CAF Wings Over Houston Airshow Lineup Finalized

The heart of the Texas Flying Legends fleet of aircraft will be heading to Oshkosh, Wisconsin in a few days to take part in EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015. (photo by Jake Peterson)

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The heart of the Texas Flying Legends fleet of aircraft will be heading to Oshkosh, Wisconsin in a few days to take part in EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015. (photo by Jake Peterson)
The heart of the Texas Flying Legends fleet of aircraft will be heading to Oshkosh, Wisconsin in a few days to take part in EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015. (photo by Jake Peterson)

PRESS RELEASE -Only a few more weeks until the U.S. Navy Blue Angels come to Houston to fly their heart-stopping performance in the 32nd Annual Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Wings Over Houston Airshow, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 22-23, at Ellington Airport. A variety of ticket options are available at www.wingsoverhouston.com or by calling 888-4-FLYSHOW, purchasing at the gate or buying general admission tickets at local Kroger stores.Joining the Blue Angels will be an array of incredible aerial performances by the AeroShell Aerobatic Team, a demonstration flight of the F-16 Viper, aerobatic performances by Sean Tucker, Matt Younkin, Debbie Rihn-Harvey and Paul Fiala, and an Air Force Heritage Flight featuring F-16 Falcon, P-47 Thunderbolt and F-35 Lightening II Stealth Fighter.

Vintage World War II-era warbirds – including one of the largest arrays of U.S. fighters and bombers flown in any airshow in the nation, as well as rare planes such as a British Spitfire and one of the world’s only flying Japanese Zero fighters – will perform reenactments and fly in formations.

Honoring the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, the airshow will pay tribute to the service, sacrifice and heroism demonstrated during WWII. Performing will be fan-favorite Tora! Tora! Tora! with their explosive reenactment of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.“In the air and on the ground, we have created an exciting and fun weekend of events for the entire family, a fun event that has been a Houston family tradition for 32 years,” said Airshow Director Bill Roach. “The Blue Angels always fly an amazing show and bring in record crowds, so we suggest you buy tickets now, use public transportation, and arrive early to see all of the older warbirds that will fly in the show before they close that area.”

(Image by Luigino Caliaro)
(Image by Luigino Caliaro)

Ace pilots and other distinguished military veterans will make appearances in the Legends & Heroes Autograph Tent, happy to autograph your event program for free. Among the show’s guests will several World War II veterans, including Col. Dick Cole, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday and is the last surviving member of the famous Doolittle Raiders. Although too many to list, some other airmen appearing will be triple-ace Col. Dean Caswell, Col. Joe McPhail who flew in World War II and Korea, B-24 tail gunner S/Sgt. Kent Gillum, and two pilots who flew Hellcats off the U.S.S. Hornet in World War II, Lt. (JG) Tilman Elison Pool and Lt. (JG) Charles E. “Billy” Watts.

Other performers and family-fun attractions include:

  • World War II-era planes performing and on display from various units of the Commemorative Air Force, Texas Flying Legends Museum, Lone Star Flight Museum, Vietnam War Flight Museum, Lewis Collection,  Cavanaugh Flight Museum and Collings Foundation. To see all of them up close and on the ground, arrive at 8 a.m. and go straight to the warbird ramp until it closes at 10 a.m.
  • Modern military aircraft on display, including the sleek F-35A Lightening II Stealth Fighter, the reliable B-52 Stratofortress, the massive C-17 cargo plane, and more.
  • The show will include a flight demonstration of the U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Dolphin MH65D, the aircraft used for rescues in our gulf coastal area.
  • The RE/MAX Skydiving Team will open our show, bringing the American and Texas flags to the crowd during the National Anthem.
  • Before the airshow starts, Texas City Radio Control Club will demonstrate scale model radio-controlled aircraft that will amaze you with their capabilities.
  • Members of reenactment and historical organizations set up camp, complete with authentic World War II military vehicles, equipment and uniforms.
  • More fun on the ground for everyone includes plenty of food, merchandise booths, children’s carnival area, aircraft simulators and more. Come early to do it all!
An F-35 Lightening II flies around the airspace of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on March 5, 2016. The F-35 was participating in Air Combat Command’s Heritage Flight Training Course, a program that features modern fighter/attack aircraft flying alongside Word War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War-era aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brandon Shapiro)
An F-35 Lightening II flies around the airspace of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on March 5, 2016. The F-35 was participating in Air Combat Command’s Heritage Flight Training Course, a program that features modern fighter/attack aircraft flying alongside Word War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War-era aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brandon Shapiro)

Tickets can be purchased in advance by visiting www.wingsoverhouston.com or by calling 888-4-FLYSHOW. Tickets can be purchased at the gate on show days, but premium reserved seats sell out early. General admission tickets are available at area Kroger stores.

About Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Wings Over Houston

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Wings Over Houston Airshow is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community event produced by a volunteer effort of the Gulf Coast Wing, Houston Wing, and Tora! Tora! Tora! of the Commemorative Air Force, with support from the Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston, Texas Legends Flying Museum, Vietnam War Flight Museum, Lewis Air Legends and Collings Foundation West. The Airshow is dedicated to showcasing vintage World War II aircraft, along with the thrills of modern aviation. One of the top air shows in the United States in its category, the CAF Wings Over Houston Airshow attracts more than 90,000 festival goers throughout Houston as well as from around the globe. The 2016 Airshow benefits the CAF Wings Over Houston Airshow Scholarship Program, Aviation Career Education Academy, Exchange Club of Sugar Land, Westchase Rotary Club and the Commemorative Air Force aircraft restoration and flying historical programs, in addition to numerous other nonprofit participating organizations.

About the Commemorative Air Force

The Commemorative Air Force honors the men and women who built, maintained, and flew in these airplanes during World War II. The organization believes that is best accomplished by maintaining the airplanes in flying condition; taking the airplanes to the people allowing them to experience the sight and sound of the aircraft in flight.

Collecting, restoring and flying vintage historical aircraft for more than half a century, the Commemorative Air Force ranks as one of the largest private air forces in the world. The CAF is dedicated to Honoring American Military Aviation through flight, exhibition and remembrance. A non-profit educational association, the CAF has more than 13,000 members and a fleet of 165 airplanes distributed throughout the country to 76 CAF units for care and operation. For more information, visit www.commemorativeairforce.org.

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