Daredevils get ready to take flight
Pilots will show off their prowess this weekend at the 3-day Pacific Airshow
Giant jets and military aircraft will soar high in the sky off the Huntington Beach coast this weekend, but pilot Tom Larkin's mini jet will bring people a lot closer to the action as he zooms back and forth just 30 feet above the water.
“I'll go by like a gnat, just really fast, really small,” said Larkin, who will be performing at the Pacific Airshow in his SubSonex Mini Jet for the first time. “It will definitely be something they've never seen before in their life.”
The tens of thousands of visitors expected at the annual threeday air show will see historical and modern warplanes, world champion aerobatics and even a biplane that can hover vertically in the air. Organizers confirmed Thursday afternoon that former President Donald Trump's plane is expected to participate on Friday; he is in Orange County for the CAGOP convention. They gave no further details.
Larkin has to squeeze into his mini jet, but it allows for big moves — he can perform quick turns and can climb vertically at up to 12,000 feet per minute.
“I'm about one third of the weight of an IndyCar, and I'm going 100 miles per hour faster,” he said.
The daylong shows are the same each day, organizers said, with Friday considered a rehearsal for Saturday and Sunday. There will be food and drinks available inside the general admission area on the beach, and getting in will cost you $25 if you buy your tickets ahead of time.
Robert “Scratch” Mitchell will be piloting a T-33 in formation this weekend, which he says could be the same plane his grandfather flew for the Canadian military.
Mitchell said aviation is “part of my family DNA” since both he, his dad and grandfather were all fighter pilots. Performing at air shows is thrilling for him, Mitchell said, because he gets to share his love of aviation with others.
“As corny as it might sound, I was a little kid standing at the fence line looking at the air show performers,” he said. “To a little kid it's purely magic, and to be able to experience that again through the kids' eyes really makes it worthwhile.”
This weekend's forecasting is looking mostly positive, with high temperatures hovering around the 70-degree mark, but the National Weather Service is projecting up to a 40% chance of rain in the mornings. The Pacific Airshow is a rain or shine event, according to its website, but weather could force some flying demonstrations to be modified or canceled.
Here are a few other things to know about attending the air show:
• When will the planes be flying? The show starts at about 10:30 a.m. each day and the aerial acrobatics finish up about 4:30 p.m. Friday is considered a rehearsal day, but the show schedule is the same for all three days. Organizers say Friday is often a little less crowded.
Gates are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Pier Plaza Festival area is open until 8 p.m.
• Where can I watch from? General admission tickets are available for $25 online and includes the beach south of the pier to Beach Boulevard — organizers said more than 20,000 tickets are available each day.
There is also pier seating, premium club seating, cabanas and chalets available for additional costs, increasing with the location and amenities offered.
Many boaters watch from the water; there is an area under the flight path marked off with buoys that is off limits. Drones are not allowed.
• Who is flying? Headliners include the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, Canadian Forces Snowbirds and F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team. Australian aerobatic pilot Emma McDonald is making her United States debut with Red Bull Air Race World Champion Matt Hall. Parachuting in will be the U.S. Army Golden Knights and U.S Navy teams.