2017 Los Angeles County Air Show

by Igor K. | Mar 28, 2017 | 0 comments

U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds - Los Angeles County Air Show

Red, White and Boom

The fourth annual Los Angeles County Air Show of 2017 was titled Red, White and Boom, paying a tribute to the 70th anniversary of the first sonic boom. Aerial demonstrations at the General William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster kicked off with the Patriot Parachute Team demonstration and were immediately followed by precision aerobatics with Bill Stein in a Zivko Edge 540, Matt Chapman in an Extra 330LX and Rob Holland in a MXS-RH.

Matt Chapman in Extra 330LX (yellow), Bill Stein ina color changing Zivko Edge 540 and Rob Holland in MXS-RH.

Air show performers

The action-packed schedule also included Vicky Benzing in her 1940 Boeing Stearman, Rob Harrison “The Tumbling Bear” performing aerobatics in his Zlin 142C, Paul “Sticky” Strickland in a L-39 Albatros jet and Greg “Wired” Coyler in his Lockheed T-33.

Paul “Sticky” Strickland flying L-39 Albatros jest trainer

Static displays

There were also multiple static displays including a Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II (AF-01), MDD F-15C Eagle NASA chase plane, Beechcraft B200 Super King NASA mission support aircraft, Northrop Grumman X-47A experimental plane and a Scaled Composites ARES experimental aircraft.

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

NASA ER-2

In addition to two static NASA aircraft displayed at the air show, spectators had a unique opportunity to witness a NASA ER-2 High Altitude Science Aircraft flyover courtesy of the nearby NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center. The ER-2 is a derivative of the Lockheed U-2 spy plane and operates at altitudes from 20,000 feet to 70,000 feet.

NASA ER-2 High-Altitude Airborne Science Aircraft (Lockheed U-2)

POF and CAF guest aircraft

Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino flew some of their historic aircraft, including a Lockheed P-38J Lightning, North American P-51 Mustang, Vought F4U-1 Corsair, North American F-86F Sabre and a North American B-25J Mitchell bomber. They were accompanied by a Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIV and Yakovlev Yak-3 from the Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, based in Camarillo.

North American F-86-F Sabre from the Planes of Fame Air Museum, Chino

Heritage Flight and Thunderbirds

A heritage flight featuring a Lockheed P-38J Lightning and two A-10 “Warthogs” was followed by the U.S. Navy Tac Demo Team in a F/A-18F Super Hornet. Afterwards, the world famous United States Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration ended the show. The start was slightly delayed due to technical problems with one of the planes right before the takeoff. It was quickly replaced by a prepositioned backup plane stressing that safety is the number one priority for the USAF demonstration squadron. See you in March 2018 for the fifth annual Los Angeles County Air Show!