Press Releases
August 29, 2008 - AIR SHOW COMES TO TOWN SEPTEMBER 13-14
The North Georgia Transportation Expo, presented by the Coosa Valley Credit Union, comes to Rome on Saturday and Sunday, September 13-14, at the Richard B. Russell Regional Airport. This year’s event offers three shows in one, a full four hour air show each day, the annual car/truck show and competition on Saturday, and the newest attraction, the Vintage Aircraft Experience featuring aircraft built prior to 1958, or of a rare or unusual type.
Gates open at 9:00 AM on Saturday, 10:00 AM on Sunday. Tickets are $15 Adult/$8 Children (6-12) at the gate. Discounted advance tickets may be purchased on line (www.texpo23.org) or at many local outlets. The list of outlets is also available on line. Tickets are valid for either show day. Local restaurants and caterers will be supplying the food service from a large food court. There will be more than 25 non-food vendors on site. A large children’s area is also available.
This year’s event is produced and presented by Transportation Expo Productions, an all volunteer organization made up of mostly retired persons. The group will be adding to their production schedule in 2009 with at least one more air/car show in addition to Rome. The theme of this year’s Expo is a “Salute to the U.S. Air Reserve” on its 60th anniversary. Two mammoth transport aircraft that form the backbone of the Reserve, the C-17 and the C-130, will be featured in static displays throughout the show. Many other forms of USAF Reserve craft will be on hand, and some will participate in the air show itself.
Visit the North Georgia Transportation Expo website www.texpo23.org for more information.
Contact Eugene T. Schayer at 770 924-6996, or at kidssix@comcast.net
August 29, 2008 - “FRIDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS” KICKS OFF AIR/CAR SHOW
On Saturday and Sunday, September 13-14, thousands of spectators will see aircraft in the air most of the day at Richard B. Russell Regional Airport in Rome, GA. as part of the annual North Georgia Transportation Expo. However, the night before, thousands of other spectators will see many of the same aircraft participating in flyovers at various area high school football games in a program called, “Friday Night Flights”. The program is a fund raiser for the high schools involved.
For providing the aircraft flyovers prior to their games, Transportation Expo, (TE) the producer of the show and the flyovers is given the opportunity to sell tickets to the air show through a variety of organizations within each school. The selling group will receive a rebate of $2 per ticket sold ($1 on children’s tickets).through September 11. TE is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation. All net proceeds will be distributed throughout Northwest Georgia to other 501(c) (3) groups.
The overall effort of the “Friday Night Flights” program (not to be confused with the 2005 movie “Friday Night Lights” that also dealt with high school football) is the first step in the extension of the reach of the air show throughout all of North Georgia..
As of this writing the following high schools will be part of the “Friday Night Flights”.on September 12:
1. Paulding H. S. at Rome H. S.
2. Armuchee H. S. at Dade County H. S.
3. Coosa H. S. at Cedartown H. S.
4. Model H. S. at Trion H. S.
5. Villa Rica H.S. at Pepperell H. S
6. Bremen H. S. at Rockmart H. S.
7. South Paulding H. S. at Dalton H.S..
If you don’t see your high school on this list, better luck next year. It is suggested that high schools wishing to participate in the future shows, should provide notice of their intent at least 6 months prior to the event.
For more information, contact Eugene T. Schayer at 770 924-6996
As the time for the annual North Georgia Transportation Expo draws near at Richard B. Russell Airport in Rome on September 13-14, besides the air show, car/truck show on Saturday only, and the Vintage Aircraft Experience, there are many interesting scenarios connected to the show.
During the show each day, the only person to fly a B-17 in two millennia, will be a guest of honor at the show. Hal Weekly, a resident of Mableton, GA, flew many missions in a B-17 during WW II. He wads shot down once and spent many months in a German stalag.
Weekly kept up his flying skills and interest for the B-17 for many years in the twentieth century. In 1994, as member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) he was selected to command the flights of the EAA’s newly restored B- 17, named “Aluminum Overcast” on its first annual tour across the U. S. The first stop was Peachtree-DeKalb Airport in Atlanta.
Weekly continued to fly “Aluminum Overcast” into the twenty-first century before retiring in 2001, making him the only person to pilot the famous WW II bomber in two different centuries. Our guest will be available for conversation and autograph signing in the Performers Tent, near the Air Boss stand. Drop by and reminisce with Hal. He has many a story to share.
Some do’s and don’ts for the show.
1. Spectator parking is located off Warren Rd. Follow the spectator (general admission) parking signs, then follow the direction of those assisting with the parking.
2. Animals (except seeing eye dogs) are not permitted on the airport grounds during show hours.
3. It is suggested that you bring folding chairs or blankets to sit on the ground.
4. No coolers are allowed on the airport grounds.
5. No alcohol is permitted.
6. Plan to come early and stay late. Food service this year is provided by local restaurants such as Outback Steakhouse and Chick-Fil-A (Saturday only). Your will find a food court set up that will contain all varieties of popular food.
7. Absolutely no unauthorized two or four wheel vehicles allowed in the display areas of the airport grounds except as approved in advance by Transportation Expo.
8. Professional photographers wishing to use Fire Dept. aerial tower must have prior approval by Transportation Expo and must adhere to the schedule set up by show management.
No one is permitted ahead of the crowd containment fence, except authorized photographers. They are limited to the terminal side of the main taxiway.
Go to the show’s website, www.texpo23.org for more information.
For more information, contact Gene Schayer at 770 924-6996.
In an effort to widen interest in the annual North Georgia Transportation Expo even greater, the management of the event is introducing a new category, vintage aircraft at its show on September 13-14, at Richard B. Russell Regional Airport, Rome.
Vintage aircraft are defined as any air frame built in 1958 or earlier. This assures that the show will draw many famous “oldies” such as the Beech Staggerwing, the Boeing Stearman, the Cessna 195, plus Stinson, Aeronca and many other former name plates. What makes this part of the show even more interesting is that most spectators will see many of these aircraft for the first time, and will never see many of them again.
Among the expected participating aircraft is the pristine Douglas DC-3 commercial air transport that make commercial aviation possible and affordable in the mid-1950’s. It was used heavily by the Armed Forces during WW II when it was known as the C-47. The DC-3 that appears this weekend is owned by Ron Alexander a retired Delta captain, who is changing a pasture in Williamson, GA (near Griffin) into a replica of Atlanta’s own Candler Field, the forerunner of the current Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Alexander’s DC-3 will be open to the public for an up close look at what your grandfather or great-grandfather flew in the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s, regardless of which
airline he flew.
The Vintage Aircraft Experience is a first time event in Rome and it is the first time this type of aircraft has participated in the same venue in a full air show. Make certain that you have plenty of photographic capacity. You’ll need it.
The vintage aircraft are invited to participate in a flyby session on Saturday from 9:00 AM – Noon, and Sunday from 10:00 AM – Noon. With this schedule the North Georgia Transportation Expo will offer flying during most of the day each day.
For ticket information and other important data, visit the show’s website: www.texpo23.org. Discounted advance tickets will be available in many locations throughout North Georgia. These tickets will go off sale at 6:00 PM on Thursday, September 11, except for the Rome airport terminal building, which will offer advance tickets until 9:00 AM on Friday, September 12.
For more information, contact Gene Schayer at 770 924-6996.
