Huntington Beach air show off to a roaring start in crystal-clear skies
A year ago, the Friday “rehearsal” of the Huntington Beach air show was grounded because of fog. This time around, Mother Nature decided to cooperate – big time.
Skies sparkled blue and cloudless for the debut of the Great Pacific Airshow, which will continue through the weekend.
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This one marks the third consecutive autumn air show over the waves of Surf City. However, the event is now operated under a new name and by a ew promoter who took the reins only a few months ago, making preparation a bit of a rush job.
Still, word had gotten out to the thousands of people who staked out a spot in the sand on Friday, Oct. 19. Over five hours, viewers watched the stunning feats of dare-devil pilots somersaulting overhead.
“I would throw up, pass out and crash into the ocean. And fly to heaven,” remarked Buena Park resident Yvette Peckham, who came with a group of longtime girlfriends to celebrate a birthday.
“Isn’t it thoughtful of them to hire those planes so I could have a really great 54th birthday?” Rosemary Wright, of Cypress, quipped.
The air show culminated mid-afternoon with a performance by the U.S. Air Force’s Thunderbirds. Demonstrating the precision of Air Force pilots, the squadron flew four F-16 jets in breathtakingly tight formation.
Another headliner was air show professional Bill Stein – who, after nosediving straight down, skimmed the water with his aerobatic Edge 540. Twisting and turning, Stein soared every which way, including upside down.
In one heart-stopping display, Stein flew side-by-side with stunt pilot Matt Chapman. At one point, their planes diverged to sky write a gigantic heart.
Three-year-old Jack Corey, a Batman mask painted on his face, watched in fascination. “Whoa, that plane has a lot of not-dead batteries,” the boy remarked.
“He has a lot of toys at home that don’t work,” explained mom Lucy Corey, 38, of Fountain Valley.
She and her husband, Jack, have brought their three kids to the air show since its start. “We love it so much that it’s worth dragging all this stuff to the beach,” Corey said, pointing to the umbrellas, towels, snacks and toys scattered about.
But she did express a complaint about this year’s show: the cordoned-off area in front of the “VIP” section. Seeking opportunities to monetize an otherwise free event, the promoter charged from $20 to $169 to sit in a special section featuring private portable toilets and the sale of alcoholic beverages.
Security blocked those without tickets, including the media, from entering – even at the waterline. “You don’t get to own the ocean,” Corey said.
Mike and Kristina Regis also have enjoyed the air show annually – although previously from the comfort of their nearby third-story deck. This year, they decided to come to the beach – not for their three young children, all in school, but for themselves.
“They wouldn’t like the loud noise,” Mike Regis, 44, shrugged, revealing no guilt. The vista was much better here than at home, he added: “You can see from end to end.”
His neighbors are “split down the middle” about the air show, Regis said of arguing on social media: “Someone will say that the noise scares their pets. Then someone else will say, ‘If you don’t love the air show, you’re not patriotic!’”
Other acts included wunderkind Sammy Mason, 24, who zipped around in a C-47 – a military transport aircraft first used during World War II. Greg Colyer flew his T-33 “Shooting Star,” the Air Force’s first operational jet. Both vintage planes still boast impressive maneuvers.
All the same pilots are expected to fly each day this weekend.
“It’s really exciting,” said Huntington Beach resident Dex McClour, who accompanied his mom. “But it’s also kind of scary. I always feel like a plane’s going to hit me.”
***Great Pacific Airshow
When: Saturday and Sunday; 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Where: Huntington Beach Pier area for best viewing
How much: Beach viewing free; VIP and pier seats up to $169
More: pacificairshow.com