Air Fiesta Takes Off

Air Fiesta returns to the Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport on March 13 and 14.

The RGV Wing of the Commemorative Air Force presents the newest edition of the Valley’s only flying air show. Once again, magnificent planes take to the skies to bring hours of exciting family entertainment on Saturday and Sunday.

You’ll see sky divers, fighters and bombers plus awesome pyrotechnical explosions. This is a gathering of some of the world’s most skilled pilots who come together to put on a spectacular show of America’s air power.

Air Fiesta rolls back the clock to the early days of aviation and the stunt pilots and fly-boys known as barnstormers. The Aeroshell Aerobatic team  (flying four North American AT-6) will demonstrate precision flying with breathtaking accuracy.

The U.S. Air Force A-10 Warthog jet will show why it got the name Tankbuster. The air show’s re-enactment of famous World War II air battles unleashes dramatic moments of exploding bombs, flames and smoke.

Air Fiesta Heritage Flight showcases a vintage warbird flying in close formation with the Navy’s F-18 Super Hornet. This is a camera lover’s must-take photo. These two aircraft honor more than 90 years of military aircraft, their flight crews and ground crews.

Other flying acts scheduled include aerial applicators, also known as crop dusters. An aerobatic must-see is Paul Fiala’s astounding aerobatics in his bright yellow Great Lakes bi-plane. Other entertainers include Mike Gallaway in his Wolf Pitts, Ray Kinney in the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, the Tora Tora Tora warbirds and the North American B-25 Mitchell.

In addition to all the eye-catching activities in the sky, Air Fiesta offers great ground entertainment. Parked next to the displays of the CAF’s vintage warbirds are their aerial descendants.

Air Fiesta hosts modern military aircraft and their crews who have flown to Brownsville just for this show. Here is a good opportunity to get autographs and talk to crew members about flying the latest generation of warbirds.

Even the littlest kids have a play area set aside just for them. The Air Fiesta trade show supplies a hangar full of aviation and World War II memorabilia to browse. Of course a wide variety of food and beverages are available.

The Flightline Club has refreshments handy with great seats for viewing Air Fiesta action.

Tickets are available at all Cameron County Stripes stores, the Brownsville CVB, the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce, the CAF RGV Wing Museum and Barnstormers Lounge located at the Brownsville Airport and Mail Pak Your Box store in McAllen.

For more information, call the RGV Wing of The CAF at 956-541-8585 or go to www.airfiesta.org.