van Nuys Airport. Free parking and shuttle bus service are available from Woodley Golf Course at 6335 Woodley Ave., Anheuser-Busch at 15800 Roscoe Blvd., Monroe High School at 9229 Haskell Ave., and Cal State Northridge at Lassen Street and Lindley Avenue. There is no on-site parking.

Admission is free. For more information, call (818) 773-3293 or visit the Van Nuys Airport section of the Los Angeles World Airport’s web site at https://www.lawa.org on the Internet.

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Van Nuys Air Show

The Van Nuys Airport Aviation Expo 2000 will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Organizers expect more than 300,000 spectators at the free show. The pedestrian entrance is at 8030 Balboa Blvd.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Schedule is subject to change. Each demonstration runs 10-15 minutes, except the 2 p.m. Golden Knights performance, which runs 30 minutes.

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Saturday, June 24

10 a.m.: Flyover by Condor Squadron AT-6 Texans, International skydiver Dave Benson with 5,000-square-foot U.S. flag, recognition awards to NASA astronaut Marsha S. Ivins, veteran pilot Robert Hoover

10:30 a.m.: Dave Eastman in the Pitts S2S “Patriot,” U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, Clay Lacy in the Pilatus Turbo Porter, Tim Weber in the EXTRA 300, LAFD Helicopter Team, Sean D. Tucker in the Challenger II.

11:45 a.m.: “Plane Pull” fund-raiser, sponsored by the Southern California Special Olympics

12:15 p.m.: B-2 Stealth bomber flyover

2 p.m.: Dave Benson skydiving display, Patty Wagstaff in the EXTRA 300S, Dan Buchanan in the Airwave Glider, Sean D. Tucker in the Challenger II, U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, Aerobatic Flying Circus

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Sunday, June 25

10 a.m.: Flyover by Condor Squadron AT-6 Texans, International skydiver Dave Benson with 5,000-square-foot U.S. flag, Aerial demonstrations

10:30 p.m.: Dave Eastman in the Pitts S25 “Patriot,” U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, Clay Lacy in the Pilatus Turbo Porter, Tim Weber in the EXTRA 300, LAFD Helicopter Team, Sean D. Tucker in the Challenger II

2 p.m.: Dave Benson skydiving display, Patty Wagstaff in the EXTRA 300S, Dan Buchanan in the Airwave Glider, Sean D. Tucker in the Challenger II, U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, Aerobatic Flying Circus

PARKING LOTS

Parking is free and shuttle bus service is provided. Handicapped parking is available at 8050 Balboa Blvd. For information, call the Expo Hotline at (818) 773-3293 or visit the Van Nuys Airport section of the Los Angeles World Airport’s Web site at www.lawa.org.

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Sources: Van Nuys Airport, Boeing, “Jane’s Aircraft Recognition Guide”