Attendance data from the fifth annual El Reno Air Show and Community Day reflect the event is doing the same as its performers in the air – going up and up.

“It seems like everyone had a good time. We did not have any medical issues like heat exhaustion and the crowd seemed to have been the biggest yet,” said El Reno City Manager Matt Sandidge.

The city uses the Placer.ai computer program to track attendance through cellphone usage coming from the El Reno Regional Airport during the time frame of the event.

Numbers show around 2,500 people attended the air show, which was open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Last year’s event drew between 1,850 to 1,900 visitors.

“We had around a 30 percent growth, which is substantial. It always feels like there are more people when you’re out there but that is still a lot more than last year,” said Sandidge.

Enthusiasts from more than 15 Oklahoma towns including Bixby, Ada and Woodward attended the event. Data shows visitors from Kansas, Arkansas and Texas as well.

Welcoming them were seven food trucks and 13 vendors and community representatives.

“Events like this are important because it builds your community when businesses get involved and interact with people. I see the comments that we don’t have anything to do here, but we do a lot of stuff like the air show that other communities do not do,” said Sandidge. 

The flying demonstrations were under the direction of Pennsylvania-based David Schultz Air Shows.

There were seven acts including skydivers from Skiatook and the Tulsa Warbirds.

Aerobatics were performed by Greg and Jeff Shetterly (father/son), Curt Richmond, the Vanguard Squadron and Mike Gallaway, who has performed both nationally and internationally for Team USA.

Sandidge said the Caldwell Collection, a group of vintage and air-worthy planes, added to the event. The collection is permanently housed at the airport in the restored Hangar 3.

“Overall it was a success. We had several vendors tell us they ran out of stuff to sell and the pilots were all pleased. The grand opening of the Caldwell Collection brought a lot of excitement and we are glad to have it here,” said Sandidge.

Cost for the event was around $66,000, offset, in part, by a record number of sponsorships totaling $43,500.

“It’s a family-friendly thing to do that is free to the public unless you want to buy something from a vendor. We’re proud of it and we plan to continue doing it as the airport and the community grows,” said Sandidge.