Six Days of Aviation Fun!

Original Korean article posted on May 5, 2011

– G-Global Aviation attracts 410,000 online bookings
– A diverse package including air shows, aircraft exhibition, and business

A red aircraft flies overhead, drawing a lean white line across the blue sky. It makes a sharp drop and flies parallel to the horizon. The crowd is awed and cheers break out sporadically. “You think that’s good? Take a look at this!” the plane seems to say as it performs dizzy acrobatics in the sky. The children’s eyes are fixed on the flying metal like magnets. Say hello to Hungarian pilot Veres Zoltan.

G-Global Aviation in Ansan celebrated its third anniversary. This theme of this year’s show, which started on May 5th (Children’s Day), was “Draw a Picture of Hope and Dreams in the Sky.” Located in Ilwon, Sa-dong, Ansan City, the arena was filled with families buzzing with excitement. The opening ceremony began with Governor Kim Moon-soo, Ansan Mayor Kim Cheol-min, and five children dressed in pilot uniforms boarding a helicopter.

Governor Kim said in his opening speech that “G-Global Aviation in Ansan has become the largest air show in Asia in only three years. This year we have added an exhibition of plane parts. This is a great leisure event, but it is also a great opportunity for the aviation industry to grow and contribute to Korea.”

Hwang Jun-gi, CEO of the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, remarked, “There are all kinds of air shows and programs children can take part in. I hope they have fun on Children’s Day and nurture dreams of flying in the skies or even in outer space someday.”

Over one thousand local and overseas personages attended the event including Governor Kim, Ansan Mayor Kim Cheol-min, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization CEO. Hwang Jun-gi, National Assembly Members Park Soon-ja and Chun Jung-bae, Gyeonggi Provincial Council members, Kenyan Ambassador to Korea Ngovi Kitau, former U.S. Congressman Jay Kim.

This year’s flight experience program feature far greater capacity, and the air shows include acrobatic flying, while the cultural celebrations and business events are bigger and better than before. The acrobatic flying squad Global Stars, the Korean Air Force’s acrobatic flight team Black Eagles, female pilot Melissa Pemberton, and Veris Zoltan of Hungary, are among the world’s most well-known air show performers who can be seen at the air show every day between 10:00 and 16:00.

Governor Kim presented medals made of Korean traditional ceramic to pilots Mark Jeffries and Melissa Pemberton to mark their appointment as honorary ambassadors on opening day.

“I hereby announce the beginning of the G-Global Aviation in Ansan. Let’s draw a picture of our dreams and hopes in the sky!”

Gyeonggi Tourism Organization CEO Hwang Jun-gi exclaimed as the sharp blast of a ten-gun salute filled the air. From a distance, eight T-50 planes flew towards the crowd with an enormous hissing sound; these are the Black Eagles, the Korean Air Force’s acrobatic flight team. The planes draw a yin-yang symbol and a heart with smoke in perfect coordination. The crowd stands in awe and each stunt is followed by resounding applause.

Those who visited this year’s event were pleasantly surprised by the variety of this year’s event. Lee Mi-young (female, 34) from Wolpi-dong said, “I didn’t see any marines last year, but there are tanks and armored cars on display here this year. The children are having a blast climbing on to them. I’m glad I came by.”

Mun Yeong-suk (female, 43) from Garak-dong, Seoul said, “I had to wait outside to buy tickets last year. I’m glad to see that the event is much more organized this year. I am going to enjoy the air show to my heart’s content.”

Kim Yeon-suk (female, 39) from Suwon said, “I am going to remember the Black Eagle’s performance. There are many more events this year.”

Some visitors pointed out certain shortcomings such as the lack of transportation and rest areas. Byeon Hyeok-mu (male, 45) from Bucheon said, “The area is so spread out, it’s hard to figure out what is where. It would be nice to have a shuttle bus or a temporary train.”

The Gyeonggi Provincial Government expects the event will contribute to promoting related leisure activities and to developing the domestic aviation industry.

A plane part exhibition hall and an aviation business center face the main arena. The business center exhibits aircraft equipment parts and maintenance parts among the 1,500 pieces produced by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the manufacturer of the T-50, in collaboration with the air force. It is also the place to visit for those who are interested in producing aircraft parts in Korea. 

Small aircraft and helicopter rides were available during the event. The aircraft would fly over Shiwa Lake with passengers on board. Five hundred and four people were chosen for the rides through an online application process.
 
The most popular booth at the aviation education center was the Korea Aerospace Research Institute’s astronaut certificate issuance center. Children waited in long lines to get their own card made. There were air rocket experiments, an air balloon making booth, and an air cannon experience among the many activities available.

At the very center of the arena is a food court and farmers market. Just a small walk from the center was a simulation center and an aviation experience center. Anyone can try their hand at flying a plane seated in front of a computer monitor at the simulation center. Visitors can also try making a paper robot called “Pabot.”

The aviation experience center offers a different set of programs. You can fly a spacecraft, train your sense of balance, explore Mars, or walk on the Moon. In another corner people can try on a set of artificial wings and learn the principles of flight by standing in the wind.

At the back of the arena there is a military helicopter belonging to Air Operations Command, three US Apaches, and twelve other helicopters used by the marines, the police, and the firefighters of the Korea Forest Service. Helmeted children with big smiles on their faces crawled onto the helicopters and took souvenir pictures.

Warrant Officer Oh I-seok of Air Operations Command said, “We displayed a BO105, a UH60, and a Cobra for this event. The UH60, also known as the Black Hawk, is the assault helicopter featured in the film Black Hawk Down.”

There were dozens of other ultra-light leisure aircraft on display outside.

A government official stated that: “This aviation exhibition was like a variety gift set with air shows, exhibits, and business deals in one giant package with a big bow on top. The aviation industry is a high value-added market. We will continue to support the industry by discovering local parts production companies and much more.”

G-Global Aviation in Ansan (skyexpo.or.kr) will continue for six days until May 10th. The event is run by the Gyeonggi Province and Ansan governments and hosted by the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization. Around 410,000 people have already made bookings online. A much larger crowd is expected this year.