ABOUT 4,000 TURN OUT FOR 2 DAYS OF AIR SHOW

An estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people turned out Sunday for the final day of the Fly Cape Aviation Days open house and air show.

In all, about 4,000 people attended the weekend event at the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport, said Airport Manager Mark Seesing.

Seesing said 476 people took airplane rides offered by Cape Central Airways during the two-day air show, including 280 on Sunday alone.

Such rides count toward the airport's total boardings for the year. Seesing said more such rides may be offered later in the year as the city attempts to reach the 10,000 boardings level needed to retain federal funding for capital improvements at the airport.

An estimated 7,000 people attended last year's air show. But Seesing said he was pleased by this year's attendance.

He said this year's show was not as heavily advertised and there were not as many attractions.

But Seesing said, "I think we had a good show. I think we gave people something to look at. We had some good attractions here."

Seesing said the spectators enjoyed the aerial demonstrations by both modern and World War II-vintage military aircraft. "Everybody likes the airplanes flying and making noise."

Said Seesing, "I think we did a pretty good job with what we had."