The first Hollister Airshow was a smashing success as all the
wooden chairs that outlined the runway were full, and the long list
of vendors and volunteers were kept busy long into the afternoon.
And throughout the weekend, the sun shined brightly.
Clouds of smoke streamed past the Hollister Airport all day Saturday and Sunday. Planes of all shapes and sizes danced in the sky above the city as thousands of people watched from the runway.
The first Hollister Airshow was a smashing success as all the wooden chairs that outlined the runway were full, and the long list of vendors and volunteers were kept busy long into the afternoon. And throughout the weekend, the sun shined brightly.
Hoping to get 1,500 people each day, the air show brought out 2,500 Saturday and at least another 1,000 Sunday, Airport Manager Mike Chambless said.
Half of those attendees were from out of town and with a shoestring budget of $15,000 and little to no advertising, the event was deemed a success, he said.
With four months to plan, a short time considering most air show planning takes almost a year, Chambless was able to bring in aerobatics throughout the area with little money, he said.
For Chambless, it was Eddie Andreini’s stearman plane that stole the show.
The Andreini plane charged through the air, with its loud engine that roared at 450 horsepower. Andreini announced his arrival at the air show by quickly going into a flip a little more than 100 feet off the ground.
Andreini ended his show Sunday by a cutting a ribbon, which was held by 10 or so volunteers, including Mayor Victor Gomez. The ribbon was roughly 12 feet off the ground by two poles that the volunteers held. Andreini flew his plane between the poles and cut the ribbon.
On Saturday, Andreini’s ribbon was held by Chambless, who said he wouldn’t do it again.
“I’m not holding it today … someone else can hold it,” he said Sunday morning.
See the full story in the Free Lance.
