CHINO >> Should a group of tenants at the Chino Airport prevail in their efforts to shut down this year’s Planes of Fame Air Show, promoters will refund tickets bought in advance, it was announced Friday.
Last week, lawyers for Yanks Air Museum and Flying Tigers Aviation — among other tenants — announced their intention to stop the air show, an annual event for 24 years. In a lawsuit, the tenants complain the air show prevents them from conducting business during the two-day attraction.
Both sides are headed to San Bernardino County Superior Court on April 20, where the plaintiffs will ask a judge to issue a preliminary injunction, effectively halting the show planned for May 6-7.
In a video released Friday, Planes of Fame Air Museum President Steve Hinton vowed to do right by ticket holders should the court hearing not go his way.
• Video: Museum president speaks to air show fans
“We want to make a guarantee, a personal guarantee to you, that if you buy a ticket or you’re planning on buying a ticket, we’ll make sure your money is refunded to you if we get the judgment against us,” Hinton said in the video.
Since news of the lawsuit spread, an online petition to “help us save the Air Show” has garnered more than 11,000 signatures. A news release from the Planes of Fame Air Museum says support has come from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, the U.K., Germany and Japan.
“From our sponsors, our volunteers and all our vendors planning for this air show, we really, really appreciate your support. We really hope to get through this,” Hinton said in the video.
In legal papers, the plaintiffs disparage the air show organizers, saying “Each May, with astonishing arrogance, impunity and disregard for their neighbors’ rights, the Planes of Fame Air Show takes over the Chino Airport and completely shuts down air and ground access for any person or business that is not attending or affiliated with the air show.”
For now, air show organizers say they are moving ahead in their plans to stage the event.
