AirVenture is an annual gathering of aviation enthusiasts held each summer in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The event is presented by the Experimental Aircraft Association ( EAA), an international organization based in Oshkosh. AirVenture is a week long event celebrating flight with daily air shows, aircraft building seminars, and various vendor exhibitions. Wittman Regional Airport becomes the world’s busiest airport during this week with an estimated 10-15,000 aircraft and over 700,000 people from all over the world visiting each year.
AirVenture provides an incredible opportunity to put potential customers in direct contact with a client and their product.
Ford Motor Company is at the highest level of visibility at AirVenture. For several years, Mach 2 Management has managed the Ford presence at the event. Mach 2 currently maintains its involvement with every stage of planning and execution for Ford and continues to create new and exciting opportunities to favorably position the client.
Mach 2 worked with Ford Global Auto Shows and Events to develop a blueprint to best utilize their exposure at the event. Inside the Ford tent, fun family activities were created, including: racing simulators, interactive displays, concept and custom vehicles, and appearances by NASCAR drivers, NASCAR owner Jack Roush, legendary car designer Carroll Shelby, and Ford’s own Edsel B. Ford II.
Around the tent perimeter, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Mazda vehicles are on display. Mach 2 was responsible for acquiring, preparing and staffing every vehicle. Staffing was strategically positioned to ensure knowledgeable interaction with people throughout the day and collect sales leads from prospective customers.
In order to improve lead generation and build tent traffic, commemorative hats were distributed to individuals who completed an informational brochure by walking through the tent and stopping at various “waypoints.” Once completed, the information was dropped into a box for a grand prize drawing. Not only were 25,000 leads collected with this program, it served as an incentive for people to visit the tent, educated them about the company offerings and promotions, all while entertaining and leaving a lasting impression of a positive experience. Mach 2 also managed all aspects of the annual reception held for 1,000 EAA Chapter Presidents from RSVP’s to hospitality and entertainment.
Continuing to enhance the Ford customer experience, Mach 2 has created the Fly-In Theater, a nightly open air movie that is free to all. Prior to the showing of the aviation themed movie, there is an interview with a star or someone connected with that evening’s movie. Past interviewees have included Harrison Ford prior to “Air Force One” and John Travolta prior to “Broken Arrow.” The movie attracts up to 15,000 viewers per night, free popcorn is available through the evening and the Fly-In Theater has become the fastest growing event in AirVenture history.
Mach 2, along with Ford as the major sponsor has produced a free opening night concert in Aeroshell Square, the center point for all major activities at AirVenture. The concert takes place at the conclusion of the airshow. Mach 2 manages all aspects of the show including logistics, staffing, security, catering, sound and lights, VIP area as well as all artist needs. Past concert performers have included chart topping acts such as the Beach Boys and Foreigner, and have attracted 30,000 rocking participants to the show.
Another popular addition to the outside of the Ford exhibit is a dedicated autograph stage…”Autograph HQ.” This stage offers world famous personalities from both the automotive and aviation worlds a consistent and central location to meet fans, sign autographs and pose for photos. The autograph session schedule is promoted daily by EAA and is also posted on a board next to the stage so that attendees can plan accordingly. A mechanical bull riding demonstration takes place right in front of the autograph stage, so there is always plenty of activity to observe. In addition to the entertaining bull riding professionals, the general public is also able to try their hand at riding the bull.
EAA’s very successful Young Eagles program offers youngsters across the country the opportunity to take a free flight to see if they may have any interest in an aviation career. “The Gathering” is a fund raiser that takes place at AirVenture each year. In the past, Ford has donated a vehicle to be auctioned off at the event to help raise funds. But to take the auction to the next level, Mach 2 and Ford offered EAA an exclusive, one of a kind Mustang for the 2008 auction. The special AV8R Mustang was designed by Ford’s chief designer. The AV8R included unique aviation appointments both inside and out, and featured a high performance package provided by Ford Racing. Interest in the AV8R was extremely high. A professional auctioneer was brought in to over-see the auction and the AV8R was auctioned off for an amazing $500,000.
When Eclipse Aviation introduced their award winning Very Light Jet…the Eclipse 500, Mach 2’s design team worked with Eclipse to provide a layout that showcased the aircraft’s technological advances in construction, state-of-the-art avionics and a mock-up to provide a hands-on experience. The display staff was hand selected, with several hundred hours of flight experience in both military and commercial airlines, allowing them to converse intelligently with attendees. In 2008, Eclipse Aviation wanted to surprise the aviation world with the introduction of their single engine concept jet. Under tight security, Mach 2 handled all arrangements to land the concept jet at AirVenture under cover of darkness and then introduce the aircraft to a “shocked” aviation press early the next morning. Eclipse’s concept jet went on to be produced as the ECJ 400.
Mach 2 also orchestrated the highly successful launch of the Icon A5 light sport aircraft at AirVenture. Icon, a start-up company based in California, made a huge splash with an exclusive VIP reception, the first public showing of the A5 and a colorful booth located in a high traffic area. The next morning, the public had an opportunity to see the new Icon A5 front and center in Aeroshell Square. Mach 2 has also represented Michelin Aircraft Tires and Women in Aviation at AirVenture.
Skip Lehman, President of Mach 2 said…”Sunday evening, we began with a special VIP introduction of the new Icon A5 light sport aircraft. Our attendance list was a virtual who’s who of the aviation world. It was truly a great event, at a special location, and was enjoyed by all. The next morning, at 6 AM we were on site at the Ford display with a local TV station for a live segment highlighting the new fun activities that were part of the exhibit. At 7:30, we were at the Eclipse display to host a press conference where a major announcement was made by Eclipse Management. At 10:30, we were in the center of Aeroshell Square introducing the public to the new Icon A5. Through out the course of the day, we hosted autograph sessions held at Ford’s autograph HQ stage. At 4:00, the Ford display closed so that we could prepare for the post VIP meet and greet with Foreigner. Mach 2 then managed the Foreigner concert which attracted 30,000 happy airshow attendees. After the concert, the band signed autographs and posed for photos with those invited to the after show party. By 8:30, we were at the Fly-In Theater for a live interview with David Ellison, star of that evenings movie…”Fly Boys.” After supplying the thousands in attendance with free popcorn and seeing to the needs of that evenings VIP’s, we wrapped things up about midnight….and that was just our first 24 hours at AirVenture.”
