Weather doesn’t dampen the Salinas Airshow

Patriot Jet Team pilots Randy Howell and Cory Lovell also perform together as the Sukhoi West Demo Team in their Su-26s. (Photo by Joshua Lapum)

2024 marked the 43th California International Airshow Salinas, one of the most successful air shows to support charitable organizations in North America.

This year the international aspect of the show was absent the usual strong showing from our Canadian neighbors. Weather was certainly a toss up as the Saturday flight schedule coped with an aggressive marine layer that ultimately scrubbed the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, while Sunday brought clear skies.

The two Thunderbird solo pilots perform an opposing pass in their F-16C Fighting Falcons. (Photo by Joshua Lapum)

The show this year had a “lite” feel to it, with noticeably fewer static aircraft and a shorter list of air show performers. However, this was offset by having two jet teams each day.

Local resident and air show legend Sean Tucker opened the show piloting the Bob Hoover Academy T-6 Texan to perform a lower energy routine than what he was used to.

Sean Tucker brings the Bob Hoover Academy T-6 Texan past show center. The academy is an accredited alternative high school that includes flight training in the curriculum.

A Cessna 152 and Piper Cub, also from the Bob Hoover Academy, performed fly-bys as the academy’s mission was narrated to the crowd. Founded by Sean and Eric Tucker, The Bob Hoover Academy is a STEM outreach program for at-risk and underserved teens, using aviation as the tool.

Warbird fans enjoyed a quartet of P-51 Mustangs that did a series of fly-bys.

The P-51D Mustang “Kimberly Kaye” makes a high speed dash towards show center. One of approximately 160 airworthy Mustangs, she wears the markings of the 352nd Fighter Squadron.

Another P-51 Mustang, the “Grim Reaper,” wears the colors of the 355th Fighter Squadron, 9th Air Force, when flown by Col. Lowell Brueland who had 12.5 kills to his credit.

Civilian acts included Utah-based Brad Wursten flying his MX2 and Arizona-based Jon Melby in the FearBoss Pitts S-1B. Brad and Jon did double duty as they each performed solo and later as a dissimilar duo.

Brad Wursten makes a nice photo pass in his Australian-built MX2. The MX2 is rated for an impresssive +/- 14 Gs.

Jon Melby makes a photo pass in his Pitts Special S1-11B. First flown in 1944, this classic aerobatic aircraft family is now produced by Aviat Aircraft.

Brad Wursten (L) and Jon Melby during their joint performance. (Photo by Joshua Lapum)

Another duo, the Sukhoi West Demo Team featuring Cory Lovell and Randy Howell, flew a pair of Sukhoi SU-26s. The pair are also pilots with The Patriots Jet Team.

One of the non-flying acts this year was the Smoke-n-Thunder jet-powered dragster, driving around belching flame and smoke before heading out to the end of the runway for a showdown against FearBoss.

Melby took the lead early but the dragster caught him about halfway down the stretch.

The Smoke-n-Thunder JetCar overtakes Jon Melby in his Pitts Special S1-11B to take the win. With 6,000 pounds of thrust, the JetCar is capable of 400+ mph speeds.

The first jet team to perform was The Patriots Jet Team, a civilian act flying surplus Czech L-39 Albatros trainers in a distinctive gloss black color scheme. First debuting in 2003 as a two-ship team, they evolved into a six jet team. The skillful execution of their maneuvers reflects the makeup of the team, two of them having flown for top military teams.

The Patriots Jet Team delta formation. The team began flying demonstrations in 2003 with two L-39 aircraft, expanding to six aircraft in 2010.

To paraphrase the air show announcer, “an air show without pyrotechnics is just a fly-in…” With that in mind, Firewalkers International Pyro was on hand to showcase its 1,000-foot long “Wall of Fire,” providing a thrilling finale to the Patriots show.

The Patriots Jet Team perform a bomb burst maneuver as the Wall of Fire detonates.

The headliner USAF Thunderbirds took to the air Sunday for their trademark show, the Saturday performance having been scrubbed due to a marine layer that progressively encroached during the afternoon.

Only a few current military aircraft were on site for static display, ranging from the Kentucky-based C-130 Hercules at one end of the tarmac to the NAS Lemoore MH-60 Knighthawk search and rescue helicopter at the other end.

This is not your usual Hercules on static display but a HC-130J Combat King II, designed for combat search and rescue missions. Among the many mods are underwing refueling pods for in-flight refueling of helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft.

Several civilian organizations were on hand with static displays, including both the Monterey County Sheriff’s and Cal Fire.

The Monterey County Sheriff brought this cute photo prop to display, made from a donated homebuilt biplane.

The Monterey County Sheriff also brought this fully functional Cessna U206G Stationair to display, an asset donated to the office in 2014.

The California International Airshow has provided outstanding entertainment on the Central Coast for 43 years and has raised more than $9 million for local charities.

For more information: SalinasAirshow.com