TheBuzz
TheBuzz
A plane -- two planes -- and fireworks! Two shows will unfold aloft of Kailua this Fourth of July. The once-endangered fireworks display at 8 p.m. will be preceded by a 6:30 air show. Look up in the sky...
Making his debut over Kailua Beach in mere days will be Air Olomana Inc. President Henry "Hank" Bruckner.
Doing business as Kaimana Aviation, Bruckner said his flight school teaches all pilot certifications and ratings.
"I'm concentrating on advanced flight training including aerobatics," he said.
Acroflight Inc. President and Estate of James Campbell trustee Clinton Churchill returns after kicking off the new facet of the "Fourth" festivities in Kailua last year. He owns a German-made Extra 300 -- the only plane of its kind in Hawaii -- which he said, "was originally built for air show performers, but over time has become available and FAA certified to the general market."
Each pilot will perform 28 maneuvers under the watchful eyes and tight safety restrictions of the Federal Aviation Administration. Both Churchill and Bruckner said the FAA will be on hand to monitor the show, which Churchill said will have, "a safety cushion of altitude -- both Hank and I will be above 800 feet." Many air shows feature pilots swooping down to ground level. The FAA also requires the ocean area below the demonstration zone to be clear of spectators.
The show adds a daring edge to the traditionally small-town-flavored event. Bruckner said air shows are "probably now the largest spectator sport in the country."
The Kailua Chamber of Commerce's annual public fireworks display was saved from extinction by area merchants and the hiring of a barge from whence to launch the pyrotechnics.
Kailua businesses including Ameron Hawaii, Foodland Supermarkets Inc., Hardware Hawaii, Kaneohe Ranch, Mike McKenna's Windward Motors and Papa John's Pizza contributed a total of $18,000, but Slain said the overall cost is $20,000 and that tax-deductible donations would be accepted to offset the difference.
The barge became necessary after state officials would no longer permit the use of Flat Island for fireworks launching. The island is a national bird sanctuary. Nevertheless, Slain said, "the island had been used for shooting fireworks since Gov. Burns' era."
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com