1996: Thomas J. Kallman, president of Kallman Worldwide, of Waldwick, N.J., comes up with the concept for the Aviation World’s Fair 2003.
Oct. 20, 1998: Kallman makes presentation to National Business Aircraft Association in Las Vegas. State Aviation Board member offers to introduce Kallman to state officials.
July 18, 2000: Kallman announces Newport News is selected for fair site. State officially endorses fair.
March 1, 2001: State hires landscape architect Glenn Oder to be the state’s fair coordinator, giving him a no-bid $150,000- per-year contract.
June 2001: Paris Air Show comes and goes with no sponsors announced. During the trip, officials spend more than $175,000 on travel costs.
July 11, 2001: State airports complain about spending on the Newport News airport. State Senate refuses to promise it will approve the Aviation Department’s financing plan for the fair.
August 2001: Oder resigns as fair coordinator, saying he wants to spend more time running for his House of Delegates’ seat.
Aug. 25, 2001: Fair holds airport groundbreaking. U.S. Sen. John Warner says he will ask President Bush for fair support.
Sept. 11, 2001: Terrorists strike New York and Northern Virginia. Kallman says attacks reinforce need for fair.
Feb. 12, 2002: General Assembly restricts future grants to Newport News’ airport. Airport Executive Director Jim Smith says he may recommend the airport board pull out of the fair.
March 15, 2002: Mayor Joe Frank convinces Smith to go through with the fair project by promising that he will lobby the General Assembly to remove limits on future airport grants.
Aug. and Sept. 2002: Officials from the Gov. Mark Warner’s administration meet with Kallman about lack of corporate sponsors.
Sept. 24, 2002: Tickets go on sale for Aviation World’s Fair 2003, behind initial schedule.
Oct. 2, 2002: State, city withdraw all funding for the Aviation World’s Fair 2003.
Oct. 8, 2002: Kallman cancels the event in Newport News.
