San Diego County Airports continues to seek opportunities to reach out to the communities we serve surrounding our airports.

Each year we strive to bring our neighbors into our airports to see what we're all about; this year is no different. Borrego Valley Airport will host national and international aerobatic champions at the Borrego Hammerhead Roundup between April 12 & 14.

Come check out the exciting, difficult flying maneuvers by some of the world's best aerobatic pilots. Also in April is the Fallbrook Airpark Open House coinciding with the Fallbrook Avocado Festival - bring the family out on April 15 for RC Flyers, airport tours, water drop by Sheriff's helicopter and BBQ.

Head east on June 2 & 3 for Wings Over Gillespie, enjoy reenactments, pyrotechnics and historic bombers on display. On September 22, join us in the center of the county for Ramona's Open House.

This family airport event includes many different types of aircraft displays, lots of fresh food, along with an exciting Formation Flyers of America flying clinic. Other County Airports public service improvements include more daily airline connections from Palomar Airport to Los Angeles with convenient low cost auto parking.

If you're in the Carlsbad area, stop by for a great bite to eat at the Landings restaurant. Whether it's a business trip, touch-and-go's or a weekend getaway, County Airports can get you there: golfing, hiking, camping, swimming, surfing, meetings or just hiding from the workweek.

Business centers, restaurants, four-star resorts, and rustic campgrounds and within minutes of one or more of our eight County owned and operated airports.

County Airports is committed to being a good neighbor and these events and improvements to services are just a small part of that commitment.

Come check us out: www.sdcounty.ca.gov/dpw/airports.html.

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You are invited to join the local aviation community for a free day of aviation at the Elko, Nev. Skyfair, to be held at Elko Regional Airport (KEKO) on Saturday, September 8 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Participating pilot incentives can be viewed on line at http://ELKOSKYFAIR.com. Last year's attendance was just under 7,500.

The City of Elko, PACE Coalition and El Aero Services, along with a number of hardworking volunteers and local sponsors, will join together to create this event. The Utah Confederate Air Force is slated to bring several WW II vintage warbirds - possibly a Corsair, a TBM Avenger, OV-10 Bronco and many others.

We also plan to offer rides in the speedy T-6 and PT-17 Stearman biplane.

This year we will be raffling Avenger, T-6 and biplane rides as well, selling them at a discounted rate before Sept. 8th, and full price on the day of the event.

One of the most popular aspects of this event is the Young Eagle Program. The Carson City EAA will fly to Elko once again and join forces with the Elko EAA club to introduce young people between the ages of 8-17 to the world of aviation. We plan to operate 6-8 planes for the free Young Eagles program.

At last year's Elko Skyfair event, 120 local youngsters received their Young Eagle certificates, with 70 additional kids who signed up, with a promise to get their Young Eagle flights at a later date.

Additionally, there will be a number of unusual and local planes that will be on static display. We plan to offer Souvenirs for sale, food vendors, a display of the Radio Controlled aircraft and quite possibly even a hot air balloon if the weather is right.

The main entrance to the event is the walk through gate located at the new El Aero Building on Murray Way, next to the Old Airport Terminal. Mark your calendar, save the date and come out and enjoy a day of aviation fun September 8th.

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It's confirmed! The Rancho Murieta Airshow is back!

May 19th, Armed Forces Day, at Rancho Murieta Airport, Rancho Murieta, Calif. Performers Julie Clark, Bill Stein, Eddie Andreini, Dan Buchanan, Vicky Benzing and other airshow veterans will perform.

There is some history here. The Rancho Murieta Airshows that took place in the mid eighties are legendary.

Rancho Murieta airport owner, Bradley Beer, is looking to bring back the magical mix of top notch talent and military might that makes this airshow memorable and recognizes our troops on Armed Forces Day.

"This is going to be an annual event." Beer says, "Look for us every May on Armed Forces Day. ThereÕs not another show that I know of in our area on Armed Forces Day.

"It's the right day to showcase our military with an airshow."

Beer says the show has history, and is being built by volunteers, largely from the airportÕs EAA group 1476 that have staged an annual Airport Day over the last five years on Armed Forces Day.

"We'll honor our men and women in uniform with Military demoÕs and fly-bys. P-51Õs, Sea FuryÕs, and other classic warbirds will be on display and thrill spectators with the sounds of round motor fly-bys. Reno great, Sandy Sanders, longtime announcer at the National Championship Air Races, will be giving play by play announcing along with very special guest, internationally known, veteran airshow performer Wayne Handley."

Gates open at 8:30, Saturday, May 19th. Fly-ins are welcome but check NOTAMÕs. The airport will be closed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Hampton Inn and Suites in Folsom is offering discounted rooms and is running a shuttle between the hotel and the airshow. Parking (autos and aircraft) is free.

General admission $12 in advance, $15 at the gate, and kids general admission is free. Bring a chair and plenty of sunscreen, no ice chests. Also available, V.I.P. seating in the Performer's Tent.

These tickets include show center seating, catered lunch, hosted bar, and shade all day. Tickets are offered in advance at $100.

A portion of all proceeds will benefit the U.S.O. and other organizations that support our military. You can purchase tickets in advance, by calling 916¥354¥9889, or for more information, check the web at http://ranchomurietaairport.com and check events.

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"Strega", a highly modified P-51 and dominant 8-time class champion at the Reno Air Races -- will be among the special attractions at the Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show.

There's nothing quite like the Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show - Half Moon Bay, California's massive celebration of mechanical ingenuity, power and style.

It's a whimsical, fascinating, amusing, curious and absolutely unique show and tell spectacle featuring 2,000 magnificent flying, driving and working machines from the 20th and 21st centuries. The spectacular 22nd annual show is expanding to two days in 2012 - April 28-29 - from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Half Moon Bay Airport, located in the picturesque seaside town of Half Moon Bay about 20 miles south of San Francisco.

One of the west coast's biggest shows, hundreds of aircraft are expected to be on display - stylish homebuilts, classics from the 40's and 50's, exceptional vintage warbirds, and sport and ultralight aircraft.

Highlights include "Strega," a highly modified P-51 and dominant eight-time class champion at the Reno Air Races, "Mustang Madness," a spectacular display of America's Premier World War II Fighter, the Estrella Warbird Museum's historic Douglas C-47 (regarded as the World's Greatest Aircraft of its time), YAK Russian fighters and an impressive array of T-6 and T-28 military fighters and trainers, many doing fly-overs during the show.

Thrilling rides will be offered in helicopters, vintage biplanes, Beech 18 and T-6 military trainers and the P-51 Mustang.

In addition to the aviation wonders, the world's coolest cars of every era and style, Model T fire engines, vintage buses, custom motorcycles, tricked out trucks, sleek streamliners, and antique engines and tractors will be among the mesmerizing displays.

Spectator admission is $20 ($30 for 2-day pass) for adults, $10 ($15 for 2-day pass) for ages 11-17 and 65+, and free for kids age 10 and under. Tickets are available at the gate only. Half Moon Bay Airport, at 9850 N. Cabrillo Highway, is located on Highway 1, about 20 miles south of San Francisco and five miles north of Highway 92.

The show benefits the Coastside Adult Day Health Center.

For information call (650) 726-2328 or see www.miramarevents.com/dreammachines.

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Photo credit: Miramar Events

Flying in from around the U.S., about two dozen B-25 Mitchell bombers will converge on Urbana, Ohio's municipal airport, Grimes Field, beginning Saturday, April 14.

The largest gathering of B-25s since World War II, the Grimes Gathering of B-25s will lead into the 70th Anniversary Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Reunion at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (NMUSAF), near Dayton.

For the 68th Reunion in 2010, 17 B-25s gathered at Grimes Field. The 70th Anniversary Reunion ceremonies, April 17-20, will commemorate the famed April 18, 1942, bombing raid on Japan by 16 B-25s and their brave crewmen, under the leadership of Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle.

The five surviving crewmen of the raid will participate in the reunion, including being the guests of honor at a private breakfast at the Champaign Aviation Museum at Grimes Field. The Grimes Gathering of B-25s, April 14-16, will allow the public to get a close-up look at the twin-engine medium bombers while they are on static display - and meet their crews.

Also while in Urbana, the B-25s will fly around the area. Rides will be available for purchase on as many as six of the aircraft.

At 7 a.m. Tuesday, April 17, the B-25s will begin a dramatic departure from Grimes Field, taking off one after the other for the NMUSAF, where they will take part in ceremonies honoring the surviving Doolittle Tokyo Raiders.

Visitors can gain ramp admittance for close-up viewing of the bombers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 14-16, for a $5 donation, which will help defray costs of the event, including fuel for the bombers. A variety of World War II era military vehicles also will be on display.

Flights will be available for purchase on up to six of the aircraft. Flight reservations can be made from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 14-16 in the Champaign Aviation Museum at Grimes Field.

The Western Washington air show season kicks off on Father's Day Weekend at the celebrated Olympic Air Show, hosted by the Olympic Flight Museum at the Olympia Regional Airport.

This 14th anniversary event, held June 16-17, will feature tactical demonstrations to include a U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet Tactical Demonstration! Featured also is B-17 Sentimental Journey from the Commemorative Air Force - Arizona Wing.

This heritage aircraft will offer ground tours and ride opportunities, and reservations are being accepted now on the museum's website. The Olympic Air Show is recognized for its wide variety of military aircraft, from nostalgic vintage bi-planes to high-performance jets.

As the largest warbird-only gathering in the Pacific Northwest, the show features three hours of outstanding aerobatic performances by visiting aircraft, in addition to the low-level aerobatic demonstration by the museum's own P-51D Mustang, American Beauty. The museum will also exhibit helicopters from its collection, including a UH-1H Huey, AH-1 Cobra, OH-6 Cayuse "Loach," and the only flying example of a Kaman HH-43 Huskie.

Military aircraft and displays are represented from all military branches and eras from WW II, Korea and Vietnam.

In addition, other event features include a WW II encampment with authentic military vehicles and uniformed personnel, and an operational Vietnam Landing Zone. The Budweiser Beer Garden, food and merchandise vendors, and a variety of youth activities will be onsite as well.

This weekend event promises to deliver the excitement of heritage aviation that visitors anticipate.

GA camping and RV's are permitted with advance reservations.

AIRMEN: Check NOTAMS.

Early hotel reservations are highly recommended. For final performance schedule and information about the 14th anniversary Olympic Air Show, the Olympic Flight Museum, or ticket information, please visit www.olympicflightmuseum.com or call (360) 705-3925.

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By popular demand, the Vertical Challenge Helicopter Air Show is back!

The Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos has received support from the San Carlos Airport, pilots and businesses to bring back the west coastÕs most exciting demonstration of vertical flight. It will be held Saturday, June 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Vertical Challenge features unique aircraft in flight showcasing the different capabilities of helicopters, from fire fighting to Search and Rescue, and returning this year is kid favorite Otto the Clown Helicopter. Also at the show will be gourmet food trucks, Bay Area microbrews and a Kids Fun Zone.

The mission of Vertical Challenge is the same as the past 12 years, to showcase the different functions of the helicopter with various demonstrations including agility, Search and Rescue and many other types of helicopter capabilities.

Special guest performance this year by the Go Fast Jet Pack. Right out of something from James Bond.

If you have never seen a real Jet Pack fly then this is your chance!

Vertical Challenge Twilight will be Friday evening June 15 from 6 p.m. - 9p.m. This is a welcome event for our military pilots and crews and is open to the public to come and enjoy a mini air show.

For more info and discounted tickets go to www.hiller.org.

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This year marks the 50th anniversary of the time when the Cold War came the closest to the dreaded atomic Armageddon: the Cuban Missile Crisis.

For two weeks in October of 1962 the world held its breath as the Soviet Union and the United States played a game of "chicken" over removal of nuclear missiles being placed 90 miles from Miami. A key factor in the Missile Crisis was the importance of aerial reconnaissance in first discovering the missile base construction and then monitoring the dismantling.

Lockheed's U-2 high altitude spy plane was an important player; in fact , a U-2 mission started the crisis. Ironically, the shoot down of a U-2 over Cuba on October 27 and the death of its pilot, Major Rudolf Anderson, sobered both sides sufficiently to hasten the pullback from the brink.

To commemorate this important event in history, on April 21 (weather permitting) the Blackbird Air Park in Palmdale, Calif. will allow visitors to look inside the cockpit of a 1950's vintage U-2 from 10 a.m. to 4p.m. The U-2 pilot was literally an aviation pioneer as he operated the first airplane to cruise at altitudes where a space suit was required.

Also celebrating its 50th anniversary with an open cockpit display will be the planned U-2 replacement and the world's fastest airplane, the record-breaking Blackbird. Visitors will see the first A-12 Blackbird, which made its initial flight on 26 April 1962.

U-2 and SR-71 pilots will be present to explain what visitors are seeing. Admission is free.

The Air Park is located at 25th St. East and Avenue P. Further details are available at www.edwardsmuseum.com.

The neighboring City of Palmdale Joe Davies Air Park will also be open.

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Photo via Lt Col Bill Flanagan USAF ( retired), the only time in history when the SR and U-2 flew in formation. The U-2 was going almost as fast as he could, the SR was going almost as slow as we could, and Clay Lacy's Lear Jet was directing and imaging.

The year 2011 marks the 20th anniversary of Margaret Stivers' first wingwalk show and the 21st anniversary of the Silver Wings Wingwalking Team.

The team has evolved over the years starting with a formation aerobatic team to a solo wingwalk act and now the team unveils a new and exciting act. Joining the graceful fluidity of pilot Hartley Folstad and wingwalker Margaret Stivers act is a second act of energetic aerobatic sequences and classic wingwalker poses performed by pilot Lee Oman and wingwalker Marion Wagner.

The two acts are completely unique and complement each other to showcase the full spectrum of wingwalking stunt-work for the maximum entertainment to the audience. The two routines are also grounded in aviation history with act one reminiscent of the 1920s barnstorming era and act two reflecting wingwalking today.

Each act is performed separately and both acts are performed on the Silver Wings Stearman. For information please contact the Silver Wings Wingwalking Team email: stuntwingwalker@verizon.net.

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Flabob Airport will host its 10th annual Vets Day on Saturday, Nov. 10th, 2012.

This event has become a SoCal tradition, a combination fly-in, small-town veteran's parade and ceremony with all the atmosphere of a county fair. Aircraft of all types fly in: general aviation, antiques, warbirds and homebuilts come for the day.

Multiple bands play, stand up comics work the crowd, and vendors offer all types of patriotic souvenirs. The day is combined with a vintage hot rod show, military vehicle and hardware displays with reenactors adding atmosphere to the bivouacs.

Food vendors offer everything from hot dogs to Jamaican jerk chicken, to brats, one of the most popular is a spam and SOS stand where vets show the young ones how they ate "up front."

A formal ceremony is the highlight of the day where veterans from all services and periods are honored. Families are welcome; the intent is to show the younger generation that this nation honors and respects military service.

The heroes of the day are senior citizens in veteran's ball caps or partial uniforms, strolling the airport hand-in-hand with grandchildren. After the ceremony, the airport becomes a parade ground, veterans, military vehicles, and classic cars circle the ramp while the crowd cheers the vets riding by.

Admission, parking, and all events are free. See www.VetsFun.com or www.Flabob.org.

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