[MilCom] Fwd: [FloridaComms] Melbourne Florida Air & Space Show Saturday

[AllanStern at aol.com]

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20131031/NEWS01/310310014/Beachside-Melb
ourne-air-show-takes-off-Saturday
 
Saturday’s inaugural Melbourne Air and Space Show could prove to be the  
ultimate test of whether change is a good thing.
 
Despite months of funding uncertainty and scheduling  hassles, the air show 
will perform in front of Howard E. Futch Memorial Park at  Paradise Beach 
on Saturday with a lineup of roaring jets and aerobatics. 
The event has flown south from previous years, when it  was held in Cocoa 
Beach and last year drew an estimated 140,000 people over two  days, 
generating an economic impact of $7.6 million, Space Coast Office of  Tourism 
records show. 
Location is not the only thing new this year. Yet to be seen: What impact  
cutting the show from two days to a single day — really an afternoon of 
flying —  might have. Reaction has been mixed. 
The Space Coast Office of Tourism cut funding to the  air show this year as 
it tried to balance 18 events requesting a slice of  $150,000. Last year 
the TDC earmarked $48,000 for the air show. This year, show  organizers 
received slightly more than $10,000 worth of advertising, Executive  Director Rob 
Varley said. 
“Originally, when they presented, they said it was  going to be a two-day 
show,” Varley said. “Originally, the committee earmarked  $17,000 for it, 
but when they changed it to a one-day show, we dropped it down  to $10,000.” 
Varley said economic impact and attendance is — no pun  intended — up in 
the air. 

“Quite frankly, I think the one day might have hurt  them a bit,” he said. 
Melbourne leaders will watch to see what impact having  such a potentially 
large event in their city’s small beachside enclave could  have. 
“It’s a free event, a family event, and something we  think people would 
enjoy,” City Manager Mike McNees said. “It’s in a  neighborhood it’s never 
been before . . . We’ll understand if people end up  being inconvenienced.” 
He said limiting the air show essentially to an  afternoon could alleviate 
some of the headaches. The city will evaluate whether  to play host again, 
looking at “whether or not people think it’s worth the  trouble, and did 
they enjoy the show.” 
Friday: 7 p.m, takeoff party, Squid Lips, 1477 Pineapple  Ave. 
Saturday: 9 a.m. vendor and equipment displays open, Howard E.  Futch 
Memorial Park at Paradise Beach; 12:30 p.m., air show begins; air show  street 
party and Terror on the Traxx, 7 p.m., downtown Melbourne 
Air show  acts: Black Diamond Jet Team; Canadian Air Force CT-155 Hawk; 
GEICO  Skytypers; L-39s going head-to-head; Vought F4U Corsair, Embraer Phenom 
100 and  John Black in the Super Deacathlon. 
Cost: Tickets are $12 in advance  to watch from Paradise Beach Park, $15 
day of, plus parking. Other viewing areas  are free. 
Getting there: Carpooling and alternate transportation,  such as biking, is 
recommending. Melbourne police will create areas for  pedestrians to cross 
State Road A1A. Parking is available in nearby church lots  for $12 in 
advance, $15 day of. Limited parking on Paradise Boulevard. No  parking on State 
Road A1A. 
For more information and a complete list of  events, go to 
airandspaceshow.com. 
AL STERN  Satellite Beach  FL
AllanStern at aol.com
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