Warbirds and Kitplanes Star at Rio Vista Airport Day

I captured this Stolp SA-300 Starduster Too performing touch and goes at Rio Vista. The builder’s choice of a radial engine gives a classic look to this homebuilt biplane.

After discovering the Airport Day at Rio Vista Municipal Airport (O88) in Northern California last year, I decided it was worthy of a repeat visit. On Sept. 12, 2026, this friendly local event marked its fifth year, bringing together more aircraft and a good turnout of collector cars for the public to enjoy for free.

One of the appeals of local Airport Day events is not knowing what you are going to see, along with the hope that there will be aircraft you haven’t encountered before.

Entering the display apron, I was greeted by a sharp-looking Glasair Super II on one side and a pair of SeaRey amphibians on the other.

One of two Progressive Aerodyne SeaRey LSA seaplanes on static display. In 2015, taking seven months, pilot Michael Smith flew around the world in a SeaRey.

Kitplanes were well represented. I spotted a pair of Glasair Sportsmans along with Rutan’s Long-EZ and VariEze examples, and plenty of Van’s homebuilts.

First flown in 1989, the Glasair Super II RG is a high-performance, two-seat, composite kit aircraft known for its speed and sleek aerodynamics.

A Glasair GS-2 Sportsman 2+2 kitplane. In July 2023 Glasair production was moved from Washington state to China.

This Rutan Long EZ taxies out for the flight home after a day of static display. The Long EZ belongs to veteran air racer Jorgen “Cookie” Skovbjerg, who competed in this plane in the 2026 AirVenture Cup Races to a second place finish.

A Rans S-21 Outbound high-performance, all-metal kitplane sold by Rans of Hays, Kansas. The S-21 combines fast cruise speeds with Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) capability.

A Legal Eagle XL homebuilt ultralight. The XL design addresses the needs of larger, heavier pilots.

Several Pipers from the local Travis Air Force Base Aero Club also were on hand.

A Piper Archer II from the Travis Air Force Base Aero Club. Founded in 1954, the Aero Club has provided flight training and aircraft rentals for base personnel for over 70 years.

What was different this year, aside from more planes in attendance, was the presence of warbirds. A pair of Beech T-34 Mentors, along with a Nanchang CJ-6, attracted attention.

This faux-Russian warbird is a Nanchang CJ-6 basic trainer. The CJ-6 entered production in 1959 and total production estimates range from over 2,000 to roughly 3,000. Currently, there are about 200 Nanchangs in the United States. None served in Russia.

The number of flight displays was another marked difference this year. For starters, two resident RVs took to the air to display their formation flight skills.

A pair of resident Van’s RV-3s entertain the folks during Rio Vista Airport Day.

A short while later, a trio of RV-7s appeared overhead with smoke on and performed a series of formation fly-bys.

This trio of Van’s RV-7s made several formation fly-bys during Airport Day festivities.

A Van’s RV-8 on final approach after participating in the Memorial Squadron fly-bys during Rio Vista Airport Day.

A Van’s RV-3 lays down smoke during takeoff. The RV-3 debuted in 1972 and is the genesis design for the rest of the RV series.

After lunch, the last planned aerial displays took place as no fewer than seven aircraft fired up and did a mini “elephant walk”(parade of aircraft) to the taxiway.

This was my introduction to the Memorial Squadron, a Northern California volunteer formation flying team made up of (on this day) a Beechcraft T-34 Mentor, a Bonanza, a Debonair, a Grumman Tiger, the Nanchang, and two RVs.

Led by a T-34A Mentor, the Northern California-based Memorial Squadron conducts the last flight demonstration for the Airport Day event.

The lead aircraft for the Memorial Squadron fly-bys was this Beechcraft T-34A Mentor. The Squadron Leader is Mark “Scrump” Becker, a retired United Air Lines captain and former U.S. Marine Corps AH-1W pilot.

I always say “There is no plane that can’t look prettier with tip tanks.” Case in point, this Beechcraft A33 Debonair that performed as part of the Memorial Squadron fly-bys.

Local business displays, along with many food vendors, gave a friendly small-town vibe to this event. A large hangar provided a perfect shady spot to eat lunch while observing airport traffic.

Introduced in 1954, around 500 of these Helio Courier STOL aircraft were manufactured in Kansas from 1954 until 1974. Couriers were popular with missionaries who flew into rough jungle airstrips. Helio Alaska is attempting to resume production of the Courier.

The Beechcraft C23 was originally introduced as the Musketeer before being renamed in 1972 as the Sundowner. The Musketeer line was in production from 1963 to 1983.

A Cessna TU206F Turbo Stationair paired with an eighth generation (C8) Chevrolet Corvette. What is your preference: 180 mph on the tarmac or 180 mph at 10,000 feet?

Originally developed by Columbia Aircraft as the Columbia 400, this all-composite design was acquired by Cessna in 2007 and rebranded as the Cessna 400 Corvalis TT (“TT” standing for Twin-Turbocharged).

First responder vehicles, including a Coast Guard vessel, and a STEM display rounded out the range of activities. A tractor-borne hay ride shuttle was the perfect small-town touch.

Introduced in 1961, the Mooney M20C is one of the most successful variants of Al Mooney’s classic design. The signature canted vertical stabilizer was designed to improve directional stability and reduce drag.

I enjoyed the atmosphere of this event, especially with the increased aircraft turnout and more flying displays, and look forward to future visits. A quick shout-out to Beth Roberts who managed the Rio Vista Airport, and the Airport Day events, as she enters retirement.

For more information: RioVistaCity.com

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