It’s a shame that with all the good that AirFest provides to the benefit of our area youth from the proceeds generated from this fund raising event, it is belittled by those who want to drag politics and class envy into the discussion. ABC as the title sponsor for AirFest has given well over $100,000.00 to EACH of these annual events in the past. To bring a jet team to the event cost over $25,000.00 plus expenses and each performer has costs in the $5000.00 to $10,000.00 range. Considering the total cost to host and promote AirFest, gate and ticket costs are in line with the cost of the performance! Those in the community who complain about the noise, the cost, who don’t attend but are quick to criticize the efforts of those who work hard to all year long for just 3 days of professional entertainment. You do not speak on the behalf of those who do enjoy the event. This is another example of why Janesville cannot move forward.

Mouse: Diane has done more for this community in one day than anyone could do in an entire lifetime. If you can’t appreciate Ms. Hendricks, you should leave her alone (at the very least).

I too was disappointed that ABC’s lights weren’t purple over Homecoming and contacted them direct to ask why? It turns out that a transformer and light controller blew out although, they did have the purple lights in and ready to go… unfortunately they could not get the parts in time to get power.

Diane: Thank you for transforming Beloit into the beautiful city that it is…I am thankful and proud to be from Beloit and raise my family here.

In the video, Hendricks told Walker she wanted to discuss "controversial" subjects away from reporters, asking him:

"Any chance we'll ever get to be a completely red state and work on these unions -"

"Oh, yeah," Walker broke in.

"- and become a right-to-work?" Hendricks continued. "What can we do to help you?"

"Well, we're going to start in a couple weeks with our budget adjustment bill," Walker said. "The first step is we're going to deal with collective bargaining for all public employee unions, because you use divide and conquer."

Keep your airshow, Hendricks, Im not interested.

I 100% agree with Benghazibob!!!! Well put. I have gone every year since it started and used to love the show. I live near the airport and love hearing the jets start their practice runs a day or two early! I do however get tired of the same displays, same venders, and same performers every year. It has gotten very predictable. They could lose some of the smaller planes that all do the same maneuvers over and over, and get to the big name acts a little earlier and call it a day because it does get long. I also do not enjoy craning my neck to see the parachute acts, they do nothing for me, but others like them.

wahoo

Do you even know when Ken and Diane Hendricks started the business? Quit making ignorant comments, you act as if she married him the day before his death.

How many loops and barrel rolls can you watch? The show has ran it's course, Janesville is not a big enough community to support the airshow.
As far as Diane Hendricks. What has she done that is successful? Her husband left her a successful business.

wisconsinheat

It is too bad when people are jealous of success. I doubt Diane Hendricks has done anything to you that warrants your snide behavior.

I bet you whine until you get the turkey wishbone too.

the cost for a family of 4 is outrageous to go too..

I never attended a Southern Wisconsin AirFest. My father was a pilot and I attended several of the EAA annual shows, one when they were held in Rockford, and several in Oshkosh. Having been to "the big city", I just couldn't get excited about our local AirFest, even though it is held here at the Rock County Airport (sorry, but I think the official title is a bit pretentious for an airport without regularly scheduled passenger airline service).

AirFest is convenient for people who don't want to travel to Oshkosh, or who find the EAA event too big and spread out to get around in. I hope AirFest comes back for 2014 as it generates some tourism income for Janesville and I think it does us good to occasionally hear the "sound of freedom" overhead.

Go right to the source and ask Diane, wislady.

Let us know what she says.

Many of the Military bases that have Air Shows do them every two years. They are able to secure the much in demand teams that way. The static displays are the same year after year. Shultz Air Shows does a horrible job recruiting new displays each year. Just my thoughts.

"ABC Supply of Beloit has been lead sponsor of the 10-year-old event and is committed to the future, AirFest Executive Director Tom Morgan said in Monday’s Gazette."

Why would ABC supply continue to support this event, based on the hateful comments by some on these blogs.

great news, no air-fest. i wont have to listen to all the jet and airplane noise for 4 days.

hg: yep. Where I once lived, I could look down in the cockpits of the Blue Angels as they flew past. Or watch a Harrier back up in mid-air. Or a B2 do a fly by. Janesville won't compete against that. Maybe the local air show could get the Oshkosh people to stop by after their gathering? I'd go see that

hg, you sound like the guy who went with me and some other friends to Devil's Head and practically wept when he saw how short the slope was compared to what he grew up with in Colorado. Well, dude, this is what's in driving distance.
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The show can probably survive going dark for a year. I just wish that air shows weren't wholly predicated on being a recruiting ad for the military, which is essentially the reason that the Hendricks family has underwritten the operation. Once upon a time all a guy had to do was show up in his biplane to excite the whole town!

I enjoyed the Friday night show. It was the right length of time and very entertaining for kids and adults alike. The price was reasonable! I think the price for the weekend shows were way to much for the average family and frankly it got too long even for me as an adult! I will miss the Friday evening show.

hg: Not everybody is as lucky as you.

Well, its like this. If you have ever seen a REAL airshow, then you would realize that our airshow is a joke. I used to live in North Carolina at the foot of the mountains where the Naval and Air Force jets would fly their practice and training flights around the mountains. I have actually had the opportunity to stand on the edge of a mountain cliff and look down upon the flying jets from above as they flew by. Watching the real thing is much better than the over priced carnival they put on at the Rock County Airport. I cannot say that I will ever attend more than the one I went to 3 years ago and received my huge disappointment. It would not bother me (and a lot of friends I know) if it never happened again. It sure isn't anything to brag about. Of course unless you have never seen a real airshow. Thats my opinion.