Plans for the 2015 Great Bend Airfest are starting to take flight, the City Council learned Monday night.
Airport Manager Martin Miller and Community Coordinator Christina Hayes provided a summary of the key performers, distributed a schedule and showed a promotional video relating to the event.
The date has been set for Sept. 18-20 at the Great Bend Municipal Airport and Great Bend has officially booked Fifi, the last flying World War II-era B-29 bomber, Hayes said. And “we are the only airfest in Kansas this year as Wichita and Scott City are not hosting one.”
It is fitting that the B-29 will be here, Miller said. The airport was built in 1942 to accommodate the massive bombers for training purposes.
 In addition to Fifi, there will be 19 other show aircraft, Miller said. There will also be fly-ins by other planes, a hot-air balloon and cockpit simulators.
This marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, Miller said. That adds more significance to the show.
“We’re expecting a huge draw,” Miller said. The last fest held in 2012 brought in 5,000 spectators.
Besides learning about the details, the council approved the style of logo to be painted on the airport water tower. The wording includes “Great Bend Municipal Airport.”
Below is a preliminary schedule of events for the airfest:
Friday, Sept. 18
(9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
• Welcome area school students and teachers
• Helicopter and warbird rides (these will go on sale starting Friday on the airfest website)
• Touring of aircraft and visiting with aircrews
• Noon–7:30 p.m.: concessions
• Historical displays
• Appearances of Ike Eisenhower And Ladies for Liberty (an Andrews Sisters tribute group)
Saturday, Sept. 19
(8 a.m. – midnight)
• 8 a.m.–11 a.m.: pancake breakfast
• General aviation fly-in starting at 8 a.m.
• Helicopter and warbird rides
• Touring of aircraft and visiting with aircrews
• Historical displays
• 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.: concessions
• Appearances by Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower impersonator, Ladies for Liberty and WW I and II ground battle re-enactments
• 7 p.m.: veterans recognition-POW-MIA ceremony with fly-over
• 8:30 Pm 1940s live music and dance with Little Big Band and Ladies for Liberty
Sunday, Sept. 20
(9 a.m. – 3 p.m.)
• Helicopter rides and warbird rides
• Tours of aircraft and visiting with aircrews
• Historical displays
• Appearances by Ike Eisenhower and Ladies for Liberty
Check out www.greatbendairfest.com for up-to-date schedule of events and festival details. The website goes live Friday.