Show At Former NAS Deals With Irene, Protestors

Hurricane Irene canceled over 12,000 airline flights as it moved through the northeast, but it also cut short the Great State of Maine Air Show and Business Aviation Expo. The airshow with the intriguing name was scheduled at the former Naval Air Station Brunswick, which is being transitioned into Brunswick Executive Airport. The facility's best-known resident so far is Alan Klapmeier's Kestrel Aircraft, which was also listed as a sponsor of this year's airshow.

The airshow was far from the first held at the base. As many as 200,000 spectators per year have attended previous events going back over the decades, but last weekend's was the first for which there was an admission charge, reflective of its move into the private sector, as is the inclusion of "business aviation expo" in the event's official name. The Bangor Daily News reports that while crowds were well below previous years, thousands still came out Friday and Saturday to see a lineup including the US Navy Blue Angels (pictured), US Army Golden Knights, and civilian performers including Julie Clark.

Steve Levesque, director of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, which is overseeing the transition, told the paper organizers bought insurance against a revenue shortfall, so there was no anxiety over the reaction to an admission charge or the impact of the hurricane.

Maine has a disproportionately high percentage of retired military personnel among its population, which is always helpful when trying to promote an airshow, but there were also protestors picketing outside the gates. The Bangor Daily News reports that at one point during the show, the PA announcer reminded the crowd, "Freedom is not free. Today let’s salute those who help to preserve it," bringing a roar from the crowd which was almost as loud as the aircraft, and no doubt could be heard by the members of Code Pink Maine protesting outside.

FMI: www.greatstateofmaineairshow.us