Technically, the Vinton County Air Show has been around longer than the Vinton County Airport has been open. The first was in 1969, the year after the runway was built near McArthur as part of Gov. James Rhodes’ initiative to build an airport in every county in the state, but two years before the airport’s grand opening.
By the early 1990s, though, despite the popularity of the air show, the airport itself struggled, and looked as if it might close. That was when the Vinton County Pilots and Booster Association jumped into action.
The air show — now one of the longest-running non-military, free air shows in Ohio — is its largest source of funding.
The group of locals with a passion for aviation has managed and maintained the airport and its 3,750-long runway since 1992. The air show — now one of the longest-running non-military, free air shows in Ohio — is its largest source of funding (the air show itself is free; boosters raise money by asking for parking donations and serving one of the best chicken dinners around).
The third Sunday each September, the Vinton County Air Show draws spectators by the thousands in search of family fun, highlighted by daredevil stunts, high-flying aerobatics, and a skydiving Santa Claus.
From vintage WWII planes like the 1947 North American Navion and a Chinese Yak to a 1970s two-passenger Cessna 150, these beauties draw plenty of admiration from onlookers. A Blackhawk helicopter and Ohio University’s DC3 provide the thunder, while paragliders and all sorts of model planes make for a quieter attraction.
Each year, “the most popular plane isn’t a plane,” says Rupert. “It’s a flying lawnmower.” Operated by Roger Barns, the radio-controlled lawnmower buzzes along the runway before taking off to dazzle with airborne antics like flying upside down.
Another highlight is the air show’s skydiving team, the Screaming Chickens (named for the show’s infamous chicken dinners). Bob Church and Ted Williams start off the show with the first dive. Church builds smoke on his feet before he jumps to help folks follow him as he spirals his way to the earth (the bright jellybean-colored stripes of his parachute are hard to miss as well). Williams follows with a large American flag that flutters behind him in a patriotic howdy.
The most memorable — iconic, even — part of the skydiving show is the finale: First, a low-flying airplane drops hundreds of pieces of candy on the runway for children to scramble in and gather up the bounty. That’s followed by Church’s last jump, wearing (what else?) a Santa Claus suit — as if the merry old elf is making an early scouting visit from the North Pole.
Church has jumped in about every Vinton County air show since the early 90s.
That chicken dinner though! As early as 5 a.m. on show days, the McArthur Eagles Club fires up the largest barbeque pit in southeastern Ohio. The 45-foot-long pit sizzles with half-chickens slathered with secret sauce until the dinners sell out. Andy Adelman, who has cooked up chicken since the show’s early days, isn’t giving up the recipe. Dinners come with baked beans, potato salad, and a roll. Some drive the miles to the air show for the chicken alone — Rupert swears it is that good. He makes sure each pilot who performs gets one, since they all volunteer their time to the airport’s cause.
Another aim of the air show is to entice more folks to become pilots themselves. Association members Harry Sowers and Fred Hawk, both flight instructors, give short airplane rides after the air show. Sowers, who started flying at age 16 and operates Hocking Scenic Air Tours out of the Vinton County Airport, vouches on the affordability of flying lessons: “It’s cheaper than golf.”
Over the years, proceeds from the air show have been used to build a shelter house, buy fuel tanks, and, with a matching grant from the FAA, repaint the runway.
If you go
The show starts at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 15. Although the admission is free, the suggested donation for parking is $10. The access to the airport during the show is via State Route 328 to Airport Road East.
