Published: June 29, 2009 11:46 pm      

Western band hosts free air show

The Fourth of July event will be at Kokomo Airport

The Western High School band boosters will celebrate the Fourth of July with an air show Saturday.

The booster organization will host its first-ever “Kokomo Wings and Wheels Breakfast and Air Show,” starting at 7 a.m. at the Kokomo Municipal Airport.

Pam Wild, event coordinator, said the breakfast is from 10 a.m. to noon, and the air show begins at noon.

Breakfast tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children in advance, or $7 for adults and $5 for children at the gate. Admission to the air show is free.

Wild said she heard the Marion High School band raises money with an air show, and “they make quite a bit of money for their band.” After speaking with representatives of that organization, she contacted a friend who runs a flight school, then went to the aviation commissioners board, which accepted the idea.

Wild said many local businesses donated items for the breakfast, and the air show participants are donating their services as well.

The air show will include Mike Wild flying a super decathlon, Greg Aldridge in a Super Chipmunk, Bib Richards in a Pitts, some war birds and fly-bys. Wild said there will also be a car exhibition.

There will also be a supervised children’s area available starting at 9 a.m., for $5 for the day. Activities will include two bounce houses, face painting, coloring and movies.

The band boosters will also sell concessions starting at 11 a.m.

Wild said proceeds from the pancake breakfast and concessions will benefit the Western band programs, in particular the marching band.

She said band members hope to march at Disney World this school year, so fundraising will be more important than ever.

“We try to go every four years. It’s a little more difficult in this economy, but we’re certainly going to try so we don’t disappoint the children.”

Wild said the band also hopes to defend its Class C championship during the 2009 competition season.

“We hope to come back and defend our championship and be the Class C champion again.”

Pancake breakfast tickets are available by calling Wild at (765) 860-4287 or at www.kokomowingsandwheels.com

• Danielle Rush is the Kokomo Tribune education reporter. She can be reached at (765) 454-8585 or danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com.



IF YOU GO:

• WHAT: The Western High School band boosters’ “Kokomo Wings and Wheels Breakfast and Air Show”

• WHEN: Breakfast, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday; air show, noon Saturday

• WHERE: Kokomo Municipal Airport

• COST: Adult breakfast, $5 in advance and $7 at gate; child breakfast, $3 in advance and $5 at gate; air show, free.

• TICKETS: Call Pam Wild at (765) 860-4287 or visit www.kokomo wingsandwheels.com