New ICAS Website
2008-11-18
It's not just a new look, it's a new experience. With the new ICAS website, your membership now provides you with access to all the information, ideas, and documents you need to operate a successful air show or perform at one. Need ideas on acquiring new sponsors? They're here. Want access to high-resolution photos of a performer? Download them from this site. Looking for sample job descriptions or budgets or air show shedules? Your search is over.
Check out the new Member Forum to pose questions of your fellow members. Peruse the priceless content available in the "For Air Shows" or "For Performers" sections of the site. Locate back articles from Air Shows Magazine. Overall, we designed this new site around your needs and what you told us you were looking for -- the content, the function, and the look and feel are built entirely through the eyes of members.
Have a look around. We think you'll like what you see.
ICAS Holds Successful ICAS Academy Program at Wings over Houston
2008-11-03
Wings over Houston acted as both host and teacher for a group of 25 ICAS members during the ICAS Academy held on October 23, 24 and 25. Representatives from air shows throughout North America participated in this hands-on training session that provided an up-close look at how Wings over Houston organizes and conducts one of the most successful air shows in the country.
Now in its ninth year, the ICAS Academy program has given hundreds of ICAS members a unique opportunity to get a behind-the-curtain look at a well-run air show. They are given access to the staff and volunteers who organize and conduct the show.
This year, Wings over Houston provided Academy participants with more than 250 pages of budgets, timelines, contracts, schedules, and other working documents. On-site, Academy participants grilled staff and volunteers from Wings over Houston with detailed and specific questions about how they run their air show business.
The next ICAS Academy program has been tentatively scheduled for mid-July of 2009 in conjunction with the Vectren Dayton Air Show in Dayton, Ohio.
Rocket Racer makes first public flight at AirVenture
2008-10-30
There’s always something new and exciting in the skies over Oshkosh, and with the first public exhibition of the Rocket Racing League’s Rocket Racer at AirVenture 2008, this year was certainly no exception. With former Space Shuttle Commander Rick Searfoss at the controls, the DKNY Bridenstine Rocket Racer, which is based on the Velocity brand of kitplanes, wowed the crowd with three ten-minute flights throughout the week.
This was a major milestone for the Rocket Racing League, which is slated to hold its first race in late 2009 or early 2010, according to league founder Granger Whitelaw. The multiple-heat race will pit up to ten racers against each other on a virtual racetrack in the sky, visible on pilot’s heads up displays and to fans watching on TV and jumbotrons.
“This is the future of racing,” said Whitelaw. “It’s been a really big challenge trying to build a racing series with aircraft that is dynamic, technologically driven, captivating, and has a tremendous amount of growth opportunities in different directions,” Whitelaw added.
Whitelaw says that the new format will retain its roots in air shows. “We look forward to being a part of the air show industry in a very meaningful way.”
Gathering of Mustangs and Legends, one year later
2008-10-30
It’s rare that people are still talking about an air show one year after it ended, but the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends was the kind of awe-inspiring event that justifies that kind of buzz. With over 80 P-51 Mustangs and the legends that flew them on hand, it’s no wonder that last September’s show has left the 150,000 in attendance yearning for an encore.
A coffee table book, compiled by world-renowned aviation photographer Paul Bowen, is currently in the works, as well as a DVD of the event. “We’re just now delving into getting all those photos back,” said Angela West, the event’s director. “It’s a huge project.”
Under the auspices of the Gathering Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on preserving the history of WWII fighters, West and her team are also in the early stages of planning a gathering of contemporary fighters.
Still, West said that the actual Gathering of Mustangs and Legends will probably never happen again, citing the fact that the show was intended to be a one-time event. “I’m not even sure I want to call it an air show,” said West. “It was an historical event.”
Hotel Sleeping Room Block is Quickly Disappearing
2008-10-30
We want you to register for the ICAS Convention soon, but we can wait another couple of weeks. That may not be true for hotel sleeping rooms. A unique confluence of different pressure points is making it likely that hotel sleeping rooms at the Rio All-Suite Hotel during the ICAS Convention will sell out within the next couple of weeks. There may be plenty of rooms on some nights, but the hotel is nearing capacity on some of the nights.
Bottom line: if you want to stay at the host hotel during the ICAS Convention this year, you should make your reservation as soon as possible.
The Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino is offering ICAS members sleeping rooms at the discounted rate of $119 per night throughout the ICAS Convention. You may cancel your reservation with no penalty up until one week before the first night of your stay. To make your reservation, call Rio Group Reservations at 888-746-6955 and mention Code SRICAS8.
Or make your hotel reservation on-line by visiting https://www.harrahs.com/CheckGroupAvailability.do?propCode=RLV&groupCode=SRICAS8.
ICAS Announces Convention Dates Through 2020
2008-10-30
ICAS has contracted with two different Harrah’s hotel properties in Las Vegas to host the ICAS Convention through 2020.
“The convention business in Vegas is moving from a buyer’s market to a seller’s market,” said ICAS President John Cudahy. “Because our members have made it clear that they want to keep the ICAS Convention in Las Vegas for the foreseeable future, we negotiated the best terms possible and locked in for the next 12 years.”
Future dates are December 8-11, 2008 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel; December 6-9, 2009 at Paris Las Vegas; December 5-8, 2010 at Paris Las Vegas; December 4-7, 2011 at Paris Las Vegas; December 9-12, 2013 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel; December 8-11, 2014 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel; December 7-10, 2015 at Paris Las Vegas; December 5-8, 2016 at Paris Las Vegas; December 5-8, 2017 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel; December 3-6, 2018 at Paris Las Vegas; December 9-12, 2019 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel; and December 7-10, 2020 at Paris Las Vegas.
Carlton Launches Super Salto
2008-10-18
Bob Carlton IS a rocket scientist, so nobody was too surprised when he started musing about the possibility of putting a jet engine with 225 pounds of thrust onto a 620 pound, fully aerobatic Salto sailplane.
But, on August 1, his jet-powered Super Salto sailplane actually flew.
“It will be able to not only self launch, but perform vertical aerobatics immediately after takeoff,” says Carlton. “It will be the first and only sailplane capable of a ground start aerobatic routine.”
But his old company name – Silent Wings Airshows – no longer fits the speed, power and noise of the Super Salto. So, he’s changing the name of his air show organization to Vertigo Airshows.
ICAS Headquarters Address Change
2008-09-15
After ten years, ICAS has moved its headquarters office approximately 100 yards. Phone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses will remain the same, but the new street address is:
750 Miller Drive, Suite F-3, Leesburg, Virginia 20175.
Tucker Inducted into National Aviation Hall of Fame
2008-08-22
Air show performer and ICAS member Sean Tucker was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame on Saturday, July 19, during an induction ceremony in Dayton, Ohio. Tucker was recognized for his skills as an aviator and as a passionate advocate for general aviation.
During his acceptance speech, Tucker said he was honored to be inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, which includes the likes of the Wright brothers, astronaut Neil Armstrong, and 193 other previous inductees. “Those are some big footsteps and some big shoes, and I’m really humbled. I’ve never done anything great like these guys,” Tucker said. “I’m a journeyman 20th century barnstormer.”
The NAHF class of 2008 also included Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, a World War II triple-ace and USAF test pilot; Herbert D. Kelleher, founder and retired chairman of Southwest Airlines; and Admiral William A. Moffett, the legendary “Father of Naval Aviation.” Tucker becomes the seventh air show legend to be inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. He joins Lincoln Beachey, Roscoe Turner, Betty Skelton, Bob Hoover, Paul Poberezny, and Patty Wagstaff.
