SPIRITS HIGH IN VAN NUYS 70,000 ATTEND POSSIBLY THE LAST AIR SHOW AT VENUE.

Byline: ALEX DOBUZINSKIS Staff Writer

VAN NUYS -- An estimated 70,000 flight fans turned out at the Van Nuys Airport on Sunday to watch what might have been the last air show at the popular venue, which is making room for propeller aircraft.

Airplane lovers young and old got an up-close look at everything from World War II bombers to a helicopter airship called the ``Flying Banana.'' An advanced fighter jet, the F-22 Raptor, made a maiden flyover of Los Angeles.

Children said they look forward to the annual air show, called Rockin' Airfest, featuring a number of bands.

But officials said that Sunday's show could be the last, the result of redevelopment at the airport that will eat up the more than 50 acres of vacant land used for the air show.

Plans call for the land to be used for small hangars and propeller planes.

``Airfest 2006 is a great opportunity for us to be here. But one thing I want to remind all of you as well is that this air fest may be our last,'' said City Councilman Tony Cardenas, eliciting shouts of disappointment from audience members.

Cardenas said construction could start soon on a number of small hangars and an open area to tie down propeller planes. The plan, which has been in the works for a decade or more, could take three years to complete.

Rockin' Airfest is a revamped version of previous air shows at the Van Nuys Airport, and it combines music and airplane displays. Going back decades, the airport first hosted a military-sponsored air show and later an open house display without music or flyovers.

David Lim, 11, of Reseda attended the event with his family.

``It's really very interesting and I learned lots of facts (about) airplanes,'' Lim said. ``I learned that the F-22 Raptor is the fastest ... (and has the) best technology in the whole air fest.''

While they waited in anticipation for the F-22 Raptor's flyover, children also flocked to older aircraft like the World War II-era B-25J Mitchell. The giant bomber had machine guns and an instrument allowing the bombardier to control the plane from the nose cone.

Another popular display was the CH-21B Flying Banana, a military aircraft with two propellers that seems to curve like a banana.

Aldwin Generoso, 11, of Northridge wants to fly planes when he grows up. He always looks forward to the show.

``Because you can look for new planes,'' he said, ``and see (all) the cool stuff out here and meet new people.''

alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com

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CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Crowds walk the tarmac Sunday at Rockin' Airfest 2006 at the Van Nuys Airport.

(2) Glenn Terwilliger stands in the cockpit of a 1945 P-51 at Rockin' Airfest 2006 at the Van Nuys Airport on Sunday.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer