Officials at CFB Trenton say everything looks good as they continue the final preparations for the Quinte International Air Show.

Tens of thousands of people are expected at the three day event at 8 Wing on the weekend of June 24 to the 26.

Co-chair Lieutenant-Colonel Cathy Blue says they haven't had an airshow at the base since 2003, so the excitement has been building for several weeks.

Blue says they need some "outside the box" thinking to put on this kind of event because while they have the skills, they apply them in very different ways during deployments and don't often showcase them for the public.

"It's been a logistical challenge, but we like our challenges," she said during Thursday's Media Day event at the base. "It's been a wonderful experience. We have been planning this for six months, we've know about it for eight, and its been great. It has been very well supported by the local community."

She said the City of Quinte West has been an excellent partner, as they put on "Thunder over the Bay" (a special concert featuring Glass Tiger) on Saturday night and provide several support services for the airshow.

They are also "thrilled" to see so many unique aircraft and performing groups confirmed for the event. She said the show will be approaching the biggest in the country in terms of the number of air craft involved and the organizing team is expecting upwards of 50,000 people.

In addition to being the co-chair, Blue describes herself as an "air-enthusiast"  with some of the highlights for her being the Lancaster, the F-22 Raptor (an "absolutely fabulous aircraft"), the CF-18 demo team, the Snowbirds, and the Skyhawks.

Also on display will be the Harvard, courtesy of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.

Dave Rohrer, a pilot and president of the museum, said for years fighter pilots trained on the Harvard, which in many ways was more difficult to fly than the actual fighter planes used in combat.

"You have to remember, most pilots would have been in their teens when they were learning and maybe 20 or 21 when they went into combat," he said. "It was a big jump (to flying fighters). It took a lot of skill and ability to make that transition.

"But for a lot of guys wearing these wings," he said, point to his figher wings, "they got those wings on a Harvard."

Rohrer said the excitement about the airshow returning to Quinte spreads across the region.

"This will be the biggest airshow in the country," he said.

In the 13 years since the last airshow, there have been many changes at CFB Trenton as the infrastructure on the base has been transformed as part of a huge revitalization effort.

Blue, who is also the Wing's Logistics and Engineering Officer, said people will notice some big changes on the base.

She said the landscape at CFB Trenton has "changed completely".

Among the new facilities to be viewed will be the new Fire Hall by the airfield, which will be formally opened right after QIAS weekend.

Blue said they are very excited to welcome people from the community into the base, making this a great opportunity to continue to build on a strong and growing partnership.

Many tickets for the event are still available, though bleacher seats have been sold out for both the Saturday and Sunday shows.

General admission tickets are still available on-line, as well as passes for the "photo-pit", and early entry.

People can also purchase the "QIAS experience' with admission to all three days (including a dry-run show on Friday which will include all aerial elements), and the ability to meet with some of the performers.