Posted 1:52 am Sunday, June 19, 2011
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Community Support Gets Air Show Off The Ground
Community support for the Wings Over Tyler air show appears to be the key reason it's able to take flight.
"To put on an air show, it costs a lot up front," Henry Bell, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce chief operating officer, said. "It wouldn't happen if not for the sponsors -- you can't hold an event betting on the attendance."
Air shows also are complicated to put together, organizers said, noting the last one in Tyler was about 15 years ago, but it featured only turbine-powered aircraft. This is the first show to feature a collection of new and vintage planes from World War II, and jets from Korea, Viet-nam and today.
Proceeds from the July 3 show benefit the Alzheimer's Alliance of Smith County and Texas Wounded Warriors.
Historic Aviation Memorial Museum officials are organizing the exhibition.
The event is sponsored by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce with presenting sponsor,
Tyler Courier-Times--Telegraph, Nelson Clyde and Dave Berry. Platinum Sponsors include Chesapeake Energy Corp., Jeff Holliday; East Texas Radio Group; Susan Robinson Fine Jewelry, Breitling; and city of Tyler.
Diamond Sponsors include Jet Center of Tyler, JW Rogers, Randa Conner; United Heritage Credit Union, BJ Hornbostel; AT&T; Tyler Golf Cars; KLTV 7; KETK 56; KYTX CBS19; NDMJ Shuttle Buses, Jamal Moharer; and East Texas Jet Support LLC.
Gold Sponsors include Adams Engineers, Joe Jones; Breedlove Financial, Mike Breedlove; ConocoPhillips; Suddenlink; The Fair Foundation; Tyler Lodging Association, Steven Cottrell; Wisenbaker Fix/KSA; Altra Federal Credit Union; Scott Lieberman M.D.; and The Brannon Corp.; Fairfield Inn; and Classic Coach and Carriage, Louise Ellison.
Silver Sponsors include Jim and Candy Wells; Spine and Joint Hospital; Texas Bank and Trust, Jerry Woolverton; The University of Texas at Tyler, Dr. Rodney Mabry; Atkins North America, Inc.; Heritage Bank; Jim Toman Insurance; Oncor; Tyler Neurology, Dr. Tom Grahm; Tyler Turbine Sales, Moe Wiebe; Holiday Inn South Broadway; Country Inn & Suites; Baymont Inn & Suites; Greater Tyler Auto Auction; Swan Electrical; The Univer-sity of Texas
Health Science Center of Tyler; Trinity Mother Frances hospitals and clinics; and East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System.
Contributing sponsors include Bill Parrott; Bud Wulf; D.M. Edwards; Stephenie Roberts; Welby Edwards Investments; Baymont Inn & Suites, Amy Patel; T-Dawg's Kuntry Karts; and AAA San-itation. Sponsorship opportunities for the air show are still available.
In-kind donations may be made by contacting Carolyn Verver at 903-316-7988 or emailing cjverver@aol.com.
