Fred Johnsen, the force behind the Airailimages YouTube channel and General Aviation News Of Wings & Things columnist, has posted a video to YouTube of the closing day of the 2025 Planes of Fame Santa Maria Central Coast Airfest, which opens with the headline “Not Your Regular Show.”
“If the snarl of two dozen roaring warbirds wasn’t enough in the skies over Santa Maria, California, on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, at mid-day a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from nearby Vandenberg (Space Force Base) lit up the sky as air show visitors and participants watched in awe,” Fred said.
“The day began shrouded in coastal fog that gave a quiet, muted dignity to the warbirds on the ramp,” he continued. “And then the sun burst through and the action did too.”
“Warbird fans were impressed with a three-ship formation of P-47 Thunderbolts, and gaggles of warplanes, including a Fairey Firefly.”
The video showcases the highlights, including the rocket carrying Starlink satellites as it lofted into the sky, visible from the air show flightline, Fred noted.