www.PSFmagazine.com | May-June 2019 | 9 8 | May-June 2019 | Powered Sport Flying So What Happened? It may be unfortunate that bad news attracts us so powerfully but that is reality. Many people have asked a similar question: “Why?” Sebring airport resident Tecnam placed their P2008 lsa in front of the airport terminal building. While some other media outlets clearly speculated over the reasons for the shutdown decision, I did not buy all the explanations. One writer guessed that exhibitors had decreased. While the number of vendors buying space has fluctuated over the years, as it does for all other shows, I’m lead to believe that was not a primary reason. Another reporter said ‘foot traffic’ was too low, but that probably shows that the writer compares every aviation event to Oshkosh and if it does not draw similarly-dense crowds, then something is wrong. Instead, these events — that I call sector-specific shows — are more focused. That makes them far more accessible to serious buyers wanting extra time with the representatives of the aircraft that have drawn their interest. People like to ask many questions — as I believe they should before making a six-figure purchase. Sebring, plus events like Midwest lsa Expo and DeLand Showcase, can deliver on this goal of attendees very well. Crowds may indeed be lower but that can be fairly regarded as a feature not a problem. Indeed, those attending sector-specific shows are obviously interested in the aircraft on display and vendors have repeatedly said they make more sales at these smaller events while spending far less money on displays. Why Did Sebring Shut Down? One man very close to the Sebring Expo knows more than journalists, attendees, and other vendors. I asked Phil Lockwood for his thoughts. He’s been involved since before Day One and was consulted by airport executive director Mike Willingham when this decision drew closer. Following are Phil’s thoughts, presented with his permission. Disclaimer: I caution readers that Phil does not speak for the Sebring Airport Authority but his information is highly reliable. People who know Phil are aware he speaks carefully and tends not to speculate about things he does not know. Phil wrote, “I think the following presents four primary factors that killed it.” (1) “Sebring has always struggled with the local weather during the show, which has not always been friendly, greatly affecting attendance,” Phil said. “Maybe three out of five shows have suffered from unseasonably lousy weather during the history of the show. It ’s an unpredictable and uncontrollable variable that makes the entire process a big gamble. In addition to the local weather issues, we have [often] been hit with a nasty line of intense weather blocking off Alabama and Georgia prior to and during the show, which prevented many small planes and vendors from making the trip into Florida.” In our conversation, Phil observed that he has frequently been out on the ramp prior to and after the show to experience beautiful weather and calm winds, the kind Florida has in abundance while the U.S. northern states are suffering through winters like the one just passed. However, when a three-day show starts it can easily be held hostage to In recent years, Expo was moved to position it directly in front of the airport terminal building, seen here behind Bristell, one of the regular displaying vendors. by Dan Johnson a single weather front passing through. Phil noted a weeklong show can suffer a couple of poor weather days and still be successful but a shorter show can be completely inhibited by lousy conditions. (2) “Sebring is about to begin a year-long program to rebuild the majority of our ramp,” he continued. “Accommodating the Expo during this construction would be very difficult.” In addition, after spending millions of dollars on ramp refurbishing, they may not want to drill holes for tents and tie-downs all over their brand-new ramp, somewhat similar to the way you feel about getting that first scratch or dent on your new car. (3) “The Sebring Airport management expends a large percentage of their staffing resources in the preparation and management of this show,” Phil noted. “They feel those resources can be used for projects that will better benefit the airport and surrounding community.” (4) He went on to say, “Vendors do not want to pay the higher cost needed to allow the show to sustain itself financially, leaving much of the burden on the airport and surrounding community. Although the attendance has been pretty good for a small regional show, and good enough to bring the vendors back year after year, it ’s probably not strong enough to offset the continued local investment dollars required to sustain the show.” “Add up all of the obstacles and you have a difficult mountain to climb,” Phil concluded. “The airport manager would have liked to find another entity to take over running the show but was unsuccessful in finding another group willing to take on the task and expense.” In the end, this was a difficult business decision but it has now been made and it is time to move on. Thanks for the memories, Mike Willingham, Bev Glarner, Janice Rearick, Jana Filip, and Bob Woods (leaders of Sebring Expo over the years). You gave it your all and it was good. Blue skies! And Another One Bites the Dust Perhaps the Sebring cancellation is a sign of the times. Another, even better-known series is also calling it quits. Plane & Pilot magazine’s online outlet reported, “For 16 years now, since its inception in 2003, the Red Bull Air Races have given the aviation world the kind of star power that other motor sports are all about. But the expensive and logistically difficult-to-produce events haven’ t created household names, as is the case with other motor sports, though the company didn’ t cite that as a cause for its decision.” “The news came as a shock,” Plane & Pilot continued, “with the company suddenly announcing on Wednesday, May 29 that 2019 will be its last year. Three races remain for this year’s series, with events in Russia, Hungary and Japan. In all, the series has included more than 90 races.”• This aerial view from aviation photographer Jim Koepnick features an RV-12 flying over the layout as it appeared in 2014.
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