What happened to the air show? What happened to the air show? (June 10, 2005)

Exec says NASA 'not interested' in hosting future events

By Kathy Schrenk

A scheduling conflict grounded this year's Moffett Field air show, and the forecast looks cloudy for future shows, according to one organizer.

After four annual Air Expos in a row, this year there will be no airplane acrobatics or helicopter hijinks, or the resulting oohs and ahhs from tens of thousands of onlookers. The main reason the show isn't coming is the lack of a star attraction, said Stephen Teatro, executive producer for the Air Show Network.

Neither the Blue Angels nor the Thunderbirds were available for the event, which is usually held in May or September, Teatro said. "It's not as attractive without those big teams," he said, adding that the cost of renting Moffett from NASA is the same regardless.

"The cost of renting the property from NASA has been going up and up and up," he said. "It wasn't economically viable."

Last year the event had its highest attendance yet -- about 60,000, Teatro said. "It had been growing since 2001, but so were the expenses."

Now, according to Teatro, NASA told the Air Show Network in a letter that "they're not interested in any further events."

"It's entirely up to NASA whether they want to do it or not," Teatro said.

NASA officials did not comment.

Past air shows at Moffett have showcased the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's 50-year old demonstration unit, which features F16 fighter jets performing breathtaking stunts in formation. The Blue Angels, a similar unit run by the Navy, have flown their F/A-18 Hornets at past shows as well.

The shows have also featured tours of NASA facilities as well as the 747 that transports the Space Shuttle.

E-mail Kathy Schrenk at kschrenk@mv-voice.com

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