Initially, I thought the event was an air show, but I soon learned it was an Air Expo. This meant that while there would be some flying, there wouldn't be any acrobatics due to the lack of a large enough airbox or show box. Two weeks before the Expo, I reached out to three key individuals involved in the event. First, I contacted Matt, the operations manager at the airport, to request an interview. Despite not having a website at the time, he kindly agreed.

Next, I reached out to RT Dixon, the owner of Swamp Fox, who attends various air shows. To my surprise, he also agreed to an interview. Lastly, I contacted a group with a B25, possibly the Champagne Gal, but they had airplane issues and couldn't attend. However, they were open to an interview, which was amazing considering I was an amateur with no content.

A few days before the event, I prepared some questions and drove up on Friday to interview Matt. He generously took time out of his day to talk with me, and we completed the interview. I spent the rest of the day hanging around the airport, which was a thrilling experience. I recorded some airplanes landing, including one flown by a doctor or medical device salesperson who gave me his business card to send him the video.

The second day was the main event. I arrived early and parked right up front. The airport staff were incredibly accommodating, allowing me to store my gear in a hangar. They even let me take 360-degree photos inside a Blackhawk helicopter before anyone else arrived. Throughout the day, I captured footage of medical helicopters coming and going and interviewed a couple of Life Flight crew members.

I also reached out to Smoke on Aviation, who performed at Thunder Over Louisville the previous year. Although they didn't have time for an interview, one of the pilots, Michael, shared 360-degree footage from his flight, which I edited and included in this blog. Seeing the performance from their perspective was incredible.

Throughout the Expo, I gathered footage to accompany Matt's interview, hoping it could be used for next year's advertising. This was my first time attending an Air Expo, and it was an unforgettable experience. Being able to get up close to the aircraft, talk with their owners and maintainers, and capture unique shots was exhilarating.

After the event, I edited a photo of the Swamp Fox and submitted it to a photo contest held by the Kentucky Department of Aviation. To my surprise, it won first place. This unexpected win was a fantastic end to my first Air Expo experience. I plan to attend again in 2024, weather permitting, and hope to capture even more amazing content.

The crew at the London Corbin airport were incredibly friendly and helpful. I couldn't have asked for a better first experience. Special thanks to RT Dixon and the Life Flight medical crew for their willingness to participate. This blog post is just the beginning of my journey in creating engaging aviation content.

The London Air Expo of 2023 took place on October 14 2023.

Article, Videos, and Photos created by Eric Stemen.