Renamed "HeliFest," Non-Aviation Components Added

The Hiller Aviation Museum announced on its website that the former Vertical Challenge Helicopter Airshow is getting something of a makeover, and that several non-aviation-related (and possibly counter-intuitive, ed) activities have been added to the program.

The museum has expanded the two-day event to include microbrewers, wineries, and food vendors to the San Francisco event. Museum officials emphasize that the event is "not an air show," but will continue to showcase civilian and military helicopters on display over the two-day run. They say that "(i)ncreasingly strict federal regulations regarding air shows combined with the economic challenges faced by commercial and government helicopter operators, at both the local and state level, have made it necessary to modify Vertical Challenge."

The museum hopes that the addition of local brewers, wineries, food vendors, to the static display of aircraft and the event's "Kid's Zone" will create a "unique event never before seen on the San Francisco Peninsula."

The event is planned for June 18 and 19 at the Hiller Aviation Museum.

FMI: www.hiller.org/helifest.shtml