Get Ready for a Double Air Show!

While the Valkaria Air Fest is much more than what happens in the air, the fact remains that it centers around flying... so it's only natural that we have some flying events! This year, we're proud to bring some of the finest aerial performers to Valkaria Air Fest, with the hope that we can share the beauty, wonder, and all-out fun of flight that we love so much with everyone in our community.

We will have TWO Air Show sessions... one at mid-day (1:00pm - 2:00 pm) as well as a rare treat: a TWILIGHT AIR SHOW! This show starts at 5:30 pm and is a very special and rare opportunity to see amazing aerial performances right alongside the beauty of a Space Coast sunset. DON'T MISS THIS!

Air Show Performers:

Scheduled performers include Gene McNeely, John Black, Skydive Sebastian, and a Hot-Air Balloon Glow. We are also working on some other demonstrations and surprises as well! (What kind of surprises? You'll just have to come and find out!)

• Gene McNeely
  T-6 Texan Aerobatics
  
  Gene will be flying his T-6 Texan World War 2 advanced trainer. Gene is a world-renowned airshow performer, known both for flying the "slot" position with the award-winning Aeroshell Aerobatic Team and also for consistently finishing in the front of the pack at the yearly air races at Reno in his T-6. Gene lives in the Spruce Creek Fly-In community near Daytona Beach.
  
• John Black
  Super Decathlon Aerobatics
  
  LtCol John Black, USAF has perhaps the world's best "real" job... he's a full-time fighter pilot, flying F-15 Eagle fighter jets for the Florida Air National Guard in Jacksonville. But during his off-duty hours, he is rapidly making a name for himself in the airshow world flying his Super Decathlon named "Blue" through some really great "low, slow, and smooth" aerobatic routines. John lives in Cocoa Beach and bases his plane at the Merritt Island Airport. John learned to fly while in high school in Dayton, OH, and before he had even gotten his private pilot certificate, he had started taking aerobatics lessons! John attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, graduating with a BS in Aircraft Engineering Technology. Commissioned in the US Air Force in August 1989, he completed pilot training in April 1991 after a year of flying T-37s and T-38s. For the next ten years of active USAF duty, John flew the F-15C Eagle air-superiority fighter jet. Today, John still flies F-15As as an active-duty (ie, full-time) member of the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing, based in Jacksonville. John is an F-15 Instructor and Evaluator with over 3000 hours in the Eagle, and has over 4100 sorties over the last 23 years. John has never gotten far away from his love of aerobatics, though. He's become a talented airshow performer flying his American Champion 8KCAB Super Decathlon... a type that's been near and dear to him throughout his flying career. He bought his Super D in 2002 and named her "Blue" because of it's Bahama Blue color scheme, which shines brightly on sunny days. Visit John's Website
  
• High-Performance Fly-Bys
  P-51 Mustang and Midget Mustang Racer
  
  We'll be treated to several high-speed, maximum climb passes by the legendary North American P-51 Mustang of World War Two, arguably the most important fighter plane in history! Pilot Jeff Michael will tear up the skies over South Brevard with the thunderous, sweet roar of the Mustang's 1,200 horsepower Merlin engine, the plane that helped save the free world from dark forces of evil in World War Two. When you see the Mustang, remember... this is what FREEDOM sounds like! We'll also have high-speed passes by Valkaria-based Art Irvine in his Bushby Midget Mustang, a sleek homebuilt that's found widespread success in air racing and as a sport plane.
  
• Skydive Sebastian
  Sport Parachute Demonstration
  
  Skydivers from Skydive Sebastian will be performing sport parachuting demonstrations. They operate a very successful skydiving operation, with visitors coming from around the world to experience their scenic drop zone located at Sebastian Airport... our aeronautical neighbor just to the south.
  
• Hot-Air Balloon Glow
  (Evening Airshow Only)
  
  

  Evening Balloon Glow (Photo: Timothy O'Connor, via AvWeb.com)

  Hot-air balloons will be part of the sunset airshow. While the balloons aren't going to actually take off, be sure to bring your camera as the sight of huge hot-air balloons inflated and glowing in front of a beautiful Florida sunset is a truly beautiful sight! It's even likely that you could get a chance to help the balloonists out, if you're so inclined. Bring the kids!
  
• More?
  
  We're working on a few more surprises... we'll just have to wait and see what else might happen!
  

Please keep in mind even though aerial performances are what many folks think of when attending an aviation event, there is much more to the Valkaria Air Fest! Be sure to check out all the other great things going on like the History Hangar, the many static aircraft displays, the R/C airplane demos, and the displays by the many Sponsors & Participants who make this event possible!

(Please note that all events and participants are subject to change)