KHWD Open House Offers Something for Everyone

Another planeload of passengers orbit Hayward Executive Airport aboard this immaculate Twin Beech that was selling rides.

This year I finally made it to my first Open House at Hayward Executive Airport (KHWD) in California, something long overdue.

Usually most of the airport open houses I attend are in smaller communities where the parking is easy and lines are short. Not so in Hayward, where the greater area has more than 400,000 residents and typically 14,000 people attend the annual Airport Open House.

The more than 30 aircraft arrayed on the tarmac at the 2026 event, held in mid-September, represented a wide variety of aviation, ranging from homebuilt aircraft to megabuck business jets. Aerobatic to amphibious, there was something for everyone.

One of three Beechcraft Bonanzas on display, this classic V-tail model has been retrofitted with a “Speed Slope” windshield to improve visibilty.

First flown in 1992, the Progressive Aerodyne SeaRey embraces the freedom of amphibious flight, making it easy to transition from calm lakes to paved runways.

The Super Petrel XP is a modern, high-performance amphibious light sport aircraft (LSA) manufactured by Scoda Aeronáutica in Brazil.

A Bellanca 7ECA Citabria on display. This aircraft is certified for limited aerobatics with a load rating of +5/-2g. The name Citabria is “airbatic” spelled backward.

The Steen Skybolt is a popular homebuilt, high-performance two-seat aerobatic biplane designed by Lamar Steen in 1970. The Skybolt is structurally rated for aerobatic flight loads of +6G to -3G.

A pristine Ryan Navion A. The post-war Navion was designed by North American using the same engineering team behind the P-51 Mustang. The program and design rights were sold to Ryan in 1947, with it aircraft designated the “A” model.

Eli Dozier poses with the Glasair II S-TD that his grandfather built and raced to victory in the Sport Class at the Reno Air Races.

Designed in 1976 by entrepreneur and aerobatic pilot Frank Christensen, the Christen Eagle was created to compete with the dominant Pitts Special. The Eagle II added a second seat.

The Schempp-Hirth Ventus C is a high-performance single-seat racing-class sailplane produced in Germany between 1980 and 1994.

It was notable to see a Bell LongRanger in the livery of local TV station KTVU, as it is uncommon nowadays to see news helicopters participating in static displays.

This KTVU Bell LongRanger is one of only three dedicated news helicopters operating in the San Francisco bay area. Must have been a slow news day to have this one at the open house.

This REACH Air Medical Eurocopter EC-135 drew a crowd. REACH operates a fleet of approximately 60 single- and twin-engine helicopters to meet a variety of terrain, altitudes, and weather.

With all the tech money in the region, it shouldn’t have been a surprise to see no less than four business jets in attendance. Perhaps the local demographics also influenced the minimal number of homebuilts on display.

First flown in 1993, the Dassault Falcon 2000 is a midsize corporate jet. A new one will set you back about $34 million.

The only flying related to the event were rides aboard a Twin Beech that the Stockton Field Air Museum brought. Business was brisk and all rides were sold out before the Open House ended.

Pilot Taigh Ramey conducts a safety briefing for the next group of passengers about to ride in this Twin Beech.

The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Air Force made cameo fly-bys with MH-65 Dolphin and HH-60 Jolly Green II helicopters.

A Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II makes a fly-by during the Hayward Airport Open House. This new variant replaced the four-decades-old HH-60G Pave Hawk fleet. The name honors Vietnam-era HH-3E Jolly Green Giant crews who pioneered modern military search and rescue.

A few warbirds were on hand, including an L-6 Grasshopper observation aircraft, an L-5 Sentinel outfitted for medevac duty, and a PT-13 Kaydet.

The Interstate L-6 Grasshopper World War II-era light observation and liaison aircraft. It was the military version of the Interstate S-1B Cadet. Note the broad, outward-canted cockpit windows for ground visibility.

The Stinson L-5 series was originally derived from the civilian Model 105 Voyager. With almost 3,600 Sentinels produced from 1942 to 1945, only 115 L-5G models like this one were built.

A Boeing-Stearman PT-13 Kaydet. The PT-13 was the designation for variants powered by a Lycoming engine.

More than 50 community groups, local colleges, and aviation organizations were on site to inform, interact, and feed the public.

I enjoyed the variety of aircraft gathered, and seeing such a turnout of folks who wanted to see airplanes was heartening.

The wheel pants on this Piper Cub definitely adds a vintage vibe. Apparently wheel pants reduce drag enough to add a modest 1 to 3 mph to the Cub’s cruise speed.

This more than 50-year-old Piper Seneca holds its own against the big money bizjets in the background. 160 knots vs Mach 0.85 is not exactly fair though.

Hayward Executive Airport was built in 1942 during World War II as an auxiliary field to Chico Army Air Field and was originally Hayward Army Air Field. The City of Hayward took over the airfield in 1947. Home for various fighter and support groups, the last military units at Hayward were reassigned in 1980.

For more information: HaywardAirportOpenHouse.com

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