Columbia Salute to Veterans Airshow possibly coming to Jefferson City

Colonel Larry Lumpkin of the Commemorative Air Force, left, prepares to take off in a North American Aviation P-51 Mustang known as "Gunfighter" at the 25th Anniversary 2013 Salute To Veterans Air Show held at the Columbia Regional Airport on Saturday, May 25, 2013.
Colonel Larry Lumpkin of the Commemorative Air Force, left, prepares to take off in a North American Aviation P-51 Mustang known as "Gunfighter" at the 25th Anniversary 2013 Salute To Veterans Air Show held at the Columbia Regional Airport on Saturday, May 25, 2013.

The popular Salute to Veterans Airshow in Columbia may be soaring into Jefferson City next year.

Nonprofit organization Memorial Day Weekend-Salute to Veterans Corporation is looking for a new location for its 2019 airshow since there may be construction at the Columbia Regional Airport, Jefferson City Operation Division Director Britt Smith told the News Tribune. The construction would prevent the organization from putting on the airshow, he added.

Jefferson City staff plan to present a proposed agreement between the city and corporation to the Jefferson City Public Works and Planning Committee on Thursday.

If both parties approve the agreement, the free event would take place May 24-26, 2019, at the Jefferson City Memorial Airport. While the airshows May 25-26 would be open to the public, Smith said, the May 24 airshow would be private.

In past years, the airshow has included various war planes, parachute teams, display aircraft, and aerial demonstrations and acrobatics.

The organization also may have a Memorial Day parade May 27 in downtown Jefferson City, Smith said.

The event in Columbia has attracted 10,000-35,000 people a year, Smith said.

"Many Jefferson City residents have probably been going to the airshow in Columbia already so by it coming even closer to us, it makes it so much more convenient for our citizens to go to the show," Smith said. "It also ties in so well with the message of Memorial Day. Not only are we honoring the fallen - which is what Memorial Day really is about - it also remembers those sacrifices that were made by having what they call a Salute to Veterans event, which also happens to have an airshow associated with it."

Jefferson City previously has allowed people to park at the Jefferson City Memorial Airport for a shuttle bus to take them to the airshow in Columbia.