Snowbirds, music with broad appeal mark air show

Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2000 | 11:11 a.m.

The Canadian Air Force Snowbirds and a concert featuring a big-name "cross-over" artist will highlight the first-ever Las Vegas International Air Show this fall.

Scott Darst, director of the show that is slated for Oct. 13-15 at the Jean Airport, said Tuesday that the event will be aimed at attracting family crowds from Las Vegas and Southern California.

The Snowbirds, the largest military aerial demonstration team in the world with nine planes in action, will be the featured attraction for the Saturday session, where admission will be $10 per person, Darst said.

A Friday night concert will follow a day of free activities, but Darst said the contract for the performer has not yet been signed.

The weekend festivities will include a reenactment of Operation Desert Storm, complete with tanks and pyrotechnic displays, Darst said.

Saturday night concerts and activities for children are included in the $10 charge. On Saturday and Sunday, the gates will open at 9 a.m. and the four-hour air shows will begin at noon.

It will be the second major air show of the year in Las Vegas. A show at Nellis Air Force Base is slated for May 6.

Las Vegas Air Show Inc., signed a three-year contract with Clark County, guaranteeing the county $5,000 per show in gate fees or 2 percent of the show's gross revenue, whichever is greater.