AirshowStuff Forums

Skyfest North Carolina
Johnston Regional Airport, Smithfield, NC
March 25
https://www.facebook.com/skyfestnc

Just a neat local event I've bern following. I'll try to check it out.

Performers:
Full Throttle Formation Team
Bandit Flight Team
Redline Airshows
Chris Thomas SNJ Texan
Black Sheep Squadron Paragliding Team
Special Forces Association Parachute Team
Trust Parachute Team
Rappel Team 6
Swat Demo Team

Statics:
Cessna O1 Birddogs

Chris Thomas will be performing a solo aerobatic display in an SNJ Texan originally owned by the now disbanded GEICO Skytypers.

https://christhomasairshows.com/schedule

Unfortunately, I waited a day too late to purchase tickets, and they are sold out. I guess I won't be going after all. I wish they would sell tickets at the site. I'm guessing it's related to parking.

Redline Airshows has been added to the lineup. That would've been cool to see.

There were a ton of people scamming on Facebook for ticket resales. People would pay and then get left on read. As a result, the organizers have temporarily reopened the eventbrite tickets. I managed to get a ticket just now, so I am happy to report I will be attending after all.

There are only a few tickets left, so GET YOUR TICKETS RIGHT NOW if you want to go. The weather forecast has improved significantly, so I expect the show to go on.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skyfest-nc ... 3748660767

I had a very busy day. During the morning, the sun was right in my face and there were choppy winds from behind, presenting the most challenging recording conditions I've faced to date. In addition, there were light showers here and there, and I had to record in the rain for the first time (just light drizzles). Unfortunately, the end of the show rained out, but everything I went there to see flew. Adam Baker no showed (come to think of it, I'm not sure if he was ever supposed to be there), so Ken Reider flew solo. Also absent were the SWAT Team, the Bandit Flight Team, and The Black Sheep paragliders, but I imagine some of the absences were weather related. The schedule was pretty much abandoned as the weather was unpredictable. Acts just flew when there was an opportunity.

The show was pretty good, although there are definitely some things that didn't go smoothly. I hope I don't come across as overly critical; I had a great time. But there are a few things they should improve on for future events.

First and foremost, parking managememt was botched. The staff (most of whom were literally children) had no idea what they were doing. Lots of unnecessary stopping and people getting directed to park in the wrong spot and having to repark. A lot of the staff were standing around chatting in the path of cars instead of directing. I was pretty lucky that my experience was relatively painless. I wasn't asked for a ticket until after I left the parking area, making it possible for people to park without a ticket. I'm sure people were told to leave, which would've made the traffic a conundrum. Also, the parking area was on the opposite side of the runway as the crowd, so people had to walk around the runway threshold to get to the display area. I overheard a police officer instruct the staff to have people wait to cross while planes were landing. I have to imagine that didn't happen.

Another *minor* complaint is the crowd layout. They had the concessions at the very front, then lines and people walking through, THEN the spectators. It seemed kind of backwards, and recording anything in the runway was just about impossible. Eventually, people went rogue and set up where they weren't supposed to. Staffers were powerless to stop them. I should've joined.

While it wasn't perfect, there were a lot of things I really liked. There was no narration or music (other than the live performances by the various bands). The audio would've been fantastic if not for the wind. If you set up at the right side of the crowd (where you aren't supposed to), the view of the runway and taxiway is superb. It's also the farthest place in the crowd from the concert area. Additionally, several of the performers treated the center of the runway as center point, which offset their performances to crowd right. That's the place to be.

Dean Belk's L-39 was on static display, which was a pleasant surprise since there was no static information given. Full Throttle, Chris Thomas, and Redline were the main reasons I went, and they did not disappoint. It was really cool to see the Duke Lifeflight demo, something you probably won't see anywhere else. Chris has "TRUIST" on the side of his SNJ now. They were a sponsor of the show, so I'm not sure if they are his sponsor as well, or if he just did that for this show. After Ken's morning flight, he stopped on the taxiway and got swarmed by emergency vehicles. I wasn't sure if anything happened, but they got it cleared and resumed the show in just a few minutes. Couldn't have been too serious.

All in all, they put on a solid air show given the conditions. They should definitely address the issues I noted, but Skyfest NC has the potential to grow into something really big if they play their cards right.

Did the local three-letter agency gave a thing on display (C-47, CASA)?

OwenORourke wrote: ↑Sat Mar 25, 2023 11:06 pm Did the local three-letter agency gave a thing on display (C-47, CASA)?

Idk what you're referring to, but the only static displays were the L-39, an Army Little Bird, and another Duke Lifeflight Eurocopter. There were a ton of ground vehicles.

Last time they had the event they had a gray C-47 on display that belongs to a company located at the airport that… lets just say, caters to some interesting ’customers’.

OwenORourke wrote: ↑Sun Mar 26, 2023 3:14 am Last time they had the event they had a gray C-47 on display that belongs to a company located at the airport that… lets just say, caters to some interesting ’customers’.

Still have no idea what you mean, but no there was no C-47

This is kinda late, but my YouTube playlist for the show

2023 Skyfest North Carolina: