The schedule for this summer’s Rotary Air Show is moving into formation.
On July 11, the Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds aeronautic team will take to the skies at the Flin Flon Airport for the second time in three years.
After almost a year of fundraising, the Flin Flon Rotary Club has announced some of the plans for the event, designed to raise money for emergency room expansion at Flin Flon General Hospital.
“We’ve had a lot of fun and we’re looking forward to having nice, safe airshow and an enjoyable family event,” said Bill Jackson, organizer of the event and a member of the Flin Flon Rotary Club at the June 12 meeting of the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce.
Several peripheral events are scheduled for after Snowbird pilots land in Flin Flon on July 10, the day before the show. Jackson told chamber members he plans on having a fishing outing – weather permitting – for the group.
Other events are also scheduled, including a fish fry on July 10 for the pilots and some corporate sponsors. A visit of the hospital site and emergency room project is also scheduled.
A luncheon will be held in Flin Flon on July 11, with festivities at the airport site getting underway around 2 pm.
Jackson said he hoped some additional bells and whistles, including military aircraft and a C-130 Hercules transport plane, could be present at the show, but plans would not be finalized until closer to the event. The last air show organized by the Flin Flon Rotary Club in 2016 featured extra aircraft, including a CF-18 Hornet fighter jet.
“We hope to have some military aircraft coming and doing some fly-bys,” said Jackson.
Military recruiters will also be at the airshow site. Jackson said a mobile recruitment trailer from the Department of National Defence would be at the event, aiming to recruit spectators for Canadian armed forces divisions.
People hoping to access the show can purchase tickets from Rotary members, at multiple area businesses or online. Rotary Club member Rob Schiefele confirmed that the club will operate a park and ride system for the show, taking spectators from Walmart in Flin Flon to the airport, then back again once the show finishes.
In addition, multiple businesses have provided funds for tickets. According to Jackson, around 2,000 school kids will be receiving sponsored tickets to the show at the end of the school year.
“This isn’t just the Rotary Club – this is a real community event,” he said.
