Previously held in Narromine, the event aims to provide a single place where anyone with an interest in aviation can gather to share their passion.

It could include 400 aircraft, with up to 10,000 visitors expected to attend over the three days.

In addition to static displays of aircraft, everything associated with maintaining, designing, building, flying, training and teaching will be on display, culminating with a spectacular air show on the Saturday afternoon.

Cessnock City Council voted at last week’s meeting to give the event $75,000 in sponsorship, on the condition that the Hunter Valley Visitor Information Centre be promoted as the nominated booking agency, that a full financial plan for the event be provided to the council, and that audited accounts be presented to council after the event.

The sponsorship would include a once-off cost of $38,000 towards civil works for a camping area and taxiways, and would also cover temporary ablution facilities, temporary fencing, waste servicing and site remediation. 

Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent said he was pleased AirVenture chose Cessnock to host this exciting event and hopes to see it added to the annual calendar.

“We’ve never hosted anything like this before. It will not only attract more visitors to our region, but also be a great event for local residents to experience,” he said.

“It’s wonderful to attract another fantastic event to our region and no doubt it will provide a healthy injection into our local economy.”

AirVenture Australia spokesperson David Young said his team is excited about this year’s event. 

“We’re ecstatic that Cessnock City Council and the local community have got behind this year’s event,” he said.

“It’s onward and upward from here as we grow AirVenture with the beautiful Hunter Valley as our backdrop.”