Suppliers connect at Air Capital Aviation Expo

Richard Bartel said Thursday he has learned a couple of things on the first day of running what he thinks is the city’s first aircraft supplier business-to-business trade show.

For one, next year’s Air Capital Aviation Expo will be two days instead of three. And next year he’s going to try to offer a different sponsorship package to aircraft suppliers and manufacturers that will include 100 to 200 free passes to the expo that “I hope will put more traffic on the floor for exhibitors.”

While the number of attendees appeared light early Thursday afternoon at Century II Expo Hall, Bartel said he was satisfied with how the show was going.

“For a first year show, yes,” said Bartel, an aviation industry veteran who also founded and produces the annual Park City Chill car, motorcycle and semi-truck show, which is in its sixth year.

“There’s a learning curve.”

Still, the turnout among aviation suppliers and related businesses totaled 72, some from as far away as Maine, Wisconsin, Texas, Oklahoma and even Korea.

In addition to aircraft suppliers, exhibitors included Wichita Area Technical College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Jayhawk Wing of the Commemorative Air Force and the Kansas Aviation Museum.

Local aircraft suppliers said the show is unique in that it gives them a chance to connect with area firms, something that doesn’t happen often, said Brad Vieux, vice president for business development at GlobalParts.aero. The Augusta-based company is an aircraft parts distributor, manufacturer, and repair and overhaul shop.

“We want to make sure the local aviation companies know who we are and all of our capabilities,” Vieux said.

Mike Heitzenrader, vice president and general manager of Sunshine Metals, said the show gives his metal distribution company that chance to show its capabilities beyond providing raw metals to aircraft suppliers. Sunshine Metals also can provide partially machined metal to suppliers aimed at cutting down their lead times in making parts and saving on metal waste. The show, Heitzenrader said, enables Sunshine Metals to get that word out.

And what did Heitzenrader think of the expo so far?

“I’m happy to be here,” he said.

Bartel said he’s expecting total attendance of about 500 people for the show, which runs through Saturday afternoon.

He said he expected attendance to be largely limited to industry officials and business people interested in networking. The show’s individual admission price is $100 per person.

On Saturday, Bartel said he would waive admission for students and faculty of technical colleges and universities, and charge admission of $10 to employees of companies that are members of the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce.

On Friday, the show’s hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, see www.aircapexpo.com.

This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 10:31 AM with the headline "Suppliers connect at Air Capital Aviation Expo."