Airshow Salinas setting up for weekend events
Volunteers say they’ll be ready for Saturday’s airshow despite having to dodge rain showers during setup.
This is the first time in Airshow Salinas history it is being held in spring.
Organizers said the Blue Angels had an opening in their schedule, so they scheduled it as soon as possible.
Last year’s airshow was in September, giving organizers just six months between shows when they usually have at least a year.
While planning can take about two years, setup happens much faster. “The building of it really starts about seven days out from the airshow. There’s a big move-up weekend, and then it really just start going, tents start flying up, fences, toilets, chairs, tables. It takes about a week for the setup from pretty much nothing, then all of this asphalt turns into a little minicity,” said Don Chaplin III, president of the airshow.
Chaplin is following in his father’s footsteps, taking a lead role in the airshow. “I just grew an affection for the airshow and seeing the jets. It always just intrigued me with flight, and just seeing these guys was amazing so I always wanted to be a part of it.”
“Fifteen years ago, when I was helping my dad set up this airshow, I didn’t quite understand the magnitude that it took to help set up, I was just out here moving equipment and moving weights and helping the fence company set up, but once you help with the planning and the detail that goes into where things are and why things are there, you really see the magnitude of what goes into setting this up,” said Chaplin.
He said this year, setting up in the rain has posed some challenges they haven’t faced before. “The wet weather has made some of the ground pretty soft and so when we’re trying to set up the high speed jet line where the jets fly, the ground is a little softer than it should be. It’s something we’ve haven’t ever had to deal with. Being in September it’s usually dry and pretty warm.”
Volunteers only have about two days to tear everything down and turn the makeshift city back into an airport.
Even with the obstacles, Chaplin said watching the community enjoy the show makes it all worth it. “Seeing the kids out on the ramp when the jets are flying and planes are up in the air, I almost like to look back at the crowd and just watch the kids, because there’s so much dreaming, and the opportunity is in their eyes and it really showcases why we do this.”
