2023 Capital Airshow breaks attendance records
Nov. 1—Dozens of aircrafts were featured at the Mather Airport in Rancho Cordova for the 17th annual California Capital Airshow on Sept. 23 and 24.
Amid all the aviation displays and air demonstrations, airmen with Beale Air Force Base played a key role in preparations and performances throughout the air show. Established in 2004, the California Capital Airshow is designed to honor the Sacramento region's rich aviation history and inspire the next generation of pilots.
Military and civilian pilots flew for a crowd of over 105,000 over the course of the two-day event, officials said. Pilots were then available to give tours of their planes and answer questions about aviation.
"Although it's interesting to read about aviation, I think it's imperative that people see the aircraft in flight, or even on static display," said Jacob Alwazani, a high school junior. "It helps show that the aircraft aren't just something out of a book, but real pieces of machinery, flown, and pushed to their limits by pilots around the world."
Beale pilots demonstrated a U-2 Dragon Lady and two T-38 Talons in flight while providing opportunities to interact with airmen near the static displays.
"We've got our U-2 and two T-38s flying in the show and they put in a lot of time to ensure that the airshow is flown the correct way," said Jon Huggins, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron instructor pilot. "There's a very specific way you fly an airshow and they're are top professionals."
The air show also included programs such as Girls in Aviation Day, where girls aged 9 to 18 were invited to learn more about what their future may look like in aviation, aerospace or other related career fields. Attendees had the opportunity to ask seasoned female pilots, maintainers, and combat system operators from Beale Air Force Base, Travis Air Force Base, United Postal Service, Mach Five Aviation, Metro Fire, and William Jessup University about their careers in aviation.
"The greatest thrill for us this weekend is knowing that we have inspired young people to dream big and explore the world of aviation and STEM," California Capital Airshow Board Chairman Terrence McNamara said.
This year's airshow closed with a demonstration from Air Force Thunderbirds, which headlined the show with precision flying and choreographed acrobatics.
"Seeing the Thunderbirds perform certainly lived up to the hype," Alwazani said. "With how close they were to each other when they did their aerobic stunts, it really shows the sheer amount of practice they put into making air shows that much more entertaining for onlookers."
According to organizers, the California Capital Airshow takes months of planning to coordinate, and preparations for the 2024 event are already underway.
"The feeling of bringing the Airshow back to full capacity for the first time since 2019 is indescribable," Executive Director Darcy Brewer said. "It was the perfect weekend, made even more memorable by seeing the joy and excitement the event brought to the Sacramento region's families and aviation enthusiasts."
