2024 Pacific Airshow: Director Kevin Elliott opens up on why he loves the Gold Coast
Pacific Airshow boss Kevin Elliott loves the Gold Coast and it’s not just because his event, now in its second year, is already the city’s largest and a major economic driver. HIS STORY
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Pacific Airshow boss Kevin Elliott loves the Gold Coast.
It’s not just because his event, now in its second year, is already the city’s largest and a major economic driver – it’s the people, the lifestyle and the scenery.
The American says he considers himself “a bit of a local”, especially after dubbing his three-month-old daughter Goldie after the city she was conceived in during last year’s airshow.
“We are committed to the Gold Coast and we are laying roots down here,” he said.
“The only difficulty is housing, especially as a foreigner but we love being here.
“This has been a really special time for my wife Jane and I because we have fond memories of bringing (my son) Jett here when he was six weeks old and then at last year’s Airshow when Goldie was conceived.
“To bring her back here at three months old with her brother is a fantastic experience – and these are memories which our family will have for a lifetime.
“It’s a great feeling to be part of the community and we now have friends here and I will do my best to continue this and add as much value as possible and have a positive contribution.”
While the Airshow is largely viewed as a US-based event, given its original event is held in Huntington Beach, California, Mr Elliott said the perception was incorrect.
“We actually have more people now based here than we do in the US,” He said.
“People think of it as this American thing because it was founded there but we have really found our home here in Australia.
“The team here now actually manages the event back in the states, so it’s an American-founded event which is run by Aussies and a few Kiwis.”
THE YEARS AHEAD
As the planes take to the sky for another year – the three-day Airshow kicked off on Friday – Mr Elliott says he’s already looking to play an even bigger role in the city in the next decade as the Gold Coast prepares to co-host the 2032 Olympic Games.
But before he gets there, he’ll be playing a role in preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, sitting on the board of directors for LA Sports which is helping to prepare for the event.
“I’m really excited for the 2028 Games (in Mr Elliott’s native California) and Huntington Beach is working diligently to secure the surfing, so there are already a lot of parallels for the Gold Coast because both host the Pacific Airshow and are both hoping to host the same sports.
“It would be such an honour to play a part on both Games – it is the dream for our team.
“We have many Queenslanders who are part of the team and it is such a special relationship between the two locations and the camaraderie is really special.”
Despite his love of the Olympics, Mr Elliott barely saw any of the Paris Games in recent weeks while focused on the logistics of this year’s airshow.
“I didn’t get to catch much of the Olympics because I was heading out here and had my head down during it, I didn’t even get to see the closing ceremony but I will get back to watch it,” he said.
FLYING HIGH
Preparations for this year’s airshow began after last year’s event wrapped up in August 2023.
A success far beyond expectations, more than 250,000 people flocked to Surfers Paradise beach – ticketed and non-ticketed – across its three days to watch planes from around the world do their manoeuvres.
This year promises to be bigger and better.
The event is tipped to inject more than $25m into the economy.
Patrons are travelling from as far away as the US, UK and United Arab Emirates to attend the event, which will feature some of the world’s most advanced fighter jets performing daring aerial demonstrations above the Glitter Strip.
Among the headline acts to be featured will be the F-35 Lighting, F-22 Raptor and the F-18 Super Hornet.
Tram services will be dramatically ramped up during the three days of the event to cope with capacity, with ticketholders travelling for free on the light rail.
The airshow precinct, which includes cabanas, grandstands and entertainment venues is more than 500m longer this year, dramatically expanding after a sellout audience at the inaugural event in 2023.
Airshow chief operating officer Sam Pearce said in the lead-up that this year’s event was not expected to sell out, owing to the increased capacity but would still be larger than 2023, with more than 30,000 ticketholders tipped to travel into the precinct each of the three days.
Mr Elliott said he was most looking forward to seeing the F-35 in action.
“Frankly, this year’s line-up is second-to-none and I don’t think there has been anything like it in all of Australia from a diversity point of view,” he said.
“My favourite plane of this year’s line-up is the F-35 and we will be getting to see a full demonstration by the RAAF, so if it is anything like what they did with the F-18 Super-Hornet last year when they left it all on the table, it should be amazing.
“The RAAF is absolutely incredible.”
THE COUNTDOWN
The final week lead up has been a nervous wait for organisers who were forced to contend with heavy rain and dark clouds which blanketed the city for four days.
Even before the weather cleared on Thursday afternoon, Mr Elliott said he was confident 2024’s show would exceed the debut last year.
“We are feeling great, it’s been soggy in the lead-up but nothing will keep this team down and we are making it bigger and better and are in great spirits, especially now all the performances have arrived and are ready to deliver an incredible weekend for the Gold Coast,” he said.
“Obviously there are things we cannot control like weather and that makes you nervous but our team is the best of the best.”
The Pacific Airshow started on Friday and runs Saturday and Sunday.
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