Dayton Air Show drops drive-in format, will have normal show this year

DAYTON — About two months after announcing a new drive-in format for the 2021 CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show, organizers have dropped format and will have a normal show this year.

>>RELATED: Dayton Air Show to introduce drive-in format for 2021

Organizers said the announcement by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine last week to drop all state pandemic health orders June 2 led to the decision to return to a normal show.

>>Navy’s Blue Angels to headline 2022 Dayton Air Show

“Show officials jumped at the chance to fully reopen and present a traditional show program complete with static display aircraft, specialty seating and a star-studded line-up of top aerobatic performers,” a show spokesperson said in a media release.

“Show officials have spoken to Public Health Dayton & Montgomery County and received Ohio Department Public Health’s new order permitting the show to return to normal operations. The show will operate as it has in the past.”

One of the exhibits that previously was going to be excluded was static aircrafts for people to go inside and view. By switching to the normal format, those aircraft will return.

Those who purchased tickets for the drive-in format will be automatically refunded, organizers announced. Those who purchased specialty seating for either the 2020 cancelled show, or the 2021 before the switch to the drive-in format, will be honored for the 2021 show.

“Hurray! We are back to a normal show,” Scott Buchanan, Chairman of the United States Air and Trade Show Board of Trustees, producers of the event said in the release.. “We’re so excited to return and give the people of Dayton an outdoor summer event to enjoy with family and friends.”

The 2021 Dayton Air Show, scheduled for July 10 and 11, is headlined by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, including the pilot of Thunderbird #6, Major Kyle Oliver, who is a Dayton native.

Cox Media Group