RWE Events Announces Edmonton Airshow

Transcription

1 RWE Events Announces Edmonton Airshow Edmonton, AB, April 23, Today RWE Events announced a new summer entertainment event the Edmonton Airshow. The air show will take place August 22 and 23 at Villeneuve Airport, with the support of Edmonton International Airport and Sturgeon County. "Air shows are becoming increasingly popular events across North America. The Edmonton Airshow is a celebration of aviation, and people in the Edmonton area will embrace this type of entertainment," says Dean Heuman, Vice President of RWE Events. Celebrity Air Boss Donna Flynn and Ground Crew Chief Ray Firkus of Showline Airshows are contracted to manage the aerial event. Flynn is the subject of Discovery Channel's successful series Airshow which follows air show pilots and performers through the air show circuit in Canada and the United States. Performers featured on Airshow will also make an appearance at the Edmonton Airshow, including Dave Mathieson flying his MX2, Red Bull Air Race Pilot Pete McLeod (Edge 540), and Stefan Trischuk with his Pitts X2C. The Edmonton Airshow has also signed pilot Brent Handy (Pitts X2C) of Redline Aerobatics and local talent Bill Carter with his Pitts S2S to the show. Edmonton has a rich aviation history and general aviation continues to be a large component of our northern business. "Villeneuve Airport is a regional asset. The Edmonton Airshow will increase its profile, attracting business as well as tourism dollars to the area," says Richard Skermer, Executive Director of RWE Events. A portion of the profits from this event will be directed to the Alberta Aviation Museum, Edmonton Garrison Military Family Resource Centre and Youth Employment & Support Services (YESS). RWE Events is a not-for-profit organization producing exciting entertainment and spectator events in Edmonton. RWE Events is pleased to make this announcement with the support of Edmonton International Airport and Sturgeon County. Media Contact: Nisa Drozdowski W: Ext. 204 C: media@rweevents.ca -30-

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3 Background ABOUT RWE EVENTS RWE Events began as Race Week Edmonton in 2010 to provide outside the fence activities around Edmonton Indy. The not-for-profit organization was founded by three Edmonton businessmen who believe spectators should not only be entertained, but also actively engaged. They envision, organize and produce events with a focus on celebrating as a community, while supporting local businesses, vendors and talent whenever possible. ABOUT VILLENEUVE AIRPORT Villeneuve Airport is operated by Edmonton International Airport. It is the only general aviation airport in the Capital Region with a NAV CANADA Air Traffic Control Tower. The airport serves small aircraft with commercial or corporate purposes including recreation, training, private transportation and other specialty, non-scheduled and toll-free air service. The airport is also an alternate for air ambulance operations. Villeneuve Airport is home to 13 businesses with a total economic impact of $19 million in output and provides approximately 100 direct jobs. 01

4 A portion of Edmonton Airshow profits will be directed to our community partners ABOUT EDMONTON GARRISON MILITARY FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE For 25 years the Edmonton Garrison Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) has been committed to enriching the lives of individuals and families in the Canadian Armed Forces through positive action, education and support. Absences from family support systems, difficulties during deployments, solo parenting or coping with an injury or loss are realities for military families realities which can have a significant impact on family well-being. Established in 1989, the MFRC has been committed to supporting military families as they navigate these unique challenges through programs and services that enhance the strength and resilience of military families. The MFRC is a non-profit society registered under the Alberta Society s Act. The agency is also registered with Revenue Canada as a charitable organization. Pages/default.aspx 02

5 ABOUT YESS YESS (Youth Empowerment and Support Services) is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to shaping the future of Edmonton by supporting youth facing difficult realities. YESS was started in 1978 in response to a gap in the social services system which was devoid of services for homeless children between the ages of 16 and 18. Since then, thousands of kids have come through their doors. In addition to providing emergency shelter, YESS offers youth ongoing support through programming and individual support with a non-judgmental, relationship-based approach that allows them to heal from traumatic experiences in order to rebuild their lives. ABOUT THE ALBERTA AVIATION MUSEUM The Alberta Aviation Museum is dedicated to preserving the aviation history and heritage, especially in Edmonton. Located on the site of the former Blatchford Field (Edmonton City Centre Airport), it celebrates the entrepreneurial and adventurous spirit of the past with entertaining and educational displays. 03

6 Social Links SEARCH FOR EDMONTON AIRSHOW Tag and follow social posts with #yegairshow 04

7 Air operations team DONNA FLYNN, AIR BOSS An air boss has been described as the one who keeps the airplanes apart and the show together. Air boss Donna Flynn is responsible for orchestrating the safe and entertaining presentation of the Edmonton Airshow performers in the air as well as on the taxiway and runway. Flynn started in aviation when she obtained her private license in 1987, and soon caught the air show bug by volunteering on the flight operations side. In 1998 she started her air show career, and today owns Showline Airshows which specializes in the air bossing and flight operations of air events. Flynn works eight to ten air shows each season and to date has completed more than 350 shows at over 35 locations in Canada and the United States. One of the few women in this role, Flynn has developed her own style of air bossing in a male dominated industry that makes her one of the central figures on Discovery Channel s Airshow. 01

8 RAY FIRKUS The air operations team works closely with FAA/ Transport Canada representatives, air traffic control and airport management to ensure compliance with regulations and to smoothly integrate the air operations plan into existing air traffic procedures and airport emergency response plans. They safely direct air shows alongside ongoing commercial and military operations at event sites. Showline team member Ray Firkus, himself an experienced air boss, offers the best in air operations. 02

9 The following performers will be wowing spectators at the Edmonton Airshow. MORE EXCITING AEROBATIC ACTS, ATTRACTIONS AND EXHIBITS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE COMING MONTHS. DAVE MATHIESON Dave Mathieson, also known as Super Dave, is a full time professional air show pilot. He s been flying commercially for 27 years and has logged over 16,000 hours flying time. Mathieson started flying with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets at 15, got his first float flying job at 18 and has flown bush planes on floats for most of his career. He flew for AirCanada Jazz for five years but found the job too boring, and they frowned upon doing aerobatics with 100 people in the back of the airplane. Mathieson went on to become the co-owner and president of Summit Air Charters based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. A true believer in chasing your dreams Mathieson uses air shows to inspire people and show them that every dream is possible if you just work hard at it. Mathieson and his Scheyden MX2 appear on Discovery Channel s Airshow. 03

10 PETE MCLEOD McLeod performs his aggressive low-level aerobatic routine in his Edge 540 only metres above the ground and leaves fans holding their breath and shaking their heads in amazement. His skills are featured on Discovery Channel s Airshow. McLeod grew up flying small float planes, taking his first flight in the family plane at 6 weeks old and first lesson atop his father s knee at age 3. He got his pilot s licence at 16 before his driver s licence. At 16, McLeod began flying competitive air show freestyle aerobatics and was the youngest Canadian air show performer. He earned his aerobatics instructor rating at 18. McLeod dedicated 3 years to training for the Red Bull Air Race and in 2009, made history by becoming the youngest pilot and first Canadian to compete in the elite Red Bull Air Race World Championship. 04

11 STEFAN TRISCHUK Stefan Trischuk s childhood dream was to experience flight. He built his own hang glider at age 12 after only seeing a picture in a magazine. Trischuk earned his Ultralight Pilot License at age 19 and soon upgraded to a private pilot license to fly aerobatics. The goal of being a career air show pilot has led him to dedicate his entire adult life to perfecting this art. He has experience in several types of high performance aerobatic biplanes and modern composite monoplanes as well as multi-engine and tailwheel aircraft. Currently, Trischuk holds a Commercial Pilot License as well as a Statement of Aerobatic Competency for Public Aerobatic Performances. Trischuk impresses air show audiences across Western Canada and the Northern US with exciting aerobatic routines in his Ultimate Biplane, and is a featured performer on Discovery Channel s Airshow. 05

12 BRENT HANDY Handy s passion for aviation began at a very young age watching aircraft on approach into the airport just a few miles north of his home. In his youth, he earned his glider pilot licence in 1994 and his private pilot licence in 1995 as a Royal Canadian Air Cadet. In 1999, Handy graduated from Sault College with a diploma in Aviation Technology, and a commercial/multi-engine/ifr rating, and then enrolled in the Canadian Forces as a pilot. While serving in the Canadian Forces, Handy has had the opportunity to follow all of his childhood dreams, flying as a CF-18 Fighter Pilot, and as a Canadian Snowbird. He has completed more than 150 flights as a Snowbird where he was Lead Solo in 2012/2013. Handy continues his aerobatic flying in the venerable Pitts Special for air show fans across Canada and the US. 06

13 BILL CARTER Bill Carter has been thrilling audiences across North America for 20 years. He earned his wings in Saskatchewan in 1966 and during his 39 years as a pilot he has accumulated more than 27,000 flying hours. Carter is retired from Air Canada and devotes his time to air show performances, filled with excitement from the word go. His 13 minute precision performance in his Pitts Special S2S includes tailslides, loops, multiple snap rolls, hammerheads and a mile long, low-level, knifeedge pass. Spectators are wowed by his signature moves inverted and knife-edge ribbon cuts. Carter is an Edmonton Airshow local, residing in St. Albert, Alberta. 07

14 PRO-RC AEROBATIC TEAM The PRO-RC Aerobatic Team is a group of RC (remote control) enthusiasts belonging to the Trout Farm Flyers, a flying field in Camrose, Alberta. Team members come from across the province. The team operates RC planes that are to 35 to 45 per cent scale with three times more thrust than weight, not limited to G-Force, making them capable of amazing manoeuvres. Spectators can expect to see waterfalls, flat spins, knife edge flight, hovers, pop tops and other exciting moves performed closer to the ground and the crowd than full-size planes. 08

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