Riverside Airport Open House & Airshow 2017 celebrates 25 years of yearly entertainment, excitement

Those looking for something different, interesting and memorable to do this Saturday, April 1, will want to consider checking out this year’s Riverside Airport Open House & Airshow 2017.

The airshow, which organizers say features “heart-stopping aerobatics and dazzling aircraft,” is an annual Riverside tradition for plane enthusiasts and citizens throughout the region. The airshow is being held at 6951 Flight Road in Riverside. It is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.

Now in its 25th year, the free annual airshow continues to be one of Riverside’s two largest family entertainment events, according to airshow organizers.

In recent years, the one-day event has attracted as many as 90,000 spectators to see what some would consider to be the most exciting aerial performers in the airshow business today.

With more than 200 acres of aircraft displays, aerobatics demonstrations, authentic war-birds and military aircraft replicas, antique and classic airplanes, a classic car show, remote control stunt and trick flight demonstrations, static and live helicopter displays, aviation and souvenir vendors, fun for the kids, food and refreshments, and community group exhibits – such as the EAA Young Eagles – the airshow has something for just about everyone to enjoy.

Saturday’s airshow will feature several well-known pilots and air-show regulars, including Julie Clark, Spencer Suderman, Chuck Coleman, Vicki Benzing and Jon Melby.

Clark has been a pilot for more than 45 years and is a retired Northwest Airlines Captain. She has logged more than 33,000 accident-free hours in the air and is rated in more than 66 types of aircraft.

Also featured at Saturday’s show will be Spencer Suderman, who became the Inverted Flat Spin Guinness World Record holder in March, 2014, while soaring over the California desert.

Suderman received the recognition after he completed 81 full rotations from a starting altitude of 23,000′ with a clean recovery to straight and level flight at 950′.

Coleman will be performing an aerobatic routine in his Extra 300L. Coleman has performed in hundreds of airshows and has logged over 6,200 hours of flight time. With over 1,000 of those hours in aircraft he constructed himself and with experience flying more than 140 different aircraft types, organizers expect Coleman to bring an exciting addition to this year’s airshow.

Born and raised in California, Benzing is an accomplished pilot, skydiver, aerobatic performer, and air racer; with a flying career spanning over thirty years. With more than 7500 hours of flight time and over 1200 parachute jumps, show organizers say Vicky has a passion for “everything airborne.” She holds an airline transport pilot rating as well as a commercial rating in helicopters, seaplanes and gliders.

Melby is a long-time airshow pilot with over 35 years of flying experience. He will be flying freestyle maneuvers in his distinctive, black and yellow, factory-built, Pitts “Muscle Bi-Plane”. Jon is known for keeping spectator’s attention with his aggressive performance flying style.

Smoke-N-Thunder’s Jet Truck Hot Streak II is a twin jet engine 57 Chevy pickup, capable of speeds in excess of 350 mph. Smoke-N-Thunder has been wowing fans at airshows and fairs across the country for more than 20 years.

There will be a T-6 formation flyover and John Collver will be featured again with his T-6 Texan. According to event organizers, more than one million people have seen the thrilling demonstrations put on by Collver and his AT-6 Texan at annual air shows.

Additionally, there will be a special appearance by a 1943 C-53D “Skytrooper” that trained with the 82nd, “All American” and 101st, “Screamin’ Eagles,” Airborne Units. The war-bird flew three missions during the D-Day invasion of Europe and went on to fly three more missions over Europe.

Donated to the Commemorative Air Force and assigned to the Inland Empire Wing at Riverside Airport, the plane was restored to full military configuration, remaining as close as possible to look exactly as she did on D-Day. She now flies from the Riverside Airport as “D-DAY DOLL”.

The airshow will also feature an Emergency Preparedness Fair and representatives from Riverside Police Department will be at the airshow providing exciting demonstrations of the department’s Air Support Unit, METRO Team, and K-9 department.

Police officials are also planning on live-streaming from the event for those interested in following the fun from the convenience of their homes.

There is ample parking available at and around the airport for $10 per vehicle. Handicapped parking is also available.

Officials suggest arriving early for breakfast at D & D Airport Cafe or belly up for the airshow’s annual pancake breakfast to start your day right. The pancake breakfast will be served for just $6, from 6 a.m. until 7 a.m.

The airport will be closed during the airshow, from 9:30 a.m., until about 5 p.m.; however, officials say fly-ins are welcome until 9:30 a.m.

Airshow organizers suggest bringing cameras, hats and sunscreen, sunglasses, water bottles, lawn chairs and umbrellas to the event.

Organizers also remind citizens that alcoholic beverages, pets – other than certified service dogs – firearms, explosives, fireworks and EZ-ups are not permitted at the show and smoking is not allowed on the airport runway.

Click the following link for a schedule of the day’s events or click the second link for a map of directions to the airshow.

For more information about this year’s airshow call (951) 826-5311.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.