VAN NUYS : 200,000 Attend Weekend Air Show
The Van Nuys Airport Aviation Expo attracted more than 200,000 people during the weekend and collected about 15,000 pounds of food for the victims of the Los Angeles riots, an airport spokeswoman said Tuesday.
Charity booths at the event also raised more than $25,000 by selling food and beverages, Van Nuys Airport spokeswoman Stacy Geere said.
This year’s turnout was smaller than last year’s. In 1991, about 300,000 people attended the annual two-day event, which was dedicated to the soldiers of Operation Desert Storm. Geere attributed the decrease this year partly to the heat, which reached 108 degrees and resulted in 70 cases of heat exhaustion.
The aviation expo was dedicated this year to the groups and agencies that helped restore calm and safety after the riots. Admission was free, but visitors were asked to donate non-perishable foods for riot victims. Geere said many people showed up simply to donate food and not to see the displays.
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