Updated: 2018 Dates Not Released!
According to the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, Travis has not yet announced an “open house” for 2018 but Mather has announced 2018 dates. That means airshow! 2018 is on!
I can’t find a lot of info yet, all we know is the weekend, but what more do you need?
California Capital Airshow 2018
Mather Airport Sacramento
Mather Airport, CA | September 22nd and 23rd, 2018 | 9am-4:30pm
Not Free: $20 per adult, $10 per child | Parking: $10 cash only
Next to the Travis Air Show, the California Capital Airshow is located just outside of Sacramento and one not to be missed. This airshow is in it’s 12th year and features the Thunderbirds and the Canadian Snowbirds. It is located just south of downtown Sacramento and right off of highway 50 so it’s not much further from the Travis Air Force Base and they put on a spectacular event. A great Air Show.
Update on the Airshow Cancelation:
Sadly after a plane crashing at the 2014 Air Show, it appears Travis AFB is not going to have an airshow for 2015. But on the official Thunderbirds site you can see they have a Travis Show scheduled for 2017 and it did happen yet no 2018 yet.
Continue reading for more information on the crash and other air shows in the California region you can attend where the Thunderbirds Fly.
Bay Area Air Shows
Also don’t forget the Blue Angels at San Francisco Fleet Week.
The Blue Angels are the Navy’s performance team and they fly in F-18 Hornets.
Travis Canceled 2015 & 2016?
The Travis Air Show was canceled for 2015 and it seems to have been again for 2016.
There was a crash and a death during the show last year. I was there the day before, Saturday but the crash did happen on Sunday.
Thunderbirds Air Show
The Thunderbirds air display team flies the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. Such a beautiful plane.
Video released by Travis Air Force Base.
If the Thunderbird performances weren’t exciting enough, there is going to be static ground airplane displays as always. A lot of these air craft are big enough to walk though.
Including but not limited to: P-51 Mustang Historic Fighter, C-5 Galaxy Beast, F-16 Fighting Falcon Jet, KC-10 Extender Flying Gas Station, A-10 Thunderbolt II Tank Hunter, B-52 Stratofortress Mega Bomber, C-17 Globemaster III Transport, F-15E Strike Eagle Fighter Jet and more!
You know how bad we all want to be in that seat.
Concerned Capitol Airshow Attendee says
Double check that Capitol Air Show for 2017 web site, as something is not right. Both the Blue Angles and Thunderbirds are not scheduled to be at Mather Airfield in each schedule listing for 2017. The text of that link in the Capitol Air Show was 2015, and even the Snowbirds are scheduled to be somewhere else in 2017. None appear to be booked for it right now, excepting today, where the French team (Patrouille de France) are flying the day before Easter. Hope it changes soon, but this makes the Travis AFB show all the more desirable, and it’s only a few weeks away. Must Have Jets, and the Smell Of Fuel. YES!
OaklandMofo says
I do see something changed with Mather.
They still claim on their site they will have a show September 9th and 10th in this block text under buy tickets for the French “sneak peak show”
“This event is a sneak peek before the 2017 California Capital Airshow set for September 9-10th.”
However, the Blue Angels are now listed as “Open, TBD” for those dates.
Hope things still work out.
Nick says
There wouldn’t have been one in 2015 either way. Typically Travis is every other year since 2010ish.
Cheryl S. Lunderville says
I'm very disappointed!! Mather Field is having their air show, but it costs minimal $20 to get it, and $10 for parking. Forget it!! Lived at Travis for 10 years and saw them every year for free!! Guess they aren't having one this year. Too much money spent on wars.
Lawrence A. Dacayo says
Have to understand the tragic accident last year, I was just arriving on the Parkway that Sunday, when I saw the plane from my view loop di looping and then go out of site and a puff of smoke arose from the tarmac area,? RIP To the deceased stunt pilot at the 2014 Travis Air Show???
David Lever says
Yes I’m disappointed Travis is not having a airshow, it’s one of the few airshows that has every type of aircraft. I was there in 2014, I did not witness the crash, I was at the air Museum at the time. From what I understand the pilot survived the crash, but the rescue team did not get there fast enough to get him out. As far as the other airshows in California, once you seen the Travis air show your spoiled, and the other airshows are disappointing.
OaklandMofo says
I agree except for the Miramar Air Show in Southern California. I went to in the year 2000. That was really cool.
I also really miss the Moffett Airfield Show from when I was growing up. That was a good one.
I still have this poster.
Dave Lever says
I agree, Moffett airfield show was pretty darn good. One thing about Travis is when they lineup the C-5, C-17, and all the other large aircraft, it really is impressive, and is the only airshow that displays this type of aircraft. A lot of the airshows have been canceled or trimmed back because they’re afraid of public liability, but most of the shows now established a one-mile safety zone, which seems to be working. A little side note, if anyone’s interested, I had taken videos of every show airshow I attended. I did not post them on YouTube, because there are thousands of videos of airshows. I did not want to post repetitive material.