But Plans Underway For 2009 Event

Chalk up another air show casualty due to the slumping economy. Organizers for this year's planned Waukegan Air Show near Chicago came about $12,000 short of the $80,000 they needed to put on the event this year, so as a result the show will not go on next month.

"We had the commitments there, but we didn't have the money in hand," Waukegan Regional Airport (UGN) manager Jim Stanczak told the Chicago Tribune. "With the rising fuel costs and the economy being what it is, those were a couple of the contributing factors."

Construction now underway at the airport was another factor, according to the show Web site. Organizers had planned to kick off the 7th annual aviation gathering September 6, with aerobatic acts and vintage warbirds among the scheduled performers.

Stanczak says the show has grown in popularity over the years, attracting over 15,000 attendees last summer. While it may have been possible to still put on a show with the money on hand, organizers opted not to risk compromising what crowds had come to expect.

Fortunately, the Tribune adds, organizers should have a head start towards raising money for the 2009 event.

FMI: www.waukeganairshow.com