Category: Air Show News

Air Show Safety: 11 Tips to Stay Safe and Have Fun

Air shows are the perfect family outing, but there are some things to consider when attending the event. Here are 11 air show safety tips to ensure that you stay safe, and have fun!

For a fun family activity outing, you can’t beat an air show! The only thing we put ahead of everyone having fun is safety. Today we will go through 11 top tips on air show safety so that you and others around you will have the experience to remember for all the right reasons.

1. Wear Sunscreen!

Our first air show safety tip is: protect your skin! Clear blue skies and sunny days make an air show a great outdoor experience. However, we want the lasting memory of your day to be the aircraft, not the sunstroke.

You’ll be gazing aloft for hours, and it is vitally important to protect your skin. Make sure the entire family wears effective sunscreen and remember to ‘top up’ through the day. Here’s some great advice from the American Academy of Dermatology on how to use sunscreen effectively.

2. Stay Hydrated

It’s ok. We get it. With our packed air show schedule, you don’t want to miss a thing. Still, it is important that you stay hydrated to avoid the negative effects of standing in the summer heat. A headache while staring skywards is no fun at all.

You are encouraged to bring your own (non-alcoholic) drinks to our air show. You could even bring a cooler. That way, you can enjoy every single performance without having to leave your seat.

3. Aviators?

We’ve got plenty!

Have you?

No, we aren’t talking about our pilots. We are talking sunglasses. Whether you are going for the Meghan Markle look with a pair of oversized shades, or you want to go all ‘Tom-Cruise-Topgun’, we encourage you to protect your eyes.

Staring into the sky, especially on bright days (fingers crossed), can give you eye strain, and we want you to enjoy every moment… Squint free.

4. Bring Your Earplugs!

Some of our airplanes are loud… And by ‘loud’, we mean ridiculously loud.

This is a great tip for those who are attending with young children. Chances are, aircraft like the MiG-17 will be the loudest thing they have ever heard. It’s awesome, but you’ll want to protect little ears.

5. No Smoking

You’ll be amazed at how close you can get to the airplanes. There’s the opportunity to view most of our performers before and after their displays. These are real fully operational aircraft…

There are a few things in life that really don’t mix.

One such thing is aviation fuel and cigarettes. You’ll be up close and personal with the airplanes. We aim to ensure air show safety for all guests, and for that reason, we don’t allow smoking (or vaping) at our events.

6. Wear Sensible Footwear

There’s so much to see that you might find that you are doing quite a lot of walking. It really pays to wear sensible footwear.

The aircraft park in a ‘working’ area of the airstrip. As a result, there may occasionally be small screws or metal pieces on the ground. You must protect your feet at all times.

7. Leave Your Four-Legged Friends at Home

While we actively encourage you to bring all members of your family, there is an exception.

Our air shows are loud, fast, and exciting. We even use pyrotechnics. While adults and kids alike will enjoy our displays, animals tend to be overwhelmed and can find the event distressing. For that reason, to ensure air show safety, we request that you leave animals (including emotional support animals) at home.

If you are physically challenged, we permit registered and trained service dogs; however, we politely request that you control and monitor your service animals’ behavior.

8. Bring a Chair or Blanket

There’s plenty of space for you to spread out at our air show, so arrive early and get yourself a prime spot on the flight line!

Want to know an easier way to enjoy our air show in comfort?

Bring a nice chair! It’s hard work standing all day, and the last thing we want is for you to fall over as our aircraft whirl and spin overhead. If you are seated, you can tip your head back and enjoy!

If a chair sounds like too much effort, why not bring a picnic blanket. You’ll be able to see everything going on above your head from a sedentary position. Nice!

9. Umbrellas?

Thankfully in the summer, rainy days are few and far between. While we encourage you to protect yourself from the sun, we kindly ask you not to bring tents or umbrellas to our event.

Why?

Well, let’s put it this way… Can you imagine how much power it takes to move a B-25 Bomber? These things are huge, and their powerful engines develop a phenomenal amount of thrust. This is great as it allows the airplane to take off and fly…

It also encourages umbrellas and tents to get airborne quickly, so your best bet is to leave them at home to ensure air show safety to all attendees.

10. Take Your Camera

Half the fun of the day is seeing rare aircraft in flight. The other half is sharing your experience with others. While we guarantee that you’ll have some fantastic memories of the day, why not bring your camera along and take a few snaps to show off to your friends?

Some of our aircraft are part of a handful still flying worldwide. You’ll literally be taking photos of a piece of history!

11. Take a Break

With the noise, heat, and excitement, it can be a pretty full-on day. You’ll be pleased to know that we offer refreshments and the ability to have some ‘down time’ should you need it. With a range of food, beverages, and other things to see, you’ll be spoiled for choice.

Final Thought

The Wings Over Camarillo Airshow offers so much! It is an exciting and unique experience. There are not many air shows where you can see an aircraft looping overhead, and minutes later be stood next to it on the ground! We’ve got everything in place for you to enjoy your day, and provided you follow our 11 tips on air show safety, we guarantee you are going to have an amazing time. We look forward to seeing you.

The Best Reasons to Attend a Plane Show This Summer

Air shows offer fun for the whole family, from sky-high aerobatics, to STEM Pavilion’s and classic car shows, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Here are the top reasons to visit a plane show this summer.

Looking for the best airshow in California? Well, you are in the right place! A plane show offers much more than gazing skywards. In fact, you’ll be glad to sit down and watch the aircraft after experiencing all we have to offer! Today we will go through some of the best reasons to attend a plane show this summer. You’ll be surprised at what you might find!

A Huge Range of Aircraft!

Let’s be honest. Most people go to a plane show to see one thing…

The planes!

At Wings Over Camarillo, you are going to be spoiled for choice! Watch a nimble Pitts Special corkscrewing, tumbling, and even flying vertically. If military planes are your thing, there are plenty all in one place.

Check out an AH-1F Cobra, an AT-6 SNJ ‘Wardog’, T-34 Mentors, and much more!

And the best bit?

All the action comes to you! Pick a good spot on the flight line, and you’ll be able to sit in comfort, with your head back watching the show right above your head!

Get Up Close and Personal!

Let us ask you a question…

How many times have you stood next to a Japanese Zero, an original C53 Skytrooper, and a Supermarine Spitfire… All at the same time?

Many of the aircraft you have seen flying during the day are also available to view the ground at the static airplane display. You can meet the pilots, ask questions and even get up close and personal with the airplanes. You don’t get that at every plane show!

Loud, Fast, and Exciting!

Here’s the thing about airplanes…

They go fast. Take, for instance, the P-51 Mustang. It boasts a top speed of around 360-mph! It is one thing to read it; it’s another to see it in action. Blink, and you’ll miss it, literally!

The good news with some of our aircraft is that you’ll hear them long before you see them. When the Russians built the Mig-17 in 1952, being quiet was low on their list of priorities. This thing is seriously loud, even more so when it screeching overhead and performing ‘running breaks’.

Classic Cars!

Airplanes aren’t your thing? So, there’s no point going, right?

Wrong!

Even if you are the kind of person who keeps their feet firmly on the ground, there is plenty for you too! Spend the day checking out some super cool classic cars. Like with our aircraft, there is pretty much a vehicle from every era! 200 of them, in fact!

And they don’t just stay parked either!

At around 1:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays, there is a classic car and motorcycle parade. See if you can pick out your favorites!

Fire, Water, Action!

The beauty of airshows is that the action never stops. As you’ll already know, most airplanes were designed with a set purpose in mind. What could be better than seeing them used for that purpose?

What do we mean?

Ever seen an H-1 helicopter ‘water bombing’ with hundreds of gallons of water? Well, now you can!

How’s about a simulated bombing run by a B-25? Complete with explosions and pyrotechnics? The power of these aircraft has to be seen to be believed!

See History Come Alive

Think history is boring? Think again!

Many of the aircraft in our shows have an interesting and diverse history. You’ll be able to see aircraft that saw real action in their earlier lives! The D-Day Doll C53 Skytrooper was one of the hundreds of aircraft that dropped combat troops in Normandy during the liberation of Europe!

And there’s more!

It’s not just about seeing a piece of history. You can also meet the people who were actually there. Our veterans’ hangar will offer you a warm welcome and the ability to speak to the service people who served aboard many of the aircraft in our displays.

Find out what it was like to land a helicopter in the jungles of Vietnam. Speak to someone who flew combat missions in Korea and gain a real personal connection with those who risked their lives to protect their country.

What Goes Up Must Come Down!

An immutable law of physics. Kind of convenient as it means you’ll get to watch an impressive parachute display by the USAF Wings of Blue team.

This isn’t simply floating to the ground! You’ll be able to see formation parachuting, freefalling, and smoke trails as the team perform aerial maneuvers right above you.

Local Talent With Personality!

Huge airshows can lack the personal touch. Wings over Camarillo offers a much more personal and intimate affair. By attending, you’ll be supporting local talent. Many of the performers are exclusive to our events!

Airshows have existed ever since the first barnstorming events of the 20^th century. Our plane show still retains something of the original magic and excitement that first drew crowds to these events.

You Can Contribute

Want to be part of the action?

You can do this in so many ways. And without generous people to help, the airshow would simply not be possible!

Wings Over Camarillo offers the opportunity to volunteer. If you want to give back to your community and have a great time doing it, this is the place to be! You’ll get a wristband for admission on the days where you work, not to mention a rather snazzy-looking official volunteer hat!

Want to build an awareness of your company and support your local community by doing it? Wings Over Camarillo offers some great sponsorship opportunities. Whether you are looking for a corporate skybox or would like to sponsor some T-shirts for our volunteers, you’ll find plenty of options are available, and your contribution goes a long way to our continued success!

Wings Over Camarillo is the best plane show in California. It offers plenty of fun experiences for all family members and isn’t so large as to feel overwhelming. You’ll have the option to see lots of attractions and even get up close to the people and aircraft you’ve observed during your day. Why not check out our schedule and start planning your day?

9 Reasons Airshows are the Perfect Family Outing

Spending time together at a family outing while doing an enjoyable activity is always fun. But, keeping everyone happy and entertained can sometimes be a bit of a stretch. Suppose you are looking for a mix of experiences with every single family member wide eyed with amazement. In that case, an airshow is an ideal opportunity for a great day out! Here are 10 reasons why airshows are the perfect family outing…

1. Airshows are Fast

Have you ever been in a park as a P51 Mustang thunders past at 350 mph? How’s about seeing a formation fleet of Experimental RV aircraft performing super quick maneuvers with trails of smoke drawing pretty patterns in the sky?

Airplanes go fast. You won’t see these kinds of maneuvers at the local aero club. You’ll have a ringside view of pilots performing seemingly impossible feats. It will redefine the meaning of speed.

2. Classic Cars

Speaking of things that look great and speedy, airplanes aren’t the only thing you may see. How often would you see a hot-rod alongside a 1920’s Ford Model T? As a bonus, you’ll get to see a procession of eclectic vehicles in a classic car show as part of the package!

3. It’s Fun for Everyone

At an airshow, there is never a dull moment. The sheer variety of air show performers means that there is something for everyone. The time between each display is short, and you can plan your schedule around who will be performing next.

Regardless of whether grandpa wants to go and look at the B-25 bomber or mom wants to grab a soda, there is time to do both.

4. It’s Pretty Loud

It’s not often shouting is encouraged during a family outing. If you are at an airshow, there’s a good chance that you will have to if you want to be heard.

The powerful jet of a MiG-17 engine is incredibly loud. Even the smaller propeller-driven aircraft such as the Pitts Special or a Japanese Zero can really start to crank up the decibels when they are zooming along the flight line.

5. It’s Educational

Airshows aren’t all about speed and excitement. There is an educational aspect too! With a wide range of aircraft spanning almost a hundred years back, you are literally watching history take flight.

The airshows that you see today are the descendants of the hugely popular barnstorming shows of the ’20s and ’30s! Even back then, they were really exciting.

You’ll also be able to get up close and personal with the aircraft. Often the display aircraft are available to view on the ground before and after the show… You might even get to talk to some of the pilots!

There’s more going on at airshows than you would believe. Imagine walking back in time and bumping into a member of the 82^nd Airborne Division from World War II? At Wings over Camarillo, you can do exactly that! Watch jeeps, tanks, and trucks alongside a fully kitted-out reenactment group as they pay tribute to the combat soldiers of the Second World War.

Airshows are the perfect educational (and fun) family outing adventure!

6. The Real Deal?

If military reenactments aren’t your thing, don’t worry. You can meet real heroes. With a veteran’s tent, you can converse and learn so much from the people who flew some of the displayed aircraft in combat from diverse theatres such as Vietnam, Korea, and World War Two.

Regardless of the age of your company, it is always worthwhile spending time with people who have genuinely risked their lives for their country. It is especially enlightening for children, and the veterans will share their firsthand experiences with you.

7. All of the Action Comes to You

Theme parks are fast and exciting, so what makes an airshow different? Well, there is much less walking for a start. If you so wish, you can sit in your seat all day with your eyes turned skyward, waiting for the action to come to you.

Air show event organizers make sure that the displays are performed right in front of the crowd. You can even book VIP seats to ensure that you get the best possible views!

8. Nice Views?

And we aren’t just talking about sitting on the flight line staring up into azure blue skies. Sometimes the best views can be had in the air…

What do we mean?

If you want to be a part of the action and experience the views from aloft firsthand, you can book an airplane or helicopter ride! This is great on your own but is even more fun when taken as a family! Fly 500 feet over the ground, take in the views and even chat to the pilot as you are taken on your own personal tour of the surrounding area.

9. The Food is Great

An airshow and pancake breakfast? That sounds pretty great to us!

If pancakes aren’t your thing, then there are plenty of vendors’ stands to keep you well fed and watered. Handheld snacks or more substantial meals can be found in abundance, meaning that you don’t have to miss a display because one of your party is hungry.

Airshows – the Perfect Family Outing

Airshows offer so much – which is why they are the perfect family outing. Everyone is guaranteed to have a great time. Whether you are attending with younger members of your family or want something that will keep older members happy, there truly is something for everyone. With so much to see, you can plan your day and ensure that everyone has a memorable time. Why not check out our schedule to see what a typical day holds? Alternatively, you can contact us for more information.

We can’t wait to take flight with you!