Organizers set dates for Fort Smith Airshow 2010

Col. Tom Anderson, commander of the 188th Fighter Wing based at the Fort Smith Airport, said the unit worked with city and community council representatives to select a date for the show that would not conflict with the fighter wing’s deployment next year to Afghanistan, or a spring 2011 Air Force inspection scheduled for the unit.

"We are happy to announce the date for the 2010 Fort Smith Airshow will be June 26-27, 2010," said Anderson.

Dr. Jerry Stewart, chairman of the Community Council said that the group of community business leaders would assist the Wing with planning the popular community event.

"We will help the Guard unit with aspects of planning and coordination that the military can’t be involved with like community sponsorships, fundraising to help offset the cost of booking civilian performers and general expenses involved in putting on the event," said Dr. Stewart.

He added that the biennial event carries roughly a $6 million economic impact for the greater Fort Smith area.

Wing and City officials stated that the 2008 airshow drew a record attendance of over 220,000 people for the two-day event.

Anderson said it was too early in the event planning stages to release a list of performers, however, he did say that the planners were meeting with or working on contracts to bring a number of the big attractions from the 2008 show back to Fort Smith in 2010. He added that planners should have better information and firm commitments from major performers for the show after the Wing coordinator attends the International Council of Airshows convention the first week of December.

The 2008 show was highlighted with performances by the U.S. Air Force’s Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team, the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team, the "Shockwave" jet truck and several noted civilian acrobatic flying performers as well as high performance demonstrations by current and past military aircraft.

Chuck Fawcett, head of the community council’s fundraising committee, said the group would be seeking to raise over $120,000 to put on the event.

"We will once again be selling the sponsor chalets with premier seating and parking for the event."

Dr. Stewart noted the importance of the sponsorships and fundraising activities of the Community Council to making the event possible and cited the fact that Fort Smith is still one of the few community airshows around the country that are still presented free of charge to the general public.

To reserve a chalet Fawcett said individuals or businesses could call him at 479-484-5588 or call Jan Burd at 1st National Bank of Fort Smith at 479-782-2041.