AI 2024 Kansas City Recap

2024 – Kansas City, MO, Hilton Airport Hotel. The Convention returned to Kansas City for the first time since 2007. The convention was a success and the number of international guests and vendors was back to pre-pandemic levels. It was good to see so many new faces and young aviation enthusiasts! The tours of Jet Midwest, the L-1011 Flying Hospital, and National Weather Service were quite popular. Seminars by Moto Art (thank you for the gift cards), Joe Crawford, Dan Goldzband and others furthered our mission to preserve this history of the world’s airlines.

Friday Night at the Props was held at the TWA Museum at 10 Richards Road, with delicious dinner provided by Joe’s Kansas City BBQ. Attendees were able to enjoy dinner inside the Ambassador Lounge and in airline seats throughout the museum. Leading some to exclaim, “This was the best coach meal ever!”

Saturday evening’s banquet speaker was YouTube vlogger Noel Phillips, who entertained us with stories and videos of his adventures flying in Russia and Ukraine on vintage Soviet-era aircraft.

Seminars will be posted soon on the WAHS YouTube channel.

Follow this link to view the Flight Operations Guide for AI-2024.

Jim “JET” Thompson received the 2024 Paul Collins Award for his continued enthusiasm and love of the hobby and support of the World Airline Historical Society. JET is Lifetime Member #1 and is the only member who has attended every Airliners International^TM convention! Thank you, JET, for all you have done for the Society and the airline hobby.

Jim “JET” Thompson and WAHS President Phil Brooks

Banquet Trivia Contest – Hosted by Jim “JET” Thompson

1st Place – Jeff Jarvis

2nd Place – Jeff Cacy

3rd Place – Mary Hoy

Thanks for Trying – Chris DeVasier

Banquet Name the Plane Contest – Hosted by Keith Armes

1st Place – Nigel Leishman

2nd Place – Robert Trader

3rd Place – Rachel Philips

Thanks for Trying – Martin Weaver

Airliners International 2024 Model Contest Results

This year nine modelers entered a total of 19 models. Andrew Stiffler entered the most models in the contest with five entries consisting of 13 models. Matt Vance was the last to enter this year though it was not due to any last-minute assembling/painting. Congratulations to the winners! Thank you to all who entered and contest administrators David Grandy and Ken Miller.

View the photography and model contest winners and the postcards exhibits by following this link.