The Florida International Air Show will be relocating this year from the Punta Gorda Airport, its traditional home, to the skies above Charlotte Harbor.
Air show organizers said scheduled runway rehabilitation and construction projects are the reason space won't be available for aircraft displays and the thousands of visitors the event attracts.
Dubbed "Wings Over Charlotte Harbor," spectators will be encouraged to watch the 39th air show from Gilchrist and Bayshore Parks on Oct. 24-25. Air show organizers said they are working closely with Punta Gorda Airport, City of Punta Gorda and Charlotte County to provide a free air show.
The show can be viewed from various locations from Laishley Park to Fishermen's Village with the boating community enjoying prime spots. iHeartMedia will partner with the air show to broadcast the event on FM and AM stations as well as the iHeartMedia app.
The Saturday and Sunday air show will feature professional and military performers. The USAF F-16 demonstration team will anchor the show with performances by Clemens Kuhlig "Chefpitts," Gene McNeely T-6 Texan, LD Jeffries BD-5 Jet and a special Warbird Heritage review. Several additional military performers are anticipated.
The performers and aircraft will be hosted by Punta Gorda Airport departing from runway 4/22 and circling to the air show "box," which is an invisible boundary 1,500 feet downstream of the southbound U.S. 41 bridge to west of Fishermen's Village.
Air Show organizers noted that The Charlotte County Airport Authority has Punta Gorda Airport runway projects planned for this year and next.
"These projects have been in the pipeline for several years and are absolutely necessary for future operations and sustainable growth," said Punta Gorda Airport marketing and communications manager Kaley Miller in a statement. "While the public air show won't be scheduled at (the airport) for the next couple years, the Airport Authority will likely continue to provide in-kind support and a base for visiting aircraft."
Air show organizers are unable to say when the event will return to the airport
"We will evaluate the construction schedule again next year to estimate a time window when Air Show may be able to return to (the airport)," Miller said.
Read more stories by Wade Tatangelo
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