Volunteers help make Dayton Air Show magic happen

Gates open for this year’s two-day show at 9 a.m. Saturday. As you read this, a small army of volunteers are working to set up thousands of tables, chairs, umbrellas, banners, concession stands, traffic signs, strands of fencing and more — much more — for the tens of thousands of visitors expected to swarm this weekend over the east end of Dayton International Airport.

But the work stretches back further, not all of it at the airport. From the U.S. Air and Trade Show board of trustees “all the way down to the guy who’s directing you in to the parking space,” said Kreitzer.

Volunteers drive in from across the Miami Valley — and fly in from across the country — to be a part of the experience.

The Dayton show is considered a “top show” nationally, Kreitzer said.

“We have folks who are flying in, taking a week’s vacation, flying in and hanging out with us for a week,” he said. “I get to see these people once a year, and we have an absolute blast working together.”

Dr. Brandon Amburgey, the show’s chief medical officer, has a team of volunteers assisting him in the medical tents, as he oversees care for spectators and performers.

Both Amburgey and Kreitzer take vacations from their jobs — from Premier Health and the University of Dayton, respectively — this week. But the planning and focus on details begin much earlier.

Credit: JIM NOELKER

Credit: JIM NOELKER

“I’ve been planning since January,” Amburgey said. “I don’t do things last-minute.”

“It’s a lot of work,” Kreitzer said. “Usually, it’s really hot. Lots of sun exposure.”

It would be very difficult to put on an air show of this size without volunteers, said Nick Hoff, an employee of the U.S. Air and Trade Show, the business entity behind the annual show.

“When you get 300 people out, if they each do one thing, that’s 300 things that get done,” Hoff said.

The “payoff” for all that work comes on the airfield, as Kreitzer sees it. “You turn around and you see a parent holding a kid in their arms, and the kid is just so excited to see what’s flying.”

Credit: JIM NOELKER

Credit: JIM NOELKER

Kreiitzer caught the air show bug in a previous job with a local school district, producing a video of a school principal with whom he worked getting a ride with a performer in 2013.

He grew up attending the show and knew it well. But seeing it up close looked like fun.

“I tell everybody, it’s a big family reunion, where an air show breaks out,” Kreitzer said.

If you’re interested in volunteering, you can find relevant sign-up forms at daytonairshow.com.

TICKET INFORMATION

General admission tickets, priced at $20-$30, are available online, a Kroger near you or can be purchased at the gate. Tickets are to be used for one day. Children under the age of 5 have free admission.

All tickets sales are final. Refunds and rain checks are not available. There are a variety of ticket options to choose from. In particular, the Synchrony Family 4-Pack is available for $99 and includes four general admission tickets, four hot dogs, four Cokes, one general admission parking pass and one official souvenir program.

Visit https://daytonairshow.com/2021-2/tickets/#gen for the family value pack or more ticket options. For more information call 800-514-3849.

WHERE TO PARK AND HOW TO GET THERE

You’re advised to arrive early to avoid heavy traffic. General admission for parking is $15 per car and $25 for RVs, buses and other large vehicles.

Take Exit 64 Northwoods Blvd from I-75. Follow signs to appropriate lots. Stay in right lane.

More information on parking can be found https://daytonairshow.com/parking-and-directions/.

WHAT TO LEAVE AT HOME

Restricted items include:

Food is not prohibited but it must be wrapped in clear wrapping and not in a cooler. Other items such as chairs, strollers, wagons, cameras, blankets, and handheld umbrellas are allowed. For more information on what to bring or what not bring, visit https://daytonairshow.com/restrictions/.