Dec. 14,
2022
| Max Bowen
WESTFIELD – After a prolonged absence because of the coronavirus pandemic, a staple in the skies above Westfield will make a giant return subsequent 12 months.
The Westfield International Air Show is slated for May 13-14, 2023, in conjunction with the 104th Fighter Wing and Barnes Air National Guard Base Open House. On the social media web page for the show, updates have been met with enthusiasm and pleasure from residents as they touch upon their plans to attend.
Last 12 months’s show was canceled because of COVID-19 considerations, and was slated to characteristic the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. At this time, no performers for the 2023 show have been introduced.
Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport Manager Christopher Willenborg mentioned the air show was final run in 2017. Until 2000, the show had visited Westfield each different 12 months, and after that it alternated between Barnes and Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, based mostly on the supply of performers.
During his time as supervisor, Willenborg was concerned with 4 air reveals and mentioned attendance was round 50,000 a day. He mentioned he expects between 35,000 and 50,000 a day at subsequent May’s show.
“It’s an opportunity for the public to thank the military for their services, to show support, and have time to enjoy the passion of aviation, the enthusiasm,” Willenborg mentioned. “Families come out and view aircraft from modern fighters to World War II aircraft.”
Willenborg mentioned planning begins a 12 months previous to the show date, and includes airport workers, emergency responders and distributors. He added that this Westfield International Air Show will kick off a sequence of celebrations to mark the airport’s one centesimal anniversary.
When requested about his favourite a part of the show, Willenborg mentioned seeing the grins on everybody’s faces was a spotlight, in addition to the show closing with every thing going as deliberate. He added that the P-51 Mustang and F-86 Sabre and F-15 Eagle are the planes he seems ahead to seeing.
People from all around the Northeast – together with New York and New Jersey – journey to see the Westfield International Air Show. Willenborg mentioned some are hobbyists who go to air reveals all around the nation.
“It’s definitely an economic engine,” Willenborg mentioned of the air show. “People are coming to Westfield, spending money in the community.”
