June 10, 2024 • 37 mins
Can you imagine an air show that not only fills the sky with breathtaking maneuvers but also rocks out with three incredible concerts? Join us for an enlightening chat with Evan Hopper, the Vice President of Air Show Operations, as we unravel the magic behind this year's Quad City Air Show, set for June 22nd and 23rd.
Take a nostalgic trip with us to the origins and highlights of the Quad City Air Show. Hear stories of the awe-inspiring capabilities of the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor and the dazzling MiG-17 night performance by Randy Ball. Discover the fascinating journey of the show's inception, sparked by Hopper's father's lifelong passion for aviation, making it a cherished tradition since the late 1980s. This episode also delves into the behind-the-scenes efforts of organizing the event, with younger family members stepping up to modernize marketing strategies and streamline logistics, ensuring the show's ongoing success.
Celebrate the indomitable spirit of the Quad Cities community, which has weathered challenges like severe storms in the 90s to keep this air show alive. Listen to personal anecdotes, from an unforgettable flight with P-51 Mustang pilot Vlado Lenik to an adrenaline-pumping skydiving experience with the Canadian Skyhawks team. We also share our favorite local activities, from leisurely strolls at the farmer’s market to invigorating morning runs along the river. For the latest updates on Quad City events, don't forget to visit VisitQuadCities.com. Join us as we honor the legacy and future of the Quad City Air Show, inspiring the next generation of aviation enthusiasts.
Find more about the Quad City Air Show on their website or Facebook account.
https://www.quadcityairshow.com/
https://www.facebook.com/qcityairshow
QC, That's Where is a podcast powered by Visit Quad Cities. Through the people, partnerships, and personalities woven throughout the Quad Cities region, you'll meet real Quad Citizens and hear the untold stories of the region.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
and one of the most you know advanced aircraft.
Really, this this world hasever seen in terms of its
stealth capability, um, as wellas just its its speed and and um
maneuverability right, andthat's what makes it so fun to
watch is like you.
You know, you see this massivejet in the sky and it's just you
(00:21):
know, one second it's goinghundreds of miles an hour past
you.
The next moment it is literallylike falling from the sky like
a leaf, you know it.
Just some of the things, thethings that it can do, are
really it doesn't seem like itwould be possible, and I think
that's what makes it such a,such a fan favorite.
That we've noticed is is thatjust it doesn't.
(00:43):
It looks like almost like analien ship of some sort, right,
like most people haven't seenthis type of thing in person.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Where do you find a family of communities connected
by the storied Mississippi River, where young explorers and
dreamers, investors andentrepreneurs thrive?
Where can you connect with realpeople living and creating in a
place that's as genuine as itis quirky QC?
That's where.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Welcome to QC.
That's where I'm, katrina, yourhost, and today I'm so pumped
to be talking to Evan Hopper.
He is the vice president of airshow operations with the Quad
City Air Show.
So, evan, hey, how are you?
Speaker 1 (01:25):
I'm doing fantastic today.
I just got off a long weekendand kind of ready to attack the
week here.
We're closing in on a monthuntil the show, so there's a lot
of work to be done, but we'rereally getting excited.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Yeah, we just wrapped up Memorial Day, so you're
obviously listening to this inthe future.
Memorial Day has come and gone.
We are just creeping up on June.
The Quad City Air Show is June22nd and 23rd Back again.
So, Evan, do you want to juststart out by kind of just
highlighting some what's newthis year?
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Absolutely yeah.
And with this year's show itreally is probably the most you
know in over 30 years of doingair shows, probably the most
unique lineup that we've had ascompared to the other years.
So, and why I say that isbecause we have three different
concerts actually that we'llhave throughout the day on
(02:20):
Saturday.
That make it very unique.
Right, we've had a coupleconcerts in the past, but never
this extensive and never withthe type of lineup that we have,
with Aaron Tippin, a countrymusic legend, as well as
Electric Shock, which is an ACDCcover band, and then another
local band with Haphazard.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
So kind of incorporating the music this
year really makes it stand outno-transcript offering, and I
(03:12):
think people come from far andwide because this isn't
something you can just get inevery single town.
You know this is very, this isspecial.
It is it's a lot to organize,which I want to hear you talk
about that.
But like what, overall, wouldyou say, makes the Quad Cities
like a good place for this typeof entertainment and this type
of activity?
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Absolutely.
Yeah, I mean it really comesdown to, like you said, there
are people that come from allover the Midwest and, you know,
even even from all over thecountry to see this show.
But I think what makes the QuadCities so unique is just it
really is the and when you lookat the number of just pilots and
(03:54):
the enthusiasm on aviation thatthis community and really Iowa
and Illinois in general have onaviation, it really is
remarkable and I think that'sreally what makes it a great
place and a great focus audienceright for the types of acts
that we bring in.
I think the thing thathighlights that the most is like
(04:17):
the amount of professional andmilitary pilots that we've had
grow up in this area or thisgeneral area and come back to
fly in our show, namely CaptainSam Razlarson, who's going to be
flying the F-22 for the secondyear in a row at the show, and
(04:37):
we couldn't be more thrilled.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
So he's a Bettendorf native.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
That's correct.
He went to.
He went to ventnorf high schooland he actually grew up, um,
just you know, basically rightnext to the davenport airport.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Um, so he, you know, he grew up watching general
aviation fly there as well, asyou know, coming to the show,
obviously at a, at a very youngage himself yeah, I saw a little
bit about him that I think heattended his first air show when
he was like six months old andit was just one of those things
that just seeped into his soulmuch they supported him in this.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
You know, this long journey that he's been on to to
get where he is today and to getthrough all that training and
um, you know the discipline thatthey've they've enabled him to
have is awesome.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
I can't imagine what would go into that, and so talk
to me a little bit about.
So it's the U S air force F 22Raptor demonstration.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Yes, yep, yeah.
So the U S air force F 22Raptor, um one of the most um, I
think, came on the scene around2005 and one of the most, you
know, advanced aircraft.
Really, this this world hasever seen in terms of its
stealth capability, um, as wellas just it's, it's speed and and
(06:02):
um maneuverability, right, andthat's what makes it so fun to
watch is like you, you know, yousee this massive jet in the sky
and it's just, you know, onesecond it's going hundreds of
miles an hour past you the nextmoment.
It is literally like fallingfrom the sky like a leaf, you
know it.
Just, some of the things, thethings that it can do, are
(06:22):
really it doesn't seem like itwould be possible, and I think
that's what makes it such a sucha fan favorite.
That we've noticed is is thatjust it doesn't?
It looks like almost like analien ship of some sort?
Right, like most people haven'tseen this type of thing in
person before, right, unlessthey're very avid, avid or
(06:43):
showgoers, of course in person,before right, unless they're
very avid avid air showgoers, ofcourse.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
What are some other, you know?
Speaker 1 (06:51):
eyes to the skies highlights that the audience is
going to want to really makesure they catch.
Yeah, sure thing.
So the next one that really isit stands out to me would be the
MiG-17, which is flown by RandyBall.
So MiG-17 is an older aircraftand it is a jet that essentially
(07:18):
has both the night show and theday show capabilities.
But I would urge you to look upRandy Ball's night show act
because it it is incredible.
You know he it just there's.
It essentially looks like aflaming fireball coming out of
the back of that jet that heflies, and it's when he's flying
(07:38):
at night like it really seemsto kind of make that accentuate.
So I think that's definitelysomething I'd look up.
It'll, it'll get you excited,and he's got a lot of footage
online for sure.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
The nighttime performance.
It excites and terrifies mebecause I'm just trying to
picture myself as the pilot inthat situation and, like the, I
can't imagine the training andthe confidence you know that has
to go into piloting in a in asituation like that.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it's.
You know, even even as part ofeven when getting like your
private pilot's license, youknow you do practice that the
night flying, obviously at firstat a very slower speed, but you
know these pilots are justthat's, that's why they're here,
that's why they're flying inthe shows and yeah, definitely
(08:26):
understand that and it makes itmakes sense.
But I think that's also kind ofthe element that makes it so
exciting to watch.
Right, it's like it is almosthow kind of scary and how just
intense it seems.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
It's so, yeah, it's so unique.
So unique, I mean, honestly,unmatched performances at the
quad city air show.
Um, and it's so.
Talk me through.
How does this all come together?
I understand you and yourfamily have kind of been the
backbone of this show.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely so.
If, in terms of how it all cametogether originally, I think
that's probably helpful to justgive a little context there For
those that don't know.
You know, it was really my, myfather, who had, just from a
young age, like you know, hegrew up in in Davenport and
(09:21):
really just he actually grew upriding his bike to the Davenport
airport when he was a kid, likeyou know, a couple of miles
each way just to be able towatch the airplanes take off and
land Right, like just wasliterally always fascinated with
aviation and you know, as hegot older, like he, he, he met a
(09:42):
lot of people in the industry.
Going to Oshkosh as a kid,which is up in Wisconsin, known
as really the largest NorthAmerican air show, he grew up
going to that and he met some ofthe people that put it on.
Any chance he could get to bearound aircraft and get to meet
(10:03):
the people that flew them andput on these shows, he would, he
would take that opportunity, um, and you know, really once he,
once he really felt like he hada chance to switch from his
normal day job when he was about28, um, to really really launch
a show that he thought couldwork, which was in about 1986,
(10:27):
87, when he made that decisionhe poured his heart and soul
into it.
I think he'll tell you too thatwhen he was about to start the
show, he got some really goodmentoring, saying like, hey,
you're either all in on this oryou're not, like it's not
something you can really justhalf-heartedly, um, go on a limb
(10:51):
and do like you really need toit's, it's, it's going to be a
year round thing.
It's going to be a lot of work,um, and you really have to be
passionate about it, which thatwas no problem for him, um, but
yeah it, you know, the first one, the first one went, went
pretty well, I think, probablyprobably just barely paid the
bills.
And then, you know, thereputation just just started to
(11:13):
grow and we started to get actslike the Navy Blue Angels and
the Thunderbirds and and, yeah,that's, it's really like, it's
really his passion that sparkedall of this.
And you know he's inspiredothers to be passionate about it
as well.
Obviously, our family, all theamazing volunteers that help
(11:36):
every year.
But but yeah, it's, you knowit's.
It's still a similar process asit was was back then.
Obviously, like the marketingaspect has changed a lot, right,
and that's something that'ssomething my, my siblings and I
have gotten more involved with,just because we're, you know, we
kind of understand the socialmedia and and the different ways
(11:57):
that people like to consumemedia nowadays, right, so we're
we're helping out with that morenow.
It's that's been a ton of workto revamp that aspect.
We've done a lot of work tomake our website more modern
this year as well, whichdefinitely go check out
QuadCityRShowcom.
(12:17):
It's a lot different than itwas in previous years.
I think it's just more fun andeasier to navigate.
Just thinking through some ofthe other things that, um, that
it takes every year.
You know we can't thank oursponsors enough, right, like
without them we really couldn'tput this show on Um and we're
(12:40):
we're so glad that they enjoythe show and that they, they,
they want to.
You know that our continuedsponsors want to come back every
year.
Um, you know a lot of it's,it's a lot of work to to make
sure they're they're they'refulfilled, and that you know we
can, we can, work with thatpartnership to, so both sides
really, you know, get the bestbenefit.
(13:00):
And other than that, you know,organizing volunteers is a big
aspect of it.
So we're very thankful for them.
We, we another for them,another group that we could not
do without.
Right, we need as a nonprofit,like we need our volunteers to
be able to help with this event,and we're just so thankful that
they're so passionate about it.
(13:23):
And then the last piece I'llmention is just the fun part,
which is like getting to gettingto get some of these acts in
right.
Um it's.
There's, for example, one, oneact that's coming this year.
Um, the ea 18g growler, whichlooks a lot like the plane and
(13:45):
top gun, maverick.
Um it's.
It's not the exact same one,but it's a variant of that right
.
And so that's a two-shipformation that will fly in this
year's show.
That one was so fun becausetotally weren't counting on them
being able to make the show,and then they had an opening and
(14:06):
we were the first show thatthey called, so to be able to
add them to the mix here, Ithink we'll just it'll.
It'll add another element andyou know, I just those guys are
awesome.
It's going to be great to havethem there.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
So you personally, you got involved in this as just
a young kid.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Yes, yeah.
So I mean as soon as I couldreally, I guess, be out of a, be
out of a carriage right Walkingaround In a conscious state of
mind.
Right as soon as I could, yeah,as soon as I had a conscious
state of mind.
I was, I was helping where Icould right, Whether it was just
like delivering, deliveringfood to the people that were
(14:49):
actually doing work all the wayto, you know, being able to put
up fence and kind of lay all thegroundwork that was you know.
Or I remember when I could firstlike drive a golf cart, I was
shuttling people who were comingto the show to wherever they
were going to go sit for the day, right Like yeah that's just
(15:12):
getting involved wherever Icould with setup and you know,
kind of during the show I wasinvolved and then you know, as
things progressed lately it'sbeen, you know, now that I'm 27,
right, I definitely have moreof a legitimate role, right,
it's not just like the jack ofall trades, it's I'm more
focused.
Right, I definitely have more ofa legitimate role, right, it's
not just like the jack of alltrades, it's I'm more focused on
(15:34):
, you know kind of theoperations, like where we're
laying out our vendors right,and how they're getting taken
care of the day of and evenbefore the show.
So helping with that, alsohelping with kind of our chalet
section right where our sponsorslive during the show and, you
(15:56):
know, making sure that they'retaken care of.
So it's a lot of, it's really alot of like hospitality work too
, right, just like kind of ouralmost like a customer success
role, if you will of kind of ourum, almost like a customer
success role, if you will likethere's, there's a lot of that
that I I feel like both you knowme, and then my, my siblings
and my um the rest of my familyas well kind of play, have to
(16:18):
play that role with whoeverwe're dealing with, um, and you
know it's it's also working withsome of the logistics of the
performers right and making surethat they have what they need
right.
Making sure that, like all, the, all the smoke oil that they
get during the show, they can,that they have their allocated
(16:40):
amount, that they have the rightcontacts if they need fuel.
It's it's really just, yeah,making sure that they have what
they need and that theirchecklists are met.
Um, in order to to put the showon.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
So sidebar really quick, because I'm an aviation
newbie, if you will.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
What is smoke oil?
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Yeah, I know I, yeah, I'm sure I've like thrown out
some terms that's like okay, Ishould probably explain that a
that's the.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
That's the first one that I'm like yeah, what are we
talking about here?
Speaker 1 (17:12):
I gotta know for sure , for sure, yeah, so smoke oil,
basically.
So if you see, um, yeah, I mean, if you look up like a video of
the I know, actually, I knowthe the blue angel movie just
came out, that's kind of anaside but um, there, there is a
new movie out.
If you, if do happen to go seeit, you'll probably see smoke
(17:32):
oil in that, right, becauseyou'll see the output of the
smoke oil.
That's what kind of allows themto sky write, if you will.
Right, it's kind of likesignaling essentially hey, we're
here, we're here to put on ashow, oh, my God.
Yeah, and so that's that's kindof the trail that you'll see
behind them.
It's not real.
You know, oil that or fuel thatthey use, it is a separate,
(17:57):
it's a separate tank that isstrictly just.
You know, creating, creatingsmoke.
Essentially it's not.
It's it's not actually poweringthe airplane.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Yeah.
Got you it's, yeah, it's thesmoke and mirrors of putting on
a performance for your audienceand that's very cool, that's any
other like inside baseballthings that, like the average
person coming to the show,wouldn't know you guys are
dealing with behind the scenes.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Yeah, yeah, um, I will say let's see here.
I think one thing to note too isjust with the night show this
year, I guess there are going tobe different kind of lighting
(18:46):
that the planes are going to puton at night.
So we have nathan hammond withhis aircraft who actually puts
like he actually will put likefireworks on the wing of his
airplane.
So and how that works is heliterally is a scent like just
strapping fireworks to the sideof his of his aircraft.
So that so works exactly likesmoke oil, right, and the fact
(19:09):
that it's it's just for show,but it's definitely a little
more flashy and it's cool atnight when, when it's completely
dark out.
So there's there's going to bethat going on and gosh like even
just as a as a not even as theproducer of the show, like as a
fan like I'm.
I'm so excited to to see thatand it's cool to hear some of
(19:33):
the behind the scenes of howthey, how they put that together
this is gonna be like 20 timesbetter than like a fourth of
july show, you know we do have.
We do have actual fireworks atthe end too, right, traditional
fireworks.
So that's kind of.
That's kind of ending the dayon Saturday.
But yes, I would agree it'skind of like a step up from a
(19:53):
traditional show.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Too cool.
So okay, bring me through you.
20 plus years.
This has been part of your life, a huge part of your life
You've been involved with yoursiblings.
Can you kind of like identify ahighlight or, you know, like
significant moment throughoutthese years that you just really
would love to you know, delveinto a little bit?
(20:17):
I'd love to hear a little bitabout something significant to
you.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Yeah, something significant and honestly it's,
it's I kind of have, I guess Ikind of two I kind of have, I
guess I kind of have two one.
I actually was like so youngthat I don't actually remember,
but it was when I heard thestory.
It was so like um, soeye-opening to me, um, and that
that was a show that we had inin the 90s where, um,
(20:42):
essentially, like we, we hadweather that pretty much
decimated the field at the atthe air show.
I wouldn't say that maybe muchdecimated the field at the at
the air show.
I wouldn't say that maybe notdecimated, but like there, for
example, there was like a tentstake that went through another
aircraft on the ground and therewas just, you know it was, it
was not a pretty sight.
(21:02):
When we woke up that Saturdayof the air show, you know kind
of all that work we did to uh,set things up, was, was was
pretty much gone and we had tokind of rebuild from scratch,
right, and there's a show thatday, so, um it.
I think this one really justspeaks to the quad cities
community, um, because you know,as soon as we kind of put the
(21:26):
word out, there was, there wasjust people in droves showing up
to come, just come pick thingsup, pick up trash, you know,
help, help move aircraft back tothe spot that they.
(21:47):
I think we got the show starteda little late that day, but we
were able to put on a show rightLike we were able to get the
crowd in and that's literallyall thanks to the great
community that we live in.
Um, the the second, the secondone would be just, I mean, I, I
(22:10):
realize like how, how awesome ofan opportunity I've had to to
meet um, to meet the amazingpilots that fly in our show.
Um, I think the one that standsout to me the most is um I was
able to fly with.
I was actually able to fly whenI was about 12 years old with
(22:35):
Vlado Lenik, who's no longerwith us, but he's just a
legendary P-51 Mustang pilot andyou know I got to fly with him
and just getting to know moreabout him since that day, it's
like I, you know, I, I wouldn'ttrade that opportunity for the
(22:57):
world.
It was like the pretty much theflight of a lifetime, I would
say.
So just just having having thatopportunity, um it, I feel like
that really made me realize howspecial, um how special this
show is, how special the peopleare that help put it on, and how
special the community is itself.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
So, like I mean getting these firsthand
experiences with these peoplewho are, you know, genuine
heroes to you and people whohave kind of shaped what you're
doing as a career and also kindof as a hobby.
I mean, clearly you have a hugepassion for aviation, a hobby.
I mean, clearly you have a hugepassion for aviation.
Like, does that stem, would yousay that stems, like, from your
(23:34):
dad, you know, or does it stemfrom kind of your, your own,
branching out into discovering,like, where did this all start
for you and and how, how, howdeep do your aviation roots go?
Speaker 1 (23:45):
For sure, for sure.
Yeah, I mean it's ever since Ican again kind of back to the
ever since I had consciousness,yeah, like that's that's kind of
where it is, because, like,yeah, I mean originally it was,
it was my dad's inspiration,right, like it was just seeing
how, seeing how driven he wasnot only to to put on this show,
um, but also to like just inaviation in general, like he, he
(24:09):
loves, he, you know, outside ofthe air show he actually is, um
, he's a, he's a private pilotfor for somebody, um, and he's
he's worked in aviation outsideof the show as well.
So it just it, you know, hispassion is clear and it kind of
it kind of, you know, blendsover into my passion as well.
For sure, yeah, but you know,I've had my own experiences,
(24:33):
right, like being able toactually just meet and talk with
some of these guys.
They're so inspiring.
Last, last year, I actually it'scool.
It's cool now being able tolike kind of also help pass that
passion on to people.
Yeah, last year I was, I wasable to get my, my girlfriend
(24:56):
and then one of my best friends.
We went up and actually Skydofor the first time with the
Canadian Skyhawks team, which islike we all jumped in this
airplane together and just kindof leaped out the back with this
.
You know, it was cool to do itin a team setting right when we
were all just one after theother, going out of this
(25:18):
airplane.
I was like, you know, a lot ofpeople don't get to do this
right Like this is, so it'scontagious when you get these
opportunities to meet thesepeople and just get to learn and
even sometimes do some of thestuff that they get to do right.
So that's it.
But to your question, itdefinitely has, you know, kind
(25:39):
of it's bled into my owninterests and I've obviously
done my own research too.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Yeah, big props to you for for doing that, and I
imagine just being around ityour whole life creates a
comfort of, of propelling astunt like that, um wowza, like,
and it's cool.
You got to bring yourgirlfriend into it and you know
another, another person, and nowthat, now that they've
experienced that kind offirsthand I don't know what to
(26:06):
call it other than leap of leapof faith, leap of jumping out of
an airplane you know they'll,they'll share that with their.
You know their circle as well,and it's just that's too cool.
And I bet you see that a lot,for just you know even the
people in, you know the QuadCities or surrounding areas that
come, and you know that kidthat sees it for the first time
(26:28):
and you know, I mean think, howmany people do you think you've
spawned to like want to pursue acareer in aviation just because
they got to come and see it?
Speaker 1 (26:38):
I know, yeah, I.
You know, I wish we had likeI'm, I'm a, I'm also in my
career.
I work in data right, so I'm adata guy.
I wish we had the.
We probably could figure it outright.
It would take a little while,but-.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Surveys.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Just knowing, yeah right, knowing all the people
that were inspired, that'd beprobably harder to get.
I think we could pretty easilyfind out all the people that
have, like, joined the militaryto go fly, sure, but it's, it's
definitely a pretty high number.
You know, we've had probably, Iwould say, within the last,
(27:16):
within the last 10 showsprobably.
We at least every year, andsometimes multiple every year,
we've had someone come back,whether they were flying in the
show, whether they were justbringing their airplane to kind
of put on static at the show.
You know someone that grew uphere and, you know, kind of had
(27:36):
their roots here and went tothis show and, you know, ended
up just making a, you know,taking that inspiration and
really going to do somethingwith it in their life.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
That is one cool thing I kind of see as like a
pattern of the Quad Cities.
Like, even if people don't youknow in whatever industry and
field they wind up in, like evenif they don't stay here forever
or if they leave for a while,it's kind of like a boomerang
thing.
They'll either come back and,like you know, they'll bring
their family here once they're,you know, an adult or, you know,
(28:20):
middle aged or whatever, orthey'll just come back and visit
a lot place, which I think justreally like gives a huge
testament to what kind ofcommunity, like you were saying
earlier, this is where peoplefeel like they want to be here,
they want to, they'recomfortable here, they can lean
on each other.
I've heard that countless timesin like the you know the
business, like small businessindustry.
(28:41):
They, they lean on each otherand help each other, and you
guys have obviously experiencedthat with, like, your rough
weather story.
So it's just yeah, it's.
It's a perfect illustration ofwhat we're constantly seeing,
that people are coming and justreally having quality
experiences here.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Yeah, no, I, I totally agree and I know like
when and I think Captain Larsondid this last year but he's
doing it again this year wherehe's you know he's easy to come
spend the whole week Like hisfamily's here, like he's he's
really pumped about this showand he's pumped about this
community, right Like this is Isee that elsewhere, right, not
even in the aviation space, justmy friends from growing up
(29:22):
right Like there's always thiskind of gravitational pull back
that you get that it just youknow there's something about the
Quad Cities that sometimes youcan't even really put into words
, but I totally am on the samepage with that idea.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
And it's totally like .
You know families like yoursand courageous people.
You know, like you and your dad, who are willing to put in the
time and the effort.
And you know from way back when, not knowing if this was going
to take off and be a success,and you know it's, it's.
It's really a huge thank you toyou guys that that this
community has these fantasticattractions and assets and
(30:01):
things to like, like hook peoplein, because if we don't have a
place where people want to comeand visit, we're not going to
have a place where people wantto live and work and raise their
families.
So it's just, it's stuff likethis that is like the cycle of
it all.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
I totally agree.
Yeah, that is that is very wellput and there's a lot to.
There's a lot to come and visitin the Quad Cities, right.
A lot to.
There's a lot to come and visitin the Quad Cities, right.
Like it's, there's there's somany events, there's so many
events like this.
They're all unique in their ownway, absolutely, but there's
there's so many events that areso, just so unique.
I would say.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
Do you have like a Quad Cities favorite, like it's
a Saturday, random summerafternoon, like what are you out
doing?
Do you have a favorite thing orplace?
Speaker 1 (30:48):
Gosh, I mean if there's not an air show going on
.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
No air show going on.
You have a free day.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
This is like the fall or something, right?
Yeah, I would say I love if thefarmer's market's still going
on.
I love getting up, going to thefarmer's market, getting
getting a nice cup of coffee,like I.
Like it sounds pretty cliche,but like that is like just a top
tier morning for me it is, andmaybe even like if I'm really
(31:20):
feeling ambitious, like gettinggetting a run in before that.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:24):
Just to be feeling good about my day, right, if I,
if I can ever go run along theriver in the quad cities like I,
just I, I love that, um, that's, that's just a great way to
start my day.
Um, and then, really like Idon't know, the, for me, the
quad cities is it's family, so,um, whether it's just like, you
(31:45):
know, having a chill barbecuethat day, um, being with family
and friends, like that's that's.
I couldn't really ask for abetter day back in the QC.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
Yeah, for sure.
Um, I have.
I have two little kids and I'msure anyone who's listened to
this podcast loyally knows Ilike my main summer activity,
fall activity is just takingthem anywhere where they can
like go and just run amok andjust be outside Tangledwood I
always tell as like the bestbecause it has that really large
(32:16):
space and like I can have abeer and they can like run
around and we can all listen tomusic.
Like you know, there's justthere's all kinds of places like
that and the farmer's market.
we are, we are totally gettinginto that because it's it's just
a great it's a great settingalong the river, it's beautiful,
you can grab a coffee, they canplay on the playground, you
(32:36):
know, there's just so much stufflike any age can really just
fit here, and so I appreciatethat perspective, like it's not
cliche, it's just good, you knowit's just good.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
I totally agree with that.
Yeah, tangled Tangled Wood is agreat spot.
I you know I have a really goodfriend that actually he helps
us with the air show a lot.
He lives literally next door soI take advantage of going to
visit him whenever I can.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
Yes, yeah, tangled Wood not sponsored, but yeah,
check it out.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
Yeah, I know, I know, yeah, yeah, tangled Wood not
sponsored.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
But yeah, check it out.
Yeah, I know, I know, yeah,it's, yeah, I just love it.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Oh, my God OK well.
I think the time has come wherewe're going to have you fill in
the blank QC.
That's where.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
OK, yeah, QC, that's where greatness is inspired.
That just came to me.
Is that?
I mean, how do we feel aboutthat?
I love it, I will accept it.
I think we're going to probablymake a, a, a social picture out
of that.
I really love that.
Please don't mind if we stealit, we'll credit you for your
words.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
There's a lot that goes into that.
When I'm thinking through it,like it's one with, I love it,
you know, with all the greatschools in the community, right,
like there's with all of theother inspiring events in the
community, like it's, it reallyis across the board.
But specifically to the airshow, I think it applies greatly
(34:17):
.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
Yeah, the talent, the involvement and and yeah, like
you said, just the inspirationthat can be drawn from just
attending or being more involvedis without words.
So thank you for filling in theblank.
I really like it.
Where can people get moreinformation on the Quad City
Airshow coming up June 22nd,23rd?
Speaker 1 (34:40):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
So I would go directly to ourwebsite.
That's the best way to get info.
It's totally revamped this year, like I mentioned earlier, so
that's, that's Quad City, notQuad Cities.
Quad City Airshow dot com andyou'll you'll be able to find
all your info there.
We also have our, you know, wehave our contact information
that you can.
You can contact with somespecific questions as well, with
(35:07):
some specific questions as wellOutside of that.
I mean social media Quad Cityor show on Instagram and on
Facebook as well, as we'reprimarily focused on those two
mediums, but, yeah, I thinkthose that would pretty much be
it in terms of the best ways tocontact us.
Speaker 3 (35:20):
We'll link all of those places in the.
If you're listening to this ina podcast, you're watching on
YouTube, check out the.
If you're listening to this ina podcast, you're watching on
youtube, check out thedescription for those links to
all that social media and thewebsite.
We'll link it there.
Quad city air show.
And it's funny too, when wetalk about, like you know, quad
city versus quad cities, it'skind of like.
It's not perfect, but a lot oftimes you can see what is like
(35:41):
an og event or asset if it'squad city and not quad cities.
That was kind of like a laterad right, yeah, I know, I know
well.
Speaker 1 (35:51):
Like, yeah, and logically, like quad cities
makes more sense, for sure butyeah yeah, like you're right,
the og yeah, that's just how.
That's how it was and that'show it kind of that's how people
said it back in the mid 80s,right, so yeah.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
So super cool.
Well, thank you so much, evan.
I appreciate your time.
Also, always check outvisitquadcitiescom slash events
for awesome stuff like this,going on literally every single
day of the year.
So, evan, I will give you backyour afternoon and thank you
again.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
Awesome.
Thank you so much, katrina,this was a blast.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
Thanks for listening to QC.
That's when a podcast poweredby Visit Quad Cities Text
VISITQC to 38314 for insiderevents, activities and updates
sent straight to your phone.
That's V-I-S-I-T-Q-C, one wordto 38314.
(36:43):
Message and data rates mayapply.
and one of the most you know advanced aircraft.
Really, this this world hasever seen in terms of its
stealth capability, um, as wellas just its its speed and and um
maneuverability right, andthat's what makes it so fun to
watch is like you.
You know, you see this massivejet in the sky and it's just you
(00:21):
know, one second it's goinghundreds of miles an hour past
you.
The next moment it is literallylike falling from the sky like
a leaf, you know it.
Just some of the things, thethings that it can do, are
really it doesn't seem like itwould be possible, and I think
that's what makes it such a,such a fan favorite.
That we've noticed is is thatjust it doesn't.
(00:43):
It looks like almost like analien ship of some sort, right,
like most people haven't seenthis type of thing in person.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Where do you find a family of communities connected
by the storied Mississippi River, where young explorers and
dreamers, investors andentrepreneurs thrive?
Where can you connect with realpeople living and creating in a
place that's as genuine as itis quirky QC?
That's where.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Welcome to QC.
That's where I'm, katrina, yourhost, and today I'm so pumped
to be talking to Evan Hopper.
He is the vice president of airshow operations with the Quad
City Air Show.
So, evan, hey, how are you?
Speaker 1 (01:25):
I'm doing fantastic today.
I just got off a long weekendand kind of ready to attack the
week here.
We're closing in on a monthuntil the show, so there's a lot
of work to be done, but we'rereally getting excited.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Yeah, we just wrapped up Memorial Day, so you're
obviously listening to this inthe future.
Memorial Day has come and gone.
We are just creeping up on June.
The Quad City Air Show is June22nd and 23rd Back again.
So, Evan, do you want to juststart out by kind of just
highlighting some what's newthis year?
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Absolutely yeah.
And with this year's show itreally is probably the most you
know in over 30 years of doingair shows, probably the most
unique lineup that we've had ascompared to the other years.
So, and why I say that isbecause we have three different
concerts actually that we'llhave throughout the day on
(02:20):
Saturday.
That make it very unique.
Right, we've had a coupleconcerts in the past, but never
this extensive and never withthe type of lineup that we have,
with Aaron Tippin, a countrymusic legend, as well as
Electric Shock, which is an ACDCcover band, and then another
local band with Haphazard.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
So kind of incorporating the music this
year really makes it stand outno-transcript offering, and I
(03:12):
think people come from far andwide because this isn't
something you can just get inevery single town.
You know this is very, this isspecial.
It is it's a lot to organize,which I want to hear you talk
about that.
But like what, overall, wouldyou say, makes the Quad Cities
like a good place for this typeof entertainment and this type
of activity?
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Absolutely.
Yeah, I mean it really comesdown to, like you said, there
are people that come from allover the Midwest and, you know,
even even from all over thecountry to see this show.
But I think what makes the QuadCities so unique is just it
really is the and when you lookat the number of just pilots and
(03:54):
the enthusiasm on aviation thatthis community and really Iowa
and Illinois in general have onaviation, it really is
remarkable and I think that'sreally what makes it a great
place and a great focus audienceright for the types of acts
that we bring in.
I think the thing thathighlights that the most is like
(04:17):
the amount of professional andmilitary pilots that we've had
grow up in this area or thisgeneral area and come back to
fly in our show, namely CaptainSam Razlarson, who's going to be
flying the F-22 for the secondyear in a row at the show, and
(04:37):
we couldn't be more thrilled.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
So he's a Bettendorf native.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
That's correct.
He went to.
He went to ventnorf high schooland he actually grew up, um,
just you know, basically rightnext to the davenport airport.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Um, so he, you know, he grew up watching general
aviation fly there as well, asyou know, coming to the show,
obviously at a, at a very youngage himself yeah, I saw a little
bit about him that I think heattended his first air show when
he was like six months old andit was just one of those things
that just seeped into his soulmuch they supported him in this.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
You know, this long journey that he's been on to to
get where he is today and to getthrough all that training and
um, you know the discipline thatthey've they've enabled him to
have is awesome.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
I can't imagine what would go into that, and so talk
to me a little bit about.
So it's the U S air force F 22Raptor demonstration.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Yes, yep, yeah.
So the U S air force F 22Raptor, um one of the most um, I
think, came on the scene around2005 and one of the most, you
know, advanced aircraft.
Really, this this world hasever seen in terms of its
stealth capability, um, as wellas just it's, it's speed and and
(06:02):
um maneuverability, right, andthat's what makes it so fun to
watch is like you, you know, yousee this massive jet in the sky
and it's just, you know, onesecond it's going hundreds of
miles an hour past you the nextmoment.
It is literally like fallingfrom the sky like a leaf, you
know it.
Just, some of the things, thethings that it can do, are
(06:22):
really it doesn't seem like itwould be possible, and I think
that's what makes it such a sucha fan favorite.
That we've noticed is is thatjust it doesn't?
It looks like almost like analien ship of some sort?
Right, like most people haven'tseen this type of thing in
person before, right, unlessthey're very avid, avid or
(06:43):
showgoers, of course in person,before right, unless they're
very avid avid air showgoers, ofcourse.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
What are some other, you know?
Speaker 1 (06:51):
eyes to the skies highlights that the audience is
going to want to really makesure they catch.
Yeah, sure thing.
So the next one that really isit stands out to me would be the
MiG-17, which is flown by RandyBall.
So MiG-17 is an older aircraftand it is a jet that essentially
(07:18):
has both the night show and theday show capabilities.
But I would urge you to look upRandy Ball's night show act
because it it is incredible.
You know he it just there's.
It essentially looks like aflaming fireball coming out of
the back of that jet that heflies, and it's when he's flying
(07:38):
at night like it really seemsto kind of make that accentuate.
So I think that's definitelysomething I'd look up.
It'll, it'll get you excited,and he's got a lot of footage
online for sure.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
The nighttime performance.
It excites and terrifies mebecause I'm just trying to
picture myself as the pilot inthat situation and, like the, I
can't imagine the training andthe confidence you know that has
to go into piloting in a in asituation like that.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it's.
You know, even even as part ofeven when getting like your
private pilot's license, youknow you do practice that the
night flying, obviously at firstat a very slower speed, but you
know these pilots are justthat's, that's why they're here,
that's why they're flying inthe shows and yeah, definitely
(08:26):
understand that and it makes itmakes sense.
But I think that's also kind ofthe element that makes it so
exciting to watch.
Right, it's like it is almosthow kind of scary and how just
intense it seems.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
It's so, yeah, it's so unique.
So unique, I mean, honestly,unmatched performances at the
quad city air show.
Um, and it's so.
Talk me through.
How does this all come together?
I understand you and yourfamily have kind of been the
backbone of this show.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely so.
If, in terms of how it all cametogether originally, I think
that's probably helpful to justgive a little context there For
those that don't know.
You know, it was really my, myfather, who had, just from a
young age, like you know, hegrew up in in Davenport and
(09:21):
really just he actually grew upriding his bike to the Davenport
airport when he was a kid, likeyou know, a couple of miles
each way just to be able towatch the airplanes take off and
land Right, like just wasliterally always fascinated with
aviation and you know, as hegot older, like he, he, he met a
(09:42):
lot of people in the industry.
Going to Oshkosh as a kid,which is up in Wisconsin, known
as really the largest NorthAmerican air show, he grew up
going to that and he met some ofthe people that put it on.
Any chance he could get to bearound aircraft and get to meet
(10:03):
the people that flew them andput on these shows, he would, he
would take that opportunity, um, and you know, really once he,
once he really felt like he hada chance to switch from his
normal day job when he was about28, um, to really really launch
a show that he thought couldwork, which was in about 1986,
(10:27):
87, when he made that decisionhe poured his heart and soul
into it.
I think he'll tell you too thatwhen he was about to start the
show, he got some really goodmentoring, saying like, hey,
you're either all in on this oryou're not, like it's not
something you can really justhalf-heartedly, um, go on a limb
(10:51):
and do like you really need toit's, it's, it's going to be a
year round thing.
It's going to be a lot of work,um, and you really have to be
passionate about it, which thatwas no problem for him, um, but
yeah it, you know, the first one, the first one went, went
pretty well, I think, probablyprobably just barely paid the
bills.
And then, you know, thereputation just just started to
(11:13):
grow and we started to get actslike the Navy Blue Angels and
the Thunderbirds and and, yeah,that's, it's really like, it's
really his passion that sparkedall of this.
And you know he's inspiredothers to be passionate about it
as well.
Obviously, our family, all theamazing volunteers that help
(11:36):
every year.
But but yeah, it's, you knowit's.
It's still a similar process asit was was back then.
Obviously, like the marketingaspect has changed a lot, right,
and that's something that'ssomething my, my siblings and I
have gotten more involved with,just because we're, you know, we
kind of understand the socialmedia and and the different ways
(11:57):
that people like to consumemedia nowadays, right, so we're
we're helping out with that morenow.
It's that's been a ton of workto revamp that aspect.
We've done a lot of work tomake our website more modern
this year as well, whichdefinitely go check out
QuadCityRShowcom.
(12:17):
It's a lot different than itwas in previous years.
I think it's just more fun andeasier to navigate.
Just thinking through some ofthe other things that, um, that
it takes every year.
You know we can't thank oursponsors enough, right, like
without them we really couldn'tput this show on Um and we're
(12:40):
we're so glad that they enjoythe show and that they, they,
they want to.
You know that our continuedsponsors want to come back every
year.
Um, you know a lot of it's,it's a lot of work to to make
sure they're they're they'refulfilled, and that you know we
can, we can, work with thatpartnership to, so both sides
really, you know, get the bestbenefit.
(13:00):
And other than that, you know,organizing volunteers is a big
aspect of it.
So we're very thankful for them.
We, we another for them,another group that we could not
do without.
Right, we need as a nonprofit,like we need our volunteers to
be able to help with this event,and we're just so thankful that
they're so passionate about it.
(13:23):
And then the last piece I'llmention is just the fun part,
which is like getting to gettingto get some of these acts in
right.
Um it's.
There's, for example, one, oneact that's coming this year.
Um, the ea 18g growler, whichlooks a lot like the plane and
(13:45):
top gun, maverick.
Um it's.
It's not the exact same one,but it's a variant of that right
.
And so that's a two-shipformation that will fly in this
year's show.
That one was so fun becausetotally weren't counting on them
being able to make the show,and then they had an opening and
(14:06):
we were the first show thatthey called, so to be able to
add them to the mix here, Ithink we'll just it'll.
It'll add another element andyou know, I just those guys are
awesome.
It's going to be great to havethem there.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
So you personally, you got involved in this as just
a young kid.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Yes, yeah.
So I mean as soon as I couldreally, I guess, be out of a, be
out of a carriage right Walkingaround In a conscious state of
mind.
Right as soon as I could, yeah,as soon as I had a conscious
state of mind.
I was, I was helping where Icould right, Whether it was just
like delivering, deliveringfood to the people that were
(14:49):
actually doing work all the wayto, you know, being able to put
up fence and kind of lay all thegroundwork that was you know.
Or I remember when I could firstlike drive a golf cart, I was
shuttling people who were comingto the show to wherever they
were going to go sit for the day, right Like yeah that's just
(15:12):
getting involved wherever Icould with setup and you know,
kind of during the show I wasinvolved and then you know, as
things progressed lately it'sbeen, you know, now that I'm 27,
right, I definitely have moreof a legitimate role, right,
it's not just like the jack ofall trades, it's I'm more
focused.
Right, I definitely have more ofa legitimate role, right, it's
not just like the jack of alltrades, it's I'm more focused on
(15:34):
, you know kind of theoperations, like where we're
laying out our vendors right,and how they're getting taken
care of the day of and evenbefore the show.
So helping with that, alsohelping with kind of our chalet
section right where our sponsorslive during the show and, you
(15:56):
know, making sure that they'retaken care of.
So it's a lot of, it's really alot of like hospitality work too
, right, just like kind of ouralmost like a customer success
role, if you will of kind of ourum, almost like a customer
success role, if you will likethere's, there's a lot of that
that I I feel like both you knowme, and then my, my siblings
and my um the rest of my familyas well kind of play, have to
(16:18):
play that role with whoeverwe're dealing with, um, and you
know it's it's also working withsome of the logistics of the
performers right and making surethat they have what they need
right.
Making sure that, like all, the, all the smoke oil that they
get during the show, they can,that they have their allocated
(16:40):
amount, that they have the rightcontacts if they need fuel.
It's it's really just, yeah,making sure that they have what
they need and that theirchecklists are met.
Um, in order to to put the showon.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
So sidebar really quick, because I'm an aviation
newbie, if you will.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
What is smoke oil?
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Yeah, I know I, yeah, I'm sure I've like thrown out
some terms that's like okay, Ishould probably explain that a
that's the.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
That's the first one that I'm like yeah, what are we
talking about here?
Speaker 1 (17:12):
I gotta know for sure , for sure, yeah, so smoke oil,
basically.
So if you see, um, yeah, I mean, if you look up like a video of
the I know, actually, I knowthe the blue angel movie just
came out, that's kind of anaside but um, there, there is a
new movie out.
If you, if do happen to go seeit, you'll probably see smoke
(17:32):
oil in that, right, becauseyou'll see the output of the
smoke oil.
That's what kind of allows themto sky write, if you will.
Right, it's kind of likesignaling essentially hey, we're
here, we're here to put on ashow, oh, my God.
Yeah, and so that's that's kindof the trail that you'll see
behind them.
It's not real.
You know, oil that or fuel thatthey use, it is a separate,
(17:57):
it's a separate tank that isstrictly just.
You know, creating, creatingsmoke.
Essentially it's not.
It's it's not actually poweringthe airplane.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Yeah.
Got you it's, yeah, it's thesmoke and mirrors of putting on
a performance for your audienceand that's very cool, that's any
other like inside baseballthings that, like the average
person coming to the show,wouldn't know you guys are
dealing with behind the scenes.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Yeah, yeah, um, I will say let's see here.
I think one thing to note too isjust with the night show this
year, I guess there are going tobe different kind of lighting
(18:46):
that the planes are going to puton at night.
So we have nathan hammond withhis aircraft who actually puts
like he actually will put likefireworks on the wing of his
airplane.
So and how that works is heliterally is a scent like just
strapping fireworks to the sideof his of his aircraft.
So that so works exactly likesmoke oil, right, and the fact
(19:09):
that it's it's just for show,but it's definitely a little
more flashy and it's cool atnight when, when it's completely
dark out.
So there's there's going to bethat going on and gosh like even
just as a as a not even as theproducer of the show, like as a
fan like I'm.
I'm so excited to to see thatand it's cool to hear some of
(19:33):
the behind the scenes of howthey, how they put that together
this is gonna be like 20 timesbetter than like a fourth of
july show, you know we do have.
We do have actual fireworks atthe end too, right, traditional
fireworks.
So that's kind of.
That's kind of ending the dayon Saturday.
But yes, I would agree it'skind of like a step up from a
(19:53):
traditional show.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Too cool.
So okay, bring me through you.
20 plus years.
This has been part of your life, a huge part of your life
You've been involved with yoursiblings.
Can you kind of like identify ahighlight or, you know, like
significant moment throughoutthese years that you just really
would love to you know, delveinto a little bit?
(20:17):
I'd love to hear a little bitabout something significant to
you.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Yeah, something significant and honestly it's,
it's I kind of have, I guess Ikind of two I kind of have, I
guess I kind of have two one.
I actually was like so youngthat I don't actually remember,
but it was when I heard thestory.
It was so like um, soeye-opening to me, um, and that
that was a show that we had inin the 90s where, um,
(20:42):
essentially, like we, we hadweather that pretty much
decimated the field at the atthe air show.
I wouldn't say that maybe muchdecimated the field at the at
the air show.
I wouldn't say that maybe notdecimated, but like there, for
example, there was like a tentstake that went through another
aircraft on the ground and therewas just, you know it was, it
was not a pretty sight.
(21:02):
When we woke up that Saturdayof the air show, you know kind
of all that work we did to uh,set things up, was, was was
pretty much gone and we had tokind of rebuild from scratch,
right, and there's a show thatday, so, um it.
I think this one really justspeaks to the quad cities
community, um, because you know,as soon as we kind of put the
(21:26):
word out, there was, there wasjust people in droves showing up
to come, just come pick thingsup, pick up trash, you know,
help, help move aircraft back tothe spot that they.
(21:47):
I think we got the show starteda little late that day, but we
were able to put on a show rightLike we were able to get the
crowd in and that's literallyall thanks to the great
community that we live in.
Um, the the second, the secondone would be just, I mean, I, I
(22:10):
realize like how, how awesome ofan opportunity I've had to to
meet um, to meet the amazingpilots that fly in our show.
Um, I think the one that standsout to me the most is um I was
able to fly with.
I was actually able to fly whenI was about 12 years old with
(22:35):
Vlado Lenik, who's no longerwith us, but he's just a
legendary P-51 Mustang pilot andyou know I got to fly with him
and just getting to know moreabout him since that day, it's
like I, you know, I, I wouldn'ttrade that opportunity for the
(22:57):
world.
It was like the pretty much theflight of a lifetime, I would
say.
So just just having having thatopportunity, um it, I feel like
that really made me realize howspecial, um how special this
show is, how special the peopleare that help put it on, and how
special the community is itself.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
So, like I mean getting these firsthand
experiences with these peoplewho are, you know, genuine
heroes to you and people whohave kind of shaped what you're
doing as a career and also kindof as a hobby.
I mean, clearly you have a hugepassion for aviation, a hobby.
I mean, clearly you have a hugepassion for aviation.
Like, does that stem, would yousay that stems, like, from your
(23:34):
dad, you know, or does it stemfrom kind of your, your own,
branching out into discovering,like, where did this all start
for you and and how, how, howdeep do your aviation roots go?
Speaker 1 (23:45):
For sure, for sure.
Yeah, I mean it's ever since Ican again kind of back to the
ever since I had consciousness,yeah, like that's that's kind of
where it is, because, like,yeah, I mean originally it was,
it was my dad's inspiration,right, like it was just seeing
how, seeing how driven he wasnot only to to put on this show,
um, but also to like just inaviation in general, like he, he
(24:09):
loves, he, you know, outside ofthe air show he actually is, um
, he's a, he's a private pilotfor for somebody, um, and he's
he's worked in aviation outsideof the show as well.
So it just it, you know, hispassion is clear and it kind of
it kind of, you know, blendsover into my passion as well.
For sure, yeah, but you know,I've had my own experiences,
(24:33):
right, like being able toactually just meet and talk with
some of these guys.
They're so inspiring.
Last, last year, I actually it'scool.
It's cool now being able tolike kind of also help pass that
passion on to people.
Yeah, last year I was, I wasable to get my, my girlfriend
(24:56):
and then one of my best friends.
We went up and actually Skydofor the first time with the
Canadian Skyhawks team, which islike we all jumped in this
airplane together and just kindof leaped out the back with this
.
You know, it was cool to do itin a team setting right when we
were all just one after theother, going out of this
(25:18):
airplane.
I was like, you know, a lot ofpeople don't get to do this
right Like this is, so it'scontagious when you get these
opportunities to meet thesepeople and just get to learn and
even sometimes do some of thestuff that they get to do right.
So that's it.
But to your question, itdefinitely has, you know, kind
(25:39):
of it's bled into my owninterests and I've obviously
done my own research too.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Yeah, big props to you for for doing that, and I
imagine just being around ityour whole life creates a
comfort of, of propelling astunt like that, um wowza, like,
and it's cool.
You got to bring yourgirlfriend into it and you know
another, another person, and nowthat, now that they've
experienced that kind offirsthand I don't know what to
(26:06):
call it other than leap of leapof faith, leap of jumping out of
an airplane you know they'll,they'll share that with their.
You know their circle as well,and it's just that's too cool.
And I bet you see that a lot,for just you know even the
people in, you know the QuadCities or surrounding areas that
come, and you know that kidthat sees it for the first time
(26:28):
and you know, I mean think, howmany people do you think you've
spawned to like want to pursue acareer in aviation just because
they got to come and see it?
Speaker 1 (26:38):
I know, yeah, I.
You know, I wish we had likeI'm, I'm a, I'm also in my
career.
I work in data right, so I'm adata guy.
I wish we had the.
We probably could figure it outright.
It would take a little while,but-.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Surveys.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Just knowing, yeah right, knowing all the people
that were inspired, that'd beprobably harder to get.
I think we could pretty easilyfind out all the people that
have, like, joined the militaryto go fly, sure, but it's, it's
definitely a pretty high number.
You know, we've had probably, Iwould say, within the last,
(27:16):
within the last 10 showsprobably.
We at least every year, andsometimes multiple every year,
we've had someone come back,whether they were flying in the
show, whether they were justbringing their airplane to kind
of put on static at the show.
You know someone that grew uphere and, you know, kind of had
(27:36):
their roots here and went tothis show and, you know, ended
up just making a, you know,taking that inspiration and
really going to do somethingwith it in their life.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
That is one cool thing I kind of see as like a
pattern of the Quad Cities.
Like, even if people don't youknow in whatever industry and
field they wind up in, like evenif they don't stay here forever
or if they leave for a while,it's kind of like a boomerang
thing.
They'll either come back and,like you know, they'll bring
their family here once they're,you know, an adult or, you know,
(28:20):
middle aged or whatever, orthey'll just come back and visit
a lot place, which I think justreally like gives a huge
testament to what kind ofcommunity, like you were saying
earlier, this is where peoplefeel like they want to be here,
they want to, they'recomfortable here, they can lean
on each other.
I've heard that countless timesin like the you know the
business, like small businessindustry.
(28:41):
They, they lean on each otherand help each other, and you
guys have obviously experiencedthat with, like, your rough
weather story.
So it's just yeah, it's.
It's a perfect illustration ofwhat we're constantly seeing,
that people are coming and justreally having quality
experiences here.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Yeah, no, I, I totally agree and I know like
when and I think Captain Larsondid this last year but he's
doing it again this year wherehe's you know he's easy to come
spend the whole week Like hisfamily's here, like he's he's
really pumped about this showand he's pumped about this
community, right Like this is Isee that elsewhere, right, not
even in the aviation space, justmy friends from growing up
(29:22):
right Like there's always thiskind of gravitational pull back
that you get that it just youknow there's something about the
Quad Cities that sometimes youcan't even really put into words
, but I totally am on the samepage with that idea.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
And it's totally like .
You know families like yoursand courageous people.
You know, like you and your dad, who are willing to put in the
time and the effort.
And you know from way back when, not knowing if this was going
to take off and be a success,and you know it's, it's.
It's really a huge thank you toyou guys that that this
community has these fantasticattractions and assets and
(30:01):
things to like, like hook peoplein, because if we don't have a
place where people want to comeand visit, we're not going to
have a place where people wantto live and work and raise their
families.
So it's just, it's stuff likethis that is like the cycle of
it all.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
I totally agree.
Yeah, that is that is very wellput and there's a lot to.
There's a lot to come and visitin the Quad Cities, right.
A lot to.
There's a lot to come and visitin the Quad Cities, right.
Like it's, there's there's somany events, there's so many
events like this.
They're all unique in their ownway, absolutely, but there's
there's so many events that areso, just so unique.
I would say.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
Do you have like a Quad Cities favorite, like it's
a Saturday, random summerafternoon, like what are you out
doing?
Do you have a favorite thing orplace?
Speaker 1 (30:48):
Gosh, I mean if there's not an air show going on
.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
No air show going on.
You have a free day.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
This is like the fall or something, right?
Yeah, I would say I love if thefarmer's market's still going
on.
I love getting up, going to thefarmer's market, getting
getting a nice cup of coffee,like I.
Like it sounds pretty cliche,but like that is like just a top
tier morning for me it is, andmaybe even like if I'm really
(31:20):
feeling ambitious, like gettinggetting a run in before that.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:24):
Just to be feeling good about my day, right, if I,
if I can ever go run along theriver in the quad cities like I,
just I, I love that, um, that's, that's just a great way to
start my day.
Um, and then, really like Idon't know, the, for me, the
quad cities is it's family, so,um, whether it's just like, you
(31:45):
know, having a chill barbecuethat day, um, being with family
and friends, like that's that's.
I couldn't really ask for abetter day back in the QC.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
Yeah, for sure.
Um, I have.
I have two little kids and I'msure anyone who's listened to
this podcast loyally knows Ilike my main summer activity,
fall activity is just takingthem anywhere where they can
like go and just run amok andjust be outside Tangledwood I
always tell as like the bestbecause it has that really large
(32:16):
space and like I can have abeer and they can like run
around and we can all listen tomusic.
Like you know, there's justthere's all kinds of places like
that and the farmer's market.
we are, we are totally gettinginto that because it's it's just
a great it's a great settingalong the river, it's beautiful,
you can grab a coffee, they canplay on the playground, you
(32:36):
know, there's just so much stufflike any age can really just
fit here, and so I appreciatethat perspective, like it's not
cliche, it's just good, you knowit's just good.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
I totally agree with that.
Yeah, tangled Tangled Wood is agreat spot.
I you know I have a really goodfriend that actually he helps
us with the air show a lot.
He lives literally next door soI take advantage of going to
visit him whenever I can.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
Yes, yeah, tangled Wood not sponsored, but yeah,
check it out.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
Yeah, I know, I know, yeah, yeah, tangled Wood not
sponsored.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
But yeah, check it out.
Yeah, I know, I know, yeah,it's, yeah, I just love it.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Oh, my God OK well.
I think the time has come wherewe're going to have you fill in
the blank QC.
That's where.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
OK, yeah, QC, that's where greatness is inspired.
That just came to me.
Is that?
I mean, how do we feel aboutthat?
I love it, I will accept it.
I think we're going to probablymake a, a, a social picture out
of that.
I really love that.
Please don't mind if we stealit, we'll credit you for your
words.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
There's a lot that goes into that.
When I'm thinking through it,like it's one with, I love it,
you know, with all the greatschools in the community, right,
like there's with all of theother inspiring events in the
community, like it's, it reallyis across the board.
But specifically to the airshow, I think it applies greatly
(34:17):
.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
Yeah, the talent, the involvement and and yeah, like
you said, just the inspirationthat can be drawn from just
attending or being more involvedis without words.
So thank you for filling in theblank.
I really like it.
Where can people get moreinformation on the Quad City
Airshow coming up June 22nd,23rd?
Speaker 1 (34:40):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
So I would go directly to ourwebsite.
That's the best way to get info.
It's totally revamped this year, like I mentioned earlier, so
that's, that's Quad City, notQuad Cities.
Quad City Airshow dot com andyou'll you'll be able to find
all your info there.
We also have our, you know, wehave our contact information
that you can.
You can contact with somespecific questions as well, with
(35:07):
some specific questions as wellOutside of that.
I mean social media Quad Cityor show on Instagram and on
Facebook as well, as we'reprimarily focused on those two
mediums, but, yeah, I thinkthose that would pretty much be
it in terms of the best ways tocontact us.
Speaker 3 (35:20):
We'll link all of those places in the.
If you're listening to this ina podcast, you're watching on
YouTube, check out the.
If you're listening to this ina podcast, you're watching on
youtube, check out thedescription for those links to
all that social media and thewebsite.
We'll link it there.
Quad city air show.
And it's funny too, when wetalk about, like you know, quad
city versus quad cities, it'skind of like.
It's not perfect, but a lot oftimes you can see what is like
(35:41):
an og event or asset if it'squad city and not quad cities.
That was kind of like a laterad right, yeah, I know, I know
well.
Speaker 1 (35:51):
Like, yeah, and logically, like quad cities
makes more sense, for sure butyeah yeah, like you're right,
the og yeah, that's just how.
That's how it was and that'show it kind of that's how people
said it back in the mid 80s,right, so yeah.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
So super cool.
Well, thank you so much, evan.
I appreciate your time.
Also, always check outvisitquadcitiescom slash events
for awesome stuff like this,going on literally every single
day of the year.
So, evan, I will give you backyour afternoon and thank you
again.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
Awesome.
Thank you so much, katrina,this was a blast.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
Thanks for listening to QC.
That's when a podcast poweredby Visit Quad Cities Text
VISITQC to 38314 for insiderevents, activities and updates
sent straight to your phone.
That's V-I-S-I-T-Q-C, one wordto 38314.
(36:43):
Message and data rates mayapply.
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