WIX Archives
Re: Air show money? Where do I sign up?!
Posted by Tim Savage on Mon Feb 23, 2004 08:11:24 PM
In reply top Air show money? Where do I sign up?! posted by bdk on Mon Feb 23, 2004 05:50:50 PM
: So I guess I should get my T-6 going so I can cash in on a
: ll those lucrative airshow contracts for warbirds owners?
: :-)
:
: I guess either I am completely wrong or my information is
: very old, but I don't think that PoF pays warbirds to atte
: nd it's show in Chino, nor does the EAA pay for warbirds t
: o attend it's shows. Maybe things are different on the Eas
: t coast, but none of the Mustang owners I knew in Chino EV
: ER got paid to attend an airshow with their own aircraft.
:
: I would be quite interested to find out if people are inve
: sting in warbirds as a profit making venture where the ret
: urn on their investment comes from airshow bookings. That
: would make warbird ownership akin to professional auto rac
: ing.
:
: Maybe that's why Jack Roush is involved in Mustangs! Is it
Brandon, you hit it on the head. The appearance money helps, but it will never make it profitable to fly or own these airplanes. Even the fighter guys getting 4-5k a show are loosing money. Think about the true hourly costs for the operation of the airplane...not to mention the opportunity cost lost on the money. For instance, what is a 1 million dollar fighter worth if the money was in an investment fund (right now you might be better in the fighter...but I am betting not over 10-20 years).
I myself flew my Twin Beech 180 hours last year and the T-6 about sixty. I did get some free fuel from airshows and a hundred bucks or so here or there from an airshow, but mostly I just did it because I love it. Nothing more. Granted, I own two airplane which are never going to bring big appearance fee money. The other owners I know basically do it for the same reasons. Getting airshow money is a bonus, but you still couldn't afford to own the airplane.
I am all in favor, however, of owners asking for an appearance fee and getting it. The warbirds are a big attraction and the acro acts are getting big money in a lot of cases, so Mint is right that there is money out there.
For the organizatins that I support, like the YAF, I will always go for gas and a burger, even when I finish my bomber project, but a commercial airshow would be different.
Interesting topic.