Past Airliners Conventions
We welcome corrections/additions to the information shown here. At the bottom of the page you’ll find graphics for past convention stickers. We’re working to add Flight Operations Guides (convention booklets) as well. Enjoy!
1977 – Cincinnati, Ohio, Americana Inn
The inaugural convention, hosted by founders Paul and Pat Collins, featured three days of trading, a slide show, movies from the New York sales offices of various carriers, a trip to the Air Force museum, rides on an ex-Air New England DC-3, model contest, and “tons of postcards and schedules.” The Saturday night banquet featured “Jet” Williams of the Jet Away Travel Club and two free tickets to Mexico on the club’s Convair 880. At the Saturday business meeting, it was voted to hold the convention annually. Host cities nominated for 1978 included Chicago, Dallas, San Mateo, Calif., and Toronto, Canada. Paul also announced that the ex-Air New England DC-3 had been chartered to take 24 people from Cincinnati to Toronto for the 1978 convention, with 7 seats already sold!
1978 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Skyline Hotel
The focus of the prior year’s show was continuing the momentum at Toronto. Hosted by Brian Dunn and Jeff Ward. The exhibit hall was opened at 9:00 am on Friday and closed at 1:00 pm on Sunday for an “informal pool party.” Slides and movie presentations, including some that hadn’t been shown the previous year, were presented all three days during the display hall hours. Model and photo contest winners were announced at the Saturday banquet, featuring guest speaker Dave McAree, OPS manager at Toronto International Airport.
1979 – Dallas, Texas, Quality Inn Cibola
This year’s convention, hosted by George W. Cearley, Jr., featured free tours of the American Airlines Flight Academy and Learning Center plus photo tours of DFW featuring Air France and British Airways Concordes used in the Braniff interchange, Braniff 747s, and others. Hotel rates were $28/$35 single/double, display tables cost $7 for the first one and $2 for each additional table. The display hall was open Saturday from 8:00 am until the banquet (George Hof, AA Director of Flying OPS was the keynote speaker) and then from 10:00 pm to midnight, before opening again Sunday at 8:00 am. We have no booklet from this show — only a newsletter announcing the events. If you have a booklet, please contact us!
1980 – Detroit, Michigan, Airport Ramada
The 4th Annual Convention, hosted by the Motor City Airline Club, celebrated Detroit Metropolitan Airport’s 50th anniversary. Ron Davies thrilled attendees as the banquet speaker. The display hall opened Friday morning and closed for the last time at noon on Sunday. Friday night included a 7:30 pm pool party and a “t-shirt contest” at the pool!
1981 – Miami, Florida, Diplomat Hotel
The Southern Florida Airline Historical Association hosted the 5th annual convention. The exhibit hall was open all day Friday and for two hours after the Saturday night banquet. Retired Captain Richard “Dick” Kruse (Pan American World Airways) was the keynote speaker. Sunday featured Chalk’s Seaplane rides and a tour of the Pan Am International Flight Academy. Complimentary golf and tennis were offered as well. Friday featured a “get-together for female delegates.”
1982 – Newport Beach, California, Sheraton Newport Beach
“Airliners International has grown larger and is now almost reaching the point where professional organization will soon be required,” proclaimed the Southern California Airline Enthusiasts, hosts of the convention. The convention included the Friday and Saturday display area and a special sandwich bar located in the Convention Lobby was heralded. Tours were available to the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 Super 80 production line. Republic Airlines was thanked for “its generous contribution of the convention’s grand prize.” R.E.G. “Ron” Davies entertained the banquet attendees with his presentation titled “Airline Conquest of the Atlantic Ocean: 19225-1939.” The convention also featured an earthquake sending hotel guests fleeing into the parking lot in all forms of undress since it was an overnight event.
1983 – Alexandria, Virginia, Stouffer’s National Center Hotel
A walk-through tour of the Concorde was a Friday feature of the 1983 convention. The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in downtown Washington, DC, and its restoration facility in Silver Hill, MD, were prominent tour destinations. A Henson Airlines Dash 7 flight lasting 30 minutes was offered for just $15. The host, Washington Airline Society, also noted that streamlining the convention was necessary due to the crowds that were showing up each year. Banquet speakers included Captain William “Bill” Masland, a veteran Pan Am pilot who flew almost every Pan Am airliner from the Commodore to 707s; and Captain Anthony “Tony” Meadows who captained the inaugural British Airways New York-London and London-Singapore Concorde flights before becoming manager of BA’s Concorde flight training. The convention was hosted by the Washington Airline Society,
1984 – St. Louis, Missouri, Airport Marriott
The 1984 convention, hosted by the St. Louis Airline Enthusiasts, was dedicated to the memory of Willard Thomas, a St. Louis airline enthusiast who helped launch the convention. Author Robert “Bob” Serling, former United Press International aviation news editor, headlined the Saturday night banquet.
1985 – San Jose, California, Red Lion San Jose Airport
Though billed as a San Francisco event, the 1985 convention was held down the peninsula in San Jose and hosted by Thomas Livesey and Tom Dragges. Display hall hours continued their Friday-Saturday trend. But gone were the late-night hours of some previous years. A tour to NASA Ames Research Center at Moffet Field, California, was offered. Jon Proctor, aviation historian, former TWA flight attendant, and author was the banquet speaker due to a late cancellation by Dan McKinnon, former and final chairman of the CAB before its closing in December 1984.
July 17-19, 1986 – Hartford, Connecticut, Parkview Hilton Hotel
The 10th Anniversary convention moved east. Photo, model, and display contests, inaugurated at the first Airliners International convention were now part of the standard fare. Hosted by Bill Demarest and Tom Norwood, tours included Pratt and Whitney’s manufacturing facility and the New England Air Museum. The convention booklet included a special tribute to Paul Collins for founding the World Airline Historical Society, as it was now called. A special screening of Flight of the Concorde was held for attendees.
1987 – Indianapolis, Indiana, Adam’s Mark Hotel
Indy Airline Enthusiasts (led by Phil Brooks and Arthur Smit-Roeters) welcomed guests to the beginning of a new decade of conventions, and with it came some non-airline tours including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and historic Union Station. For diehard aviation enthusiasts, however, Indianapolis International Airport terminal and ramp tours were offered. There were two banquet speakers to delight attendees: Dan Orcutt, Executive Director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority, and Captain Frank Petee, Director-Special Projects Flight with US Air.
1988 – Denver, Colorado, Clarion Airport Hotel
The Mile High City brought aviation enthusiasts to Stapleton International Airport and tours took registrants to United Airlines’ training center and the newly remodeled Concourse B and other station facilities. Aspen Airways maintenance facility, the Lowry Air Force Base Museum, and Jeppesen Sanderson (the world’s largest supplier of aviation maps and navigational charts) were also on the tour schedule. A half-hour north of Denver at the tiny Erie Airpark/Tri Count Airport was the Convair Restaurant, a 990 version that flew for American Airlines and Denver’s Ports of Call Travel Club. The banquet speaker was Captain Clay Lacy, who guided a United Airlines 747-SP named Friendship One on an around-the-world record-setting flight with 100 philanthropic passengers, making the journey in 36 hours, 54 minutes, 15 seconds. Hosts were Al Minich and Paul Andes.
1989 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Skyline Airport Hotel
For the first time in convention history, the show returned to the same city and even the same hotel as a previous convention. The Ontario Aviation Enthusiasts declared their pride that Toronto was “the only city to have hosted Airliners International twice, the first time being the 2nd Airliners International Convention, in 1978.” They also noted another first: “a programme of events to “non-delegates” including a city tour, a fashion show and a children’s banquet which will run parallel to the closing banquet on Saturday evening.” Air Ontario offered 40-minute Niagara Falls flightseeing tours using DHC-8 aircraft, and the Boeing Canada deHavilland factory tour complimented the schedule. Banquet speakers were Tom Lewis, SVP/COO Odyssey International Airlines and Tony Pilszka, YYZ station manager for American Airlines. In the program booklet we also see the first reference to a by-invitation-only Perfect Attendance Breakfast on Sunday morning.
1990 – Seattle, Washington, Red Lion Hotel/Sea-Tac
The so-called Pacific Northwest Airliner Enthusiasts, led by Jon Proctor, Fred Chan and Jay Prall, brought the Airliners International Convention to Boeing’s hometown for the 14th annual event. The event included mail-in registration for the first time and tours beginning on Wednesday. Boeing/Everett, SEA ramp, Alaska Air Group’s corporate offices, Horizon Air F-28 flights to recently-erupted Mt. St. Helens, and Lake Union Air Beavers flight-seeing rounded out the tour opportunities. Tex Johnston, former Boeing test pilot who barrel rolled the prototype 707 over Lake Washington, was the banquet speaker.
1991 – Orlando, Florida, International Drive Marriott
This Orlando show was memorable in that many of our attendees participated in our Trans-Florida Convair 240 sightseeing flights! Our featured banquet speaker was Martin “Marty” Caidin, noted author of Boeing 707, among other books. And the poolside slide show is still talked about today! Hosts were Don and Linda Levine and Phil Glatt.
1992 – Orange County, California, Hyatt Regency Irvine
California seems to lead the country in many ways. That was evident in the 1992 convention with tours starting Tuesday, an aviation art show, and a Convair flight to Mojave Airport (rather than just a flight-seeing trip departing/arriving the same airport). A trip to Los Angeles would not be complete without an LAX ramp tour and a side trip to the Planes of Fame Museum in nearby Chino. The highlight of the convention was banquet speaker Captain Al Haynes who crash-landed his crippled United Airlines DC-10 in Sioux City, IA, saving the lives of many of his passengers. Convention hosts were John Dekker and Kase Dekker.
1993 – Washington, DC, Hyatt Regency Crystal City
Ten years after its first appearance in the Washington, DC, area, Airliners International returned to the nation’s capital. Another first was the return of author R.E.G. “Ron” Davies as the banquet speaker. Pennsylvania’s Mid Atlantic Air Museum brought a special guest to the convention and National Airport, their recently acquired Viscount 745D in Capital Airlines colors. Also on the tour schedule were visits to Washington Dulles International Airport and a possible Concorde sighting, the Smithsonian Museum’s aircraft restoration and storage center, Baltimore-Washington International Airport, and Andrews Air Force Base where the Presidential jet fleet was maintained. Another first was a Thursday “dealers only” night for enjoying the exhibit hall. The program booklet also noted local places of worship for those seeking a spiritual end to the busy weekend. Thanks again to the Washington Airline Society.
1994 – Atlanta, Georgia, Sheraton Gateway Hotel Atlanta Airport & Georgia International Convention Center
Delta Air Lines was a prominent player in the 1994 convention. Tours included the airline’s Technical Operations Center and museum plus ATL airport. DC-3 flights and a Confederate Air Force display of vintage aircraft rounded out the excitement. The host committee (led by John Joiner and Tony Trapp) tapped retired Delta captain, Thomas Prioleau “Pre” Ball. Captain Ball piloted the Delta Queen, the carrier’s first Convair 880, from San Diego to Atlanta, setting a National Aeronautic Association transcontinental speed record.
1995 – Phoenix, Arizona, Marriott’s Camelback Inn Resort, Golf Club & Spa
The 1995 convention set two new marks in convention history. For the first time, a beautiful resort rather than an airport hotel was the site of Airliners International. Thursday also saw the early opening of the display hall for all registrants from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Like the previous year’s convention, multiple DC-3 flights were offered including “scenic,” “Grand Canyon,” and “Champagne” flights. And in the manner of past conventions, Sky Harbor Airport was a preferred destination. Alan Merkle served as convention host. Banquet speaker was retired United captain Ralph Johnson.
1996 – Minneapolis, Minnesota, Radisson Hotel South and Plaza Tower
“Little did we know in 1977 that the small gathering at the Cincinnati Flagship Inn would result in a yearly convention. Now, here we are in Minneapolis, MN, ready to celebrate our 20th anniversary!” exclaimed Paul and Pat Collins, co-chairs of the historic event. Ramp tours of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport, Northwest Airlines, Sun Country, Mesaba, and the Northwest Company Store were primed for guests. The Kalamazoo Air Museum brought its Ford Tri-Motor for those looking for a new aircraft to add to their “have flown” list. Tours were available beginning on Tuesday, and the exhibit hall stayed open until 8:00 pm. And for the second time, there was a reference in the program booklet to houses of worship near the convention site. Jon Proctor, Paul Collins, and Daniel McDowell of Minnesota Aviation entertained at the banquet.
1997 – Colorado Springs, Colorado, Sheraton Hotel
Non-airline area attractions headlined the tour options for 1987. Flights on C-47 and C-45 aircraft were canceled due to insufficient bookings. The traditional Thursday evening Welcome Reception was a free event hosted by the hotel, while Roy Thompson hosted the convention. The triangular logo was produced as a “pocket badge/crest” but turned out to be in short supply. Today this item is very rare and unfortunately, none was preserved for the Airliners International archives. NASA astronaut Dr. Ronald Sega was the keynote speaker at the banquet.
1998 – Seattle, Washington, DoubleTree Hotel at Seattle Airport
When Airliners International returned to the Emerald City, the Red Lion SeaTac had morphed into the DoubleTree Hotel and underwent a major facelift. Yet convention planners Jay Prall and Fred Chan noted that though the 13,600 square-foot display area had remained the same, dealer demand for table space had mushroomed since 1990. Some folks had to be turned away, calling the situation the “awkward stage where our needs are beginning to exceed the capacity of most hotels, yet we are not able to justify the next step up which is to utilize a convention center.” The event focused on the 40th Anniversary of the Boeing 707’s entry into service with Pan Am on the New York-London route. Alaska Airlines, the official airline of the convention, and Sea-Tac airport opened their doors to guests. There were Boeing 247D, Travel Air 4000, and Waco UPF-7 rides. Captain Al Haynes returned to the Saturday night banquet to retell the story of United Flight 232 which historically ended in Sioux City, IA. 295 people attended his banquet presentation! But this Seattle show also marked another big turning point for the annual convention: the display hall opened to the general public for much of Thursday in addition to Friday and Saturday.
1999 – St. Louis, Renaissance St. Louis Airport
TWA was the focus of Airliners International 1999 with tours of its Pilot Training Center and TWA Clipped Wings Flight Attendants modeling their vintage uniforms from the 1930s to the 1960s. The host hotel’s Penthouse Ballroom with its spectacular views of the airport provided an ideal location for the annual WAHS business meeting and the casual Welcome Party on Thursday night. A 1941 Stearman provided biplane rides. The McDonnell Douglas Prologue Room also welcomed guests as did a Boeing aircraft tour. Thanks to convention hosts Art Weiss and Marshall Pumphrey. Banquet speakers were Captain Dennis Maloney (TWA’s December 11, 1968 hijacking event) and author Tim O’Callahan.
2000 – Phoenix, Arizona. Marriott’s Camelback Inn
For the third year in a row, the convention returned to a previous convention city. The beautiful Camelback Inn got the nod for a return visit, hosted by Alan Merkle. A Martin 4-0-4 visit had to be canceled at the last minute due to technical problems between the operator and the FAA; but there was still plenty to do with Tucson, Phoenix aviation, and Sky Harbor Airport bus tours. A grand buffet breakfast in the hotel’s dining room was included in the registration fee. Bob Bogash, Boeing 737 test pilot, was the banquet speaker.
2001 – Miami, Florida, Radisson Mart Plaza Hotel
Airliners International celebrated its 25th anniversary in Miami. It was a return visit to the land of palm trees after a 20-year absence. Convention co-hosts were Don and Linda Levine and Bill Demarest. Ramp tours of Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Opa Locka airports filled the schedule. The FAA opened its doors to registrants and Chalk’s Ocean Airways once again provided scenic flights. Judge A. Jay Cristol was selected as the keynote speaker at the Saturday night banquet. Cristol had presided over many high-profile bankruptcy cases including Arrow Air and Pan American Airways. In fact, the reorganized Pan Am plan was so well received by the new company that its first new aircraft, a Boeing 727-200, was named the Clipper A. Jay Cristol.
2002 – Houston, Texas, Sheraton North Houston Intercontinental Airport
Just months after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America, Houston welcomed the annual convention. It was an unusual time. Co-hosts Duane Young and Dick Wallin noted that “security restrictions and the economic fallout have curtailed or prevented a number of activities that we had planned.” They also noted that “plain clothes security personnel will be circulating around the showroom at all times.” But with Intercontinental Airport, Hobby Airport, and Ellington Field nearby there were still plenty of aviation locations and tours for registrants. Captain Bob Buck, retired TWA pilot and author of North Star Over My Shoulder was the banquet speaker.
2003 – Columbus, Ohio, Hyatt Regency Columbus Hotel
For the first time in Airliners International history, the Saturday night banquet featured a top-ranking airline executive: Edwin I. Colodny. Mr. Colodny served as chief executive officer of US Air, Inc. and US Air Group until his retirement in 1991. Colodny had come up through the ranks of Allegheny Airlines and oversaw the company’s rebranding to US Air in 1979. Convention host Jim “JET” Thompson also served as banquet emcee.
2004 – Los Angeles, California, Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Los Angeles International Airport
Conventions in the Los Angeles area have always attracted major crowds to see “all the newest aircraft in the coolest color schemes” and to step back in time at the Mojave Boneyard. The 2004 venue also provided tours to Long Beach and Chino airports, DC-3 flights, lunch at the Encounter Restaurant, and an exclusive tour of the Observation Deck at the LAX landmark. Veteran airline executive, David A. Banmiller, was the banquet’s keynote speaker. Banmiller’s career spanned TWA, Sun Country, Pan Am, Air Cal, Sun Jet, American Airlines, and Air Jamaica. Convention hosts were Marshall Pumphrey and Craig Morris.
2005 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Four Points by Sheraton – Milwaukee Airport
A number of innovations were offered for the Milwaukee Convention including a Friday night dance to the sounds of a 19-piece big band and a Wisconsin “Supper Club,” a blend of drinks, dinner, and live entertainment. Rene Foss’s Around the World in a Bad Mood, a one-woman play which had made it to Broadway, was the evening’s entertainment. Oshkosh, the Air Force’s 128th Air Refueling Wing, Midwest Airlines, and Skyway Airlines provided tour opportunities. Convention delegation was led by Andrew Stiffler, Tom Kalina and Joe Yeager.
2006 – Washington, DC, Sheraton Premiere Hotel – Tysons Corner
The 30th Anniversary convention returned to the nation’s capital and all its aviation resources including the area’s airports, Andrews Air Force Base, the FAA Potomac TRACON Center, the FAA System Command Center, and the National Air and Space Museum facilities. In addition to the Thursday Welcome Reception, the organizing committee served up a Friday night Chesapeake Crab Feast at the hotel. Igor Sikorsky, Jr. headlined the banquet and the newly restored Trans Canada Lockheed 10A was scheduled to make an appearance at Washington Dulles International Airport. Thanks to Steve Morgan, convention host.
2007 – Kansas City, Missouri, KCI Expo Center in cooperation with the Holiday Inn Kansas City Airport
The 2007 Convention honored Paul Collins, whose vision and love of airline memorabilia had launched the Airliners International conventions. Collins’s passing came less than a month before the Kansas City show. Jon Proctor, aka “Mr. TWA” and a longtime friend of Paul’s, was the banquet speaker. In two other breaks with tradition, the Kansas City show utilized the KCI Expo Center rather than a hotel ballroom for the display hall. The Thursday Welcome Party and “Friday Night at the Props BBQ” were hosted in the National Airline History Museum under the wings of a TWA Constellation and Martin 4-0-4. It would be a historic preview of future convention events in aviation museums, including the 2008 Dallas, 2011 Portland, and 2015 and 2019 Atlanta shows. Tours took guests to the American Airlines maintenance base, on MCI ramp tours, and the salvage yard of White Industries. Chris Slimmer served as convention host.
2008 – Dallas, Texas, Sheraton Grand Hotel DFW
Just a year later the C.R. Smith Museum hosted Airliners International for a BBQ dinner under the wings of an American DC-3. With hometown carriers American Airlines at DFW and Southwest Airlines at Dallas Hobby Airport, there was plenty to see and do. American opened the doors to its maintenance facilities and tower. Even a tornado watch during the convention couldn’t dampen all the show activity and the great airport views from the hotel tower. Craig Morris served as convention host and authors Robert J. Serling and Captain William Ippolito shared the banquet podium.
2009 – Orlando, Florida, Wyndham Orlando Resort
The summer heat, humidity, and thunderstorms couldn’t keep buyers and sellers from another visit to Orlando. The Fantasy of Flight Museum, Orlando International Airport, AirTran, JetBlue, and Continental Airlines were prime participants in the tour process. Carlos Gomez, president of the Historical Flight Foundation and revered for the restoration of the Eastern Air Lines DC-7B, told the fascinating story of growing up in Miami’s famous “Corrosion Corner” where his dad worked. Gomez at the time was operating a DC-7B, DC-6, and a DC-4 under the company name of Florida Air Transport. Don and Linda Levine, and Bill Demarest served as convention hosts.
2010 – Newark, New Jersey, The Robert Treat Hotel
Though billed as the New York show, downtown Newark, NJ was the venue for the 2010 show. With a rooftop Welcome Party and fabulous views of arriving and departing air traffic, it was reminiscent of an earlier show in St. Louis. Just steps from Newark’s Penn Station and within sight of the constant flow of commuter trains, the hotel provided something for aviation and rail buffs alike. Continental Airlines’ Chelsea Flight Kitchen provided a new taste in convention tours and Continental’s EWR Operations Tower and Maintenance Hangar added additional opportunities outside the trading floor. Convention attendees also had the extremely rare opportunity to fly out of nearby Teterboro Airport aboard a recently restored Eastern DC-7B that only flew passengers briefly. The aircraft was flown in from South Florida just for the event. With its proximity to national media personnel in New York City, convention organizers tapped Robert Hager, retired NBC News Aviation Correspondent, to speak at the banquet. Thanks to convention host Jeff Matera for organizing this year’s show.
2011 – Portland, Oregon, Red Lion Hotel on the River, Jantzen Beach
With floor-to-ceiling glass walls and views of the adjacent Columbia River, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Hood, the Portland venue provided an alternative to the usual four walls and artificial lighting of most convention venues. Jay Prall once again served as convention host. Tours took guests to sites as far away as the Tillamook Air Museum, the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum in Hood River, and McMinnville’s famed Evergreen Air and Space Museum. The exhibit hall featured beautiful floor-size aircraft models courtesy of Alaska Air and Horizon Air, official airlines of the convention. Horizon Air headquarters, Boeing’s Portland Paint Shop, and PDX opened their doors. Thursday’s Welcome Party combined a picnic on the riverside deck plus a bus tour over to Ft. Vancouver’s historic Pearson Field and Museum. Seaport Airlines offered scenic tours of three Northwest mountains on its Pilatus PC-12 fleet. Addison Pemberton brought his Boeing 40C for display and flight-seeing trips. Bob Bogash returned as banquet speaker and told the story of how Seattle’s Museum of Flight acquired the Trans Canada Airlines Lockheed Super G Constellation.
2012 – Memphis, Tennessee, Hilton Hotel
Though the King (Elvis Presley) was gone, convention guests arrived in Memphis where the Lisa Marie, a Convair 880 formerly flown by Delta Air Lines was still entertaining visitors as was FedEx with tours of their maintenance base and nighttime package sort hub. The FAA’s Memphis Center and airport tower complemented ramp tours. If you were looking to ride another unusual airliner, SeaPort Airlines took bookings for Cessna Caravan sightseeing flights. Tapping hometown talent, Paul Cassell, FedEx Senior Vice President of Flight Operations, told insider stories about life at FedEx during the banquet. Andrew Stiffler served as convention host.
2013 – Cleveland, Ohio, Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel
Cleveland, a United Airlines hub after the merger with Continental Airlines, welcomed Airliners International in 2013. United rolled out the red carpet with night tours of the overnight 737 maintenance hangars, their operations tower, and a visit to the maintenance hanger of CommutAir, a United Express partner. Farther north, Griffing Flying Service, Liberty Aviation Museum, and the Tri-Motor Heritage Foundation and Museum attracted registrants to their piece of aviation history. The banquet took on an international flavor with Gianfranco “Panda” Beting, director of communications and branding at Azul Brasilian Airlines, and his extensive photography collection. Chris Slimmer and Bill Demarest were this year’s convention co-hosts.
2014 – Los Angeles, California, Sheraton Gateway LAX Hotel
When is a convention in Los Angeles not a good thing? They always tend to be some of the largest on the still-evolving list of host cities. But this time there was a specific large object as the focus-the Airbus A380 and its very visible presence at LAX. In addition to the usual nearby aviation attractions, the Victorville boneyard, a tour of the Robinson Helicopter Company Factory, and flight-seeing LAX-style on Star Helicopters provided new diversions. Marshall Pumphrey and Craig Morris once again served as convention co-hosts. Mike Machat, aviation historian, illustrator, pilot, and long-time friend of Airliners International conventions and the World Airline Historical Society, was the keynote speaker at the Saturday evening banquet.
June 17-20, 2015 – Atlanta, Georgia, Delta Flight Museum in cooperation with the Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel It had been 39 years since Paul Collins and a small group gathered for the first Airliners International convention in Cincinnati. Now a big change was possible with the complete renovation of the Delta Flight Museum. Challenging the status and size of Los Angeles events, the 2015 show took place under the wings of the museum’s 767 “Spirit of Delta.” The venue also included the museum’s 737-200 simulator and a host of other historic aircraft. Delta opened the doors to the Technical Operations and Flight Training Center, while affiliate ExpressJet, rolled back the hangar doors to its maintenance base. Ramp tours of ATL including a stop at “Radar Hill” for photography sold out early. The Renaissance Concourse Hotel was swamped with people wanting an airside room; some had to settle for the airport views from the Welcome Party. On Saturday night the meal function shifted back to the museum where author and former Northwest Airlines flight attendant Anne Billingsley Kerr shared her impressions of passenger flight in the 1950s, the golden age of passenger flight. Chris Slimmer and Bill Demarest were once again this year’s convention co-hosts.
2016 – New Orleans, Louisiana, Airport Hilton Hotel. The world’s largest gathering of airline enthusiasts descended upon the Big Easy for tours of MSY and the Airbus facility in MOB. The banquet guest speaker was Enrique Perrella, Airways magazine’s president & editor-in-chief. Duane Young was the host of this year’s convention.
2017 – Denver, Colorado. Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Hotel. Airliners International returned to the Mile High City after a 29-year absence under the direction of convention host Steve Maddux. Airline enthusiasts took advantage of tours of the DIA ramp, Frontier’s operations and training center, and SkyWest’s maintenance base in Colorado Springs. Of course, everyone enjoyed the selling, buying and trading in our exhibit hall. Our special guest speaker at the annual banquet was Brian Baum who told us about his flight around the world on Pan Am Flight 50 and the Boeing 747SP.
2018 – Washington, DC, DoubleTree by Hilton at Crystal City. The world’s largest gathering of airline enthusiasts returned to the nation’s capital with over 1,000 people attending and enjoying our tours of IAD and DCA. Our special banquet guest speaker was Bob Van der Linden of the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. Chris Slimmer and Bill Demarest were this year’s convention co-hosts.
2019 – Atlanta, Georgia, Delta Flight Museum in cooperation with the Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel. The ‘World’s Largest Annual Airline History Convention and Airline Collectibles Show’ returned to Atlanta and the Delta Flight Museum with over 1,500 attendees from all over the world. Our guest speaker this year was Timothy Frilingos, Delta Flight Museum Project Manager, who shared with us a behind-the-scenes look at the incredible task of “Saving The Queen” – acquiring, preserving, and displaying the first Boeing 747-400 ever built. Chris Slimmer and Bill Demarest were again this year’s convention co-hosts. See the contest winners.
2020 – Phoenix Arizona, Tempe Mission Palms Hotel. Airliners International 2020 was postponed until July 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
July 7-10, 2021 – Phoenix Arizona, Tempe Mission Palms Hotel. This year’s convention was well-attended, even though we weren’t able to welcome many foreign enthusiasts. Tours included Goodyear Airport’s boneyard and the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, AZ. Self-confessed “airline geek” Jeff Cacy gave an entertaining and all-encompassing presentation during the Saturday banquet. We learned the meaning of the word “haboob” during the almost nightly dust storms! Chris Slimmer, Elizabeth Vaughn and Bill Demarest served as this year’s convention co-hosts. See the contest winners. Read the Flight Operations Guide.
June 23-25, 2022 – Chicago, Illinois, Hilton Rosemont Hotel. This was the first time in the Society’s history we brought Airliners International to the “Windy City.” The convention was well-attended and we were again able to welcome foreign enthusiasts and vendors. Thursday night’s Welcome Reception was a minor league baseball game between the Chicago Dogs and Milwaukee Milkmen. Tours included Station Operations at American and United, ORD Ramp Tours, and Night Maintenance tours at American and United. The tours were fantastic! Saturday evening’s banquet speaker Howie Franklin, former US Air Force Steward, shared stories and photographs of his time serving aboard the unique Boeing 707 and 747 aircraft. He’s the only steward to serve five US presidents on Air Force One. Thanks to Chris Slimmer and Bill Demarest for once again serving as co-hosts of our convention. Read the convention recap and see the contest winners. Read the Flight Operations Guide.
June 22-24, 2023 – Fort Worth, Texas, Hyatt Regency Hotel. The Convention returned to the Metroplex for the first time since 2008. 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 seminars were a big draw this year, with the most popular being YouTube vlogger Noel Philips, Trisha Ferguson, CEO of The Interaction Group-one of the world’s largest producers of safety cards, and a special Braniff history presentation and fashion show. Thursday night’s Welcome Reception was held in Grapevine. Tours sold out quickly! Saturday evening’s banquet speaker was Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo, the first female pilot hired by a major US airline (American Airlines) in 1973. Bonnie shared stories of her career from her beginnings at Pompano Air Park (FL) until retiring as a Boeing 767 captain at JFK, and took time to sign autographs and answer questions until well after midnight. Convention co-hosts were Chris Slimmer, Bill Demarest and Steve Cosgrove. Read the convention recap and contest winners. Read the Flight Operations Guide.
June 26-29, 2024 – Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas City Airport Hilton Hotel. The Convention returned to Kansas City for the first time since 2007. Aviation enthusiasts of all ages from across the globe came to Kansas City. The tours of Jet Midwest, the L-1011 Experience (thank you Interaction Group for the safety card), and National Weather Service were enjoyed by many. Seminars by Moto Art (thank you for the gift card), Charles Kennedy, Joe Crawford, Dan Goldzband and others furthered our mission to preserve the history of the world’s airlines. The TWA Museum at 10 Richards Road hosted our “Friday Night at the Props” and we enjoyed award-winning BBQ from Joe’s Kansas City BBQ. Attendees ate dinner in the hangar, 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. 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 InternationalTM convention! Convention co-hosts were Chris Slimmer, Steve Cosgrove and Bill Demarest. Read the convention recap and see contest winners. Read the Flight Operations Guide.
June 25-28, 2025 – Atlanta, Georgia. Convention co-hosts are Chris Slimmer, Steve Cosgrove and Bill Demarest. More information is available at airlinersinternational.org.
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