YEAGER AIRPORT AND WEST VIRGINIA AIR GUARD CELEBRATE 70 YEARS AIRSHOW SEPTEMBER 30 TH AND OCTOBER 1 ST

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1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE YEAGER AIRPORT AND WEST VIRGINIA AIR GUARD CELEBRATE 70 YEARS AIRSHOW SEPTEMBER 30 TH AND OCTOBER 1 ST This year marks the 70th anniversary of Yeager Airport and the presence of the Air National Guard at the airport. In order to mark this occasion, Yeager Airport and the 130th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard are celebrating with a free airshow. The airshow will take place Saturday, September 30 th and will be repeated on Sunday, October 1 st. Gates open at 9:30 AM. Airshow will take place from 11 AM 4 PM, both days. Limited parking will be available at the Airport for those with mobility limitations, attending with children under 5 years, or requiring handicap parking spaces. Free parking will be available at the Capitol Complex and Capital High School. Attendees will be shuttled to the Airshow. Attendees will be subject to event security upon admission. Smoking, weapons, outside food, beverages, coolers, large bags, and pets are strictly prohibited. The air show will include several examples of aircraft associated with the airport during its early years, including a Curtiss C-46 Commando transport plane the first aircraft assigned to the West Virginia Air Guard s 130th Airlift Wing and an American Airlines DC-3, the first commercial aircraft to operate at Kanawha Airport during its 1947 debut. See yeagerairport.com/airshow for additional details, including featured aircraft, and RSVP to the event on Facebook.com/FlyCRW for updates. 100 Airport Road Suite 175 Charleston, West Virginia

2 Yeager Airport is responsible for an annual economic impact of $174,662,309, adding 1,876 full time equivalent jobs. Four airlines service the airport, providing eight nonstop destinations and serving 425,000 passengers, annually. ### FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND TO SCHEDULE, PLEASE CONTACT: PLEASE FIND ATTACHED HERETO: - Event Poster [Including Sponsorship Information] - Schedule of Events o Including special media opportunities that can be scheduled by contacting Dominique@yeagerairport.com OR Paige@yeagerairport.com - 70 th Anniversary Airshow FAQs - CAF Red Tail Press Release PLEASE NOTE: Special authorization is required for media due to the event taking place on the Air National Guard premises. Please contact the marketing department for preauthorization if you plan to cover this event. 2

3 PRESENTING THE AND WV AIR GUARD C-130s from the WV Air Guard will be flying and on display during the airshow Brig.Gen. and Lincoln County Native, Chuck Yeager, made history in 1947 for being the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. On October 14, 1985, Kanawha Airport was re-named in his honor. Yeager s experimental X-1 rocket plane, Glamorous Glennis (above). B-17 See the American Airlines Flagship Detroit D-3 LIMITED PARKING will be available at the Airport for those with mobility limitations, attending with children under 5 years, or requiring handicap parking spaces. Commemorative Air Force Red Tail Squadron P-51 Demonstration Food & Souvenirs For Sale! YEAGER AIRPORT SALUTES RESTRICTED ITEMS NO SMOKING, NO WEAPONS, NO LARGE BAGS, NO OUTSIDE FOOD, BEVERAGES OR COOLERS, NO PETS Free parking and shuttle service from the Capitol Complex and Capital High School. yeagerairport.com Y E A G E R A I R P O RT West Virginia s Gateway A Special Thanks of Support to Our 70th Airshow Sponsors P-51 Yankee Air Museum s B-17 Yankee Lady - Rides for sale FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! FREE ADMISSION Aircraft Rides for Sale! Aerial Demonstrations! Aircraft Static Dipslays & Tours! DESIGN: AUGE+GRAY+DRAKE DC-3 Take Flight! September 30th & October 1st, 2017 Gates Open 9:30 am Airshow 11 am - 4 pm CELEBRATING CHARLESTON S AVIATION HISTORY A fighter pilot with the WV AIr Guard stands in front of an F-51 Mustang at Kanawha Airport Bill Peters, Commander of the 130th Airlift Wing and current member of the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority Board. John Mitchell, A Charleston native and Army Air Corps bomber pilot during World War II. (Photo Courtesy of the West Virginia Kanawha Airport) Rose Agnes Rolls, George Roberts, (Photo Courtesy of the West Virginia State University Archives) (Photo Courtesy of the West Virginia State University Archives) West Virginia State Board of Aeronautics aircraft pilot, one of over 70 enrolled in the West Virginia State College program. United States Army Air Corps Second Lieutenant, Tuskegee graduate and in the first African American Army Air Corps pilots. Beulah Stark, of Charleston was one of the first females in West Virginia to obtain a pilot s license and organized West Virginia s chapter of women pilots, founded by Amelia Earhart. ADCI Corp. Netranom Auge+Gray+Drake Newtech Systems, Inc. Bailey & Wyant, PLLC S&S Engineers, Inc. Chase Bank Signs by Dan Crosier s Sanitary Service, Inc. SuddenLink Media Electronic Specialty Company Summit Community Bank Landrum & Brown Waste Management

4 Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority John D. Rockefeller IV Terminal 100 Airport Rd, Suite Charleston, WV Phone: Fax: WEDNESDAY 9/27 FRIDAY 9/29 - CAF Red Tail Field Trips Yeager Airport and West Virginia Air National Guard 70 th Anniversary Airshow September 30 th and October 1 st Schedule of Events Yeager Airport s 70th Anniversary Airshow will feature the P-51C Mustang and the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit. Schools in surrounding areas have been invited to view the exhibit ahead of the airshow. 450 students are scheduled to attend thus far. For more information, or to view the exhibit for reporting purposes, please contact the Marketing Department at FRIDAY 9/29 - Flight Over the 4:30 PM Friday evening at 4:30 PM, aircraft that will be featured at the airshow will take off from Yeager Airport, assemble in formation, and fly the valley in order to boost awareness of the weekend s events! Aircraft will include: DC-3 Flagship Detroit, B-17, B-25, C-47, C- 46, and C-130. Please contact the Marketing Depart at if you are interested in flying on one of these aircraft for reporting purposes spaces are limited. - U.S. Army Golden Knights to Land at George Washington High School v. Woodrow Wilson High School Football 7:00 PM Following the Flight Over the Valley, the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team will land on the George Washington High School football field prior to the start of the game.

5 Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority John D. Rockefeller IV Terminal 100 Airport Rd, Suite Charleston, WV Phone: Fax: SATURDAY 9/30 [AIRSHOW DAY 1] - OPENING 11:00 AM o Remarks from Airport Director, Terry Sayre, County Commissioners, Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority Board of Members, and Political Representatives o National Anthem and Flag Jump by U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team - Airshow 12:15 4:00 PM SUNDAY 10/1 [AIRSHOW DAY 2] - OPENING 11:00 AM o Remarks from Airport Director, Terry Sayre, and West Virginia State University President, Anthony Jenkins, Ph.D. Celebrating West Virginia State University s contributions to aviation in the Kanawha Valley o National Anthem and Flag Jump by U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team - Airshow 12:15 4:00 PM

6 Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority John D. Rockefeller IV Terminal 100 Airport Rd, Suite Charleston, WV Phone: Fax: Yeager Airport and West Virginia Air National Guard 70 th Anniversary Airshow FAQs Event: Saturday, September 30th AND Sunday, October 1 st [Same Airshow will occur on both days] Gates open at 9:30 AM Airshow 11 AM 4 PM Parking - All Event Parking is Free Limited parking will be available at the Airport for those with mobility limitations, attending with children under 5 years, or requiring handicap parking spaces. Free parking will be available at the Capitol Complex and Capital High School. Attendees will be shuttled to the Airshow. NOTE: Only certain shuttles will be able to transport children under 5 years of age. If you are attending with small children, please try to park at the Airport, or prepare to wait for shuttles equipped to transport younger children. Prohibited Items Security NO SMOKING NO WEAPONS NO LARGE BAGS NO OUTSIDE FOOD, BEVERAGES, or COOLERS NO PETS Attendees will be subject to event security upon admission. Note: All carry-in items and persons are subject to search. To minimize imposition, it is recommended that Air Show patrons bring only necessary items and are limited to small bags only. Please limit bags and contents of carry-in items to those that are essential.

7 Food Vendors Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority John D. Rockefeller IV Terminal 100 Airport Rd, Suite Charleston, WV Phone: Fax: Vendors will be on premises selling food and merchandise. Food vendors to include: Fusion Grille Jonesy s Chick-Fil-A Kona Ice of Charleston Stuff It Mardi Gras Casino & Resort Baskin Robbins Rollin Smoke Gino s/ Tudor s Island Teriyaki Carnivore BBQ Bridge Road Bistro And more! Commercial Flights/ Non-Airshow Traffic Commercial flights will continue to arrive and depart as scheduled. If you are flying out of Yeager Airport September 30 th or October 1 st, please allow extra travel time. Notify event staff stationed on Airport Road that you are traveling to the terminal, not attending the airshow, and you will be directed accordingly.

8 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kristi Younkin, CAF Red Tail Squadron or MOBILE BIG SCREEN THEATER AND EXHIBIT HONORING TUSKEGEE AIRMEN TO VISIT YEAGER AIRPORT FOR 70 th ANNIVERSARY AIRSHOW West Virginia (For Immediate Release) The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Red Tail Squadron will welcome visitors at its free RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit at the Yeager Airport and West Virginia Air Guard 70 th Anniversary Airshow September 30 th and October 1st, The RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit is a truly unique opportunity for the young and the young-at-heart to not only learn, but experience the inspiring story of the Tuskegee Airmen while being immersed in a theatrical experience. There is no charge for the exhibit. In addition, the Red Tail P-51C Mustang will be on static display. During the original movie aptly named, "RISE ABOVE," audience members will be transported into what it was like to be a black airman during WWII and the obstacles faced by America s first black military pilots and their support personnel, known today as the Tuskegee Airmen, as they worked toward their goal of becoming U.S. Army Air Corps pilots in the early 1940s. At the conclusion of the film, audiences experience the excitement and thrill of flying the world s greatest fighter aircraft, the P-51 Mustang, in formation, aerobatics, a break and a few low passes. Filmed with a 180-degree lens along with the state-of-the-art theater design, the movie experience gives attendees the feeling that you are actually flying in the airplane. The exhibit is truly a one-of-a-kind adventure similar to something you would experience at Disneyland, said Brad Lang, CAF Red Tail Squadron Leader. The overall message is about rising above to reach your potential no matter your circumstances; the film uses the story of the Tuskegee Airmen and the story of the CAF Red Tail Squadron to inspire young people to achieve their potential, but the message resonates with all ages because of the unique and interactive way it is told. This is an experience you won t want to miss. The exhibit is a mobile big screen theater with a customized 53' trailer with expandable sides that houses a 160-degree panoramic curved movie screen and seating for 35 in climate-controlled comfort. It showcases a short original movie, "RISE ABOVE," focusing on what the Tuskegee Airmen had to overcome to be allowed to fly and fight for their country during World War II. This experience highlights how to set a goal and succeed even when all odds are against you; just like the original Tuskegee Airmen achieved. For additional information about the CAF Red Tail Squadron, visit or call Be sure to follow us on Facebook. About the CAF: In 1957, a small group of ex-service pilots pooled their money to purchase a P-51 Mustang, beginning what is now called the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). With the addition of a pair of F8F Bearcats, the CAF became the founders of the Warbird Movement, an effort to preserve and honor our military history with the rallying cry to Keep Em Flying! Now, 55 years later, the CAF is the premier Warbird organization, operating 156 vintage aircraft in Honor of American Military Aviation. A non-profit educational association, the CAF has more than 10,000 members and its fleet of historic aircraft is distributed to 80 units located in 24 states for care and operation. For more information, visit or call (432) ###