Despite the Heat, Van Nuys Air Show Attracts 225,000

VAN NUYS — The curiosity of some people attending Aviation Expo 98 this weekend was piqued by two military planes bearing the national colors of Germany.

Two members of the German Air Force stood in front of those planes lined up alongside American aircraft at the Van Nuys Airport on Sunday and answered questions.

“Some ask what is a German plane doing in America,” said Zoltan-Marco “Gravy” Graves, weapons systems operator for one of the planes.

Graves, 31, and pilot Harry Hollstin, 37, explain that West Germany and the United States became allies after World War II. The country’s pilots have trained on U.S. soil for at least 20 years.

In fact, Graves and Hollstin train German Air Force recruits at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. The men and the two planes they brought to Van Nuys this weekend--the Tornado and the F-4 fighter--are based there.

The German planes travel to air shows around the country. And when Graves and Hollstin explain why, the response is typically: “Welcome to the United States,” they said.

The heat may have reduced attendance at this year’s air show, said Stacy Geere, the event’s coordinator.

On Saturday--when temperatures around the San Fernando Valley climbed over 100 degrees--100,000 people attended.

Sunday--when the skies were overcast much of the morning--attendance improved to roughly 125,000 people.

That’s 75,000 off the usual weekend total of 300,000, Geere said.