The main draw for the Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach, which launched in 2016 and kicked off this year’s three-day event on Friday, is the speed and agility of the aircraft twisting and turning in the sky, spectators turning their heads upward to soak in the jaw-dropping acrobatics.
But there was much happening on ground as the three-day spectacle got underway for the weekend just south of the pier, with everything from the NXTGN Stem Lab, an interactive hub aimed at teaching kids about science technology and engineering, to photo ops with Top Gun look-alikes “Maverick, Iceman and Rooster.”
Spectators on the sand and pier checked out the action throughout the day. Some opted to watch the show from the water on boats nearby as the planes soared above.
This year’s lineup features the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, Royal Air Force Falcons (UK), Aaron Fitzgerald flying the Red Bull BO-105, the historic B-29 “Doc,” Emma McDonald, Luke Czepiela and more.
Aaron Fitzgerald flies the Red Bull Helicoopter inverted during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dawn Patrol perfoms during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Dawn Patrol RV Formation Demo is a formation team composed of ex-military and civilian pilots flying Vans RV airplanes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Undaunted Airshows’ RV-7 and RV-8 perform during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. The team performs in two Van’s Aircraft kit planes: a two-seat RV-7 flown by lead pilot Stephen Christopher, and a single-seat RV-8 flown by Todd Rudberg. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A North American Rockwel OV-10 Bronco during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Beach goers watch Dawn Patrol perfom during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Dawn Patrol RV Formation Demo is a formation team composed of ex-military and civilian pilots flying Vans RV airplanes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Lyon Air Museum’s North American B-25J Mitchell bomber “Guardian of Freedom” arrives at the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. This B-25 bomber served in combat patrol missions in the Aleutian Islands during World War II. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Emma McDonald flies her Extra 330L during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. McDonald performs solo and formation aerobatic displays. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Undaunted Airshows’ RV-7 and RV-8 perform during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. The team performs in two Van’s Aircraft kit planes: a two-seat RV-7 flown by lead pilot Stephen Christopher, and a single-seat RV-8 flown by Todd Rudberg. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Luke Czepiela demonstrates a short take off and landing (STOL) during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Czepiela flies a specially modified CubCrafters Carbon Cub with a lightweight titanium frame, a wider propeller, and a nitrous system for extra power. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lori Pate takes a picutre of her parakeets ..Beachy thougth an aviation-themed umbrella she made as a North American Rockwel OV-10 Bronco performs during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Undaunted Airshows’ RV-7 and RV-8 perform during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. The team performs in two Van’s Aircraft kit planes: a two-seat RV-7 flown by lead pilot Stephen Christopher, and a single-seat RV-8 flown by Todd Rudberg. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Lyon Air Museum’s North American B-25J Mitchell bomber “Guardian of Freedom” arrives at the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. This B-25 bomber served in combat patrol missions in the Aleutian Islands during World War II. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Emma McDonald flies her Extra 330L past the Goodyear Blimp during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Goodyear is celebrate the 100th anniversary of its first blimp. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Undaunted Airshows’ RV-7 and RV-8 perform during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. The team performs in two Van’s Aircraft kit planes: a two-seat RV-7 flown by lead pilot Stephen Christopher, and a single-seat RV-8 flown by Todd Rudberg. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Landon Jackson, left, Samantha Jackson, and thier kids, Lorelei Jacjson, and Landon Jackson, Jr. watch Emma McDonald fly her Extra 330L during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Undaunted Airshows’ RV-7 and RV-8 perform during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. The team performs in two Van’s Aircraft kit planes: a two-seat RV-7 flown by lead pilot Stephen Christopher, and a single-seat RV-8 flown by Todd Rudberg. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Maggie Gonzalez takes a picutre with Top Gun impersonators Garrett ‘Rooster’ Witeck, left, and Brian ‘Iceman’ Ernst during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ella Barrett, left, and Tulip Fletcher play with airplanes they got at the U.S. Navy booth during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dawn Patrol perfoms during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Dawn Patrol RV Formation Demo is a formation team composed of ex-military and civilian pilots flying Vans RV airplanes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Beach goers watch Dawn Patrol perfom during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Dawn Patrol RV Formation Demo is a formation team composed of ex-military and civilian pilots flying Vans RV airplanes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dawn Patrol perfoms during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Dawn Patrol RV Formation Demo is a formation team composed of ex-military and civilian pilots flying Vans RV airplanes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Visitos to the Pacific Airshow watch Dawn Patrol perfom in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Dawn Patrol RV Formation Demo is a formation team composed of ex-military and civilian pilots flying Vans RV airplanes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Goodyear Blimp floats past beachgoers during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Goodyear is celebrate the 100th anniversary of its first blimp. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Luke Czepiela demonstrates a short take off and landing (STOL) during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Czepiela flies a specially modified CubCrafters Carbon Cub with a lightweight titanium frame, a wider propeller, and a nitrous system for extra power. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kirra Maniglia, 5, plays with a ball in the surf as Undaunted Airshows’ RV-7 and RV-8 perform during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. The team performs in two Van’s Aircraft kit planes: a two-seat RV-7 flown by lead pilot Stephen Christopher, and a single-seat RV-8 flown by Todd Rudberg. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Elizabeth Cordoba and Juan Pablo, along with their daughter, Cambria Cordoba, 6, watch the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Beach goers watch Dawn Patrol perfom during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Dawn Patrol RV Formation Demo is a formation team composed of ex-military and civilian pilots flying Vans RV airplanes. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Luke Czepiela demonstrates a short take off and landing (STOL) during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Czepiela flies a specially modified CubCrafters Carbon Cub with a lightweight titanium frame, a wider propeller, and a nitrous system for extra power. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Luke Czepiela demonstrates a short take off and landing (STOL) during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Czepiela flies a specially modified CubCrafters Carbon Cub with a lightweight titanium frame, a wider propeller, and a nitrous system for extra power. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Aaron Fitzgerald flies the Red Bull Helicoopter inverted during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force Falcons and the German Air Force A400M join the event for their debut at Huntington Beach.
At times, the expert pilots flew in perfect sync with one another, other times branching off to do thrilling loops and spins.
Civilian pilots also took to the sky, flying vintage military craft, helicopters — even the Goodyear Blimp sauntered by in the morning. The lineup is expected to stay the same for the air show’s other two days, Saturday and Sunday.
While in town, some of the prestigious pilots were soaking in the Southern California culture.
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds paddleboarded Huntington Harbour, led by legendary paddleboarder Tom Jones, while Aussie Pacific Airshow performer McDonald checked out some of the Anaheim Ducks’ preseason warmups.
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds took over the headliner performer spot this year, organizers said.
“The whole team at Pacific Air show is devastated that the government shutdown has happened,” event creator Kevin Elliott said Thursday. “We work all year long to plan this great event, and it’s still going to be an amazing event, but, unfortunately, we’ll go forward without US military participation.”
Though the planes can be seen throughout Huntington Beach, the event’s viewing areas are located between 1st and Huntington streets, with parking on a first-come basis. Gates open at 9 a.m., with the show starting at 10 a.m. and ending at about 4:30 p.m. each day. Tickets start at $40, with pier seating available for higher prices.
