Wings Over Camarillo Turns 45

Jason Somes makes a high speed pass for the hometown crowd in his Polish-built MiG-17F. Jason is type rated in 17 different aircraft, and flew three different warbirds during the show.

There’s no doubt that 45 years is a notable anniversary for any recurring event. This year Wings Over Camarillo joined the lofty ranks of air shows reaching that milestone.

One of my favorite California air shows, the theme for 2026 was “Celebrating 90 Years of the DC-3 — A Legend That Changed the World.” I happily joined 20,000 attendees Aug. 12-13 at Camarillo Airport (KCMA) in Southern California, to enjoy the sights and sounds of this event, with more than 110 aircraft on site this year.

Rotorcraft demonstrations appeared early in the program with a formation fly-by of two Los Angeles Fire Department AgustaWestland AW139s, followed by a Ventura County Firehawk performing a water drop demonstration at show center.

A pair of Los Angeles Fire Department AgustaWestland AW139s make a photo pass during Wings Over Camarillo. LAFD operates seven helicopters out of Fire Station 114 at Van Nuys Airport.

A Ventura County Fire Dept HH-60 Firehawk conducts a demonstration water drop. This is one of three former military Blackhawks acquired by VCFD and retrofited with a 1,000-gallon external fixed water tank with a retractable snorkel system.

Sammy Mason was the first aerobatic performer, flying a tribute to the late Judy Phelps. Judy was an accomplished local CFI and Pitts aerobatic pilot who lost her battle with cancer this year. Sammy took to the sky in his Pitts and flew Judy’s show routine in her honor.

Sammy Mason performed a tribute to Judy Phelps in his Pitts S-1S, replicating her aerobatic show routine.

Being the home of the Southern California chapter of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), there was no shortage of historic aircraft to see on the ramp, especially with Planes of Fame and other visiting warbirds participating.

Taigh Ramey brought the Stockton Field Aviation Museum’s newly named A-26 Invader bomber “Hell’s Belle.” The A-26 would fly in a European theater theme warbird demo. To close the show, a Pacific theater demo was conducted, complete with a “Wall of Fire” finale.

This lovely Douglas A-26C Invader “Hell’s Belle” hails from the Stockton Field Aviation Museum. The A-26C had the clear bombardier nose while the A-26B had a solid nose packed with .50 cal machine guns.

North American P-51D Mustang “Bunny” flies past some pyro smoke during the salute to European theater aircraft. This Mustang serves as a flying tribute to Lt. Col. Robert J. Friend, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen who flew 142 combat missions during World War II.

Unlike early Spitfires, this Fighter-Reconnaissance (“FR”) variant is powered by a Rolls-Royce Griffon V-12 producing over 2,050 horsepower, giving it a top speed of 440 mph. This example served with the Indian Air Force.

The ever-popular Wall of Fire finale, part of the Pacific theater aircraft demo. As a T-shirt at the show proclaimed: “An Air Show Without Pyro Is Just Another Fly-In.”

One warbird performer that I looked forward to seeing was James Webb flying an OV-10 Bronco demo. I’ve seen many CAL FIRE Broncos airborne, but not one in full military spec, and I was not disappointed.

James Webb pilots this North American Rockwell OV-10D Bronco past show center. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Navy utilized OV-10s to direct naval fire from offshore ships onto inland targets.

For 2026, the slate of aerobatic performers included John Collver in his T-6 Texan, Sammy Mason, flying the Pitts and Edge 540, Anthony Oshinuga, flying a Pitts, and local favorite Jason Somes, who flew multiple aircraft.

Sammy Mason returned to the skies, this time in his Edge 540. The Edge 540 has captured more Red Bull Air Race championships and World Aerobatic titles than any other aircraft.

Anthony Oshinuga performs in his Pitts S-1S.

It’s always a treat to see someone performing here for the first time, like freshman performer Michael Mainiero in his Sukhoi Su-29.

Michael Mainiero roars past show center piloting his Sukhoi Su-29 in his freshman air show season. In his day job, you will find Michael captaining a Kalitta Air Boeing 777.

Torrey Ward performed skillfully in his diminutive Subsonex MicroJet, contrasted by Garret Willat’s balletic routine in his Grob G-103 sailplane.

Torrey Ward goes inverted in his Subsonex JSX-2 MicroJet. Torrey is the only pilot to have flown a SubSonex coast-to-coast in a single day.

Garret Willat pilots his Grob G-103 glider “Sailplane Magic.” The Willat family have been performing air show sailplane routines since 1979.

Going back to the DC-3 theme for the event, four of these classic Douglas aircraft were on hand for fans to admire. There was “D-Day Doll” from Paso Robles, and three from Southern California, including “Betsy’s Biscuit Bomber” and “Flabob Express.” The fourth one wears United livery and is named “Mainliner O’Connor,” owned by noted aviator Clay Lacy.

Now the “Flabob Express,” this Douglas C-47A was delivered to the Royal Air Force in 1943 and used for VIP transport. Logbooks indicate that both Winston Churchill and Princess Margaret flew in this C-47.

Clay Lacy turned 94 this summer and he was honored during the air show with tribute formation passes of the “Mainliner O’Connor” flying in formation with the P-51 Mustang “Plum Crazy.” In his younger years, Clay piloted that same P-51 to win the Unlimited class at the 1970 Reno National Air Races. The current owner, Vicky Benzing, flew “Plum Crazy” for the tribute and also in the first Unlimited races held in September at Roswell, New Mexico, the new home of the National Championship Air Races.

A highlight was this Clay Lacy tribute with Vicky Benzing flying her P-51D Mustang alongside Clay’s restored DC-3 Mainliner. United introduced the “Mainliner” name in 1936 to evoke the luxury, speed, and reliability of ocean liners.

There were several formation teams that flew during the air show, starting with San Diego Salute, a warbird team composed of seven Beechcraft T-34 Mentors. They were followed by the Condor Squadron, another warbird group flying four T-6 Texan trainers. The last team flight performance was by the Dawn Patrol RV Formation Team with seven RVs.

Members of San Diego Salute fly a formation of T-34 Mentors during the air show. The T-34 Mentor was a military adaptation of the Bonanza Model 35 design, capable of +10g and -4.5g loads.

The Condor Squadron makes a formation fly-by in its North American AT-6/SNJ Texan aircraft. Founded in 1965, the Van Nuys-based team has flown with as many as 10 Texans.

The Dawn Patrol RV Formation Team in action. Based in Chino, these ex-military and civilian pilots fly Van’s RV airplanes with more than 5,000 hours of combined formation time.

A good variety of aircraft was on static display, with warbirds intermingled with some modern military aircraft. The ramp was thick with general aviation, both modern and classic.

The Bowers Fly Baby won the EAA’s first major design competition in 1962, with over 500 completed worldwide.

An Italian ICP MXP-740 Savannah LSA on static display. The Savannah is in production, sold in both kit and ready-to-fly form.

A pair of SilverLight American Ranger AR-1 gyroplanes on display. Enjoy the open air at speeds from 25 mph to as high as 110 mph.

This Bucker Bü 131 Jungmann was delivered to the Spanish Air Force in 1938, then upgraded by CASA in 1957 with a new tail structure and new engine.

Noteworthy statics included Ampaire’s Cessna Eco Caravan flying testbed with diesel/electric hybrid power, and what might’ve been one of the final air show appearances by a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion.

The Ampaire 9-seat Eco Caravan is powered by both a combustion engine and an electric propulsion system with energy supplied by a battery pack located in the cargo pod.

The weekend air show not only featured skydivers and aerial demonstrations, but there were also science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) exhibits, as well as 200 cars of all types exhibited on the tarmac.

A lineup of classics, both automotive and aviation. This Lockheed P-3C Orion is one of only six still active with the U.S. Navy, assigned to test, evaluation, and special project roles.

Cheers to turning 45! With such a content-rich airshow, I don’t see this event slowing down any time soon.

As in years past, 2026 was another enjoyable show put on by the non-profit organizer, the Camarillo Wings Association. Since 2010, the association has donated more than $815,000 to local organizations and non-profits, promoting local aviation and youth STEM activities.

For more information: WingsOverCamarillo.com