LANCASTER – Representatives of the Los Angeles County Air Show held a press conference at Fox Airfield Friday morning to announce that the USAF Thunderbirds will headline the 2015 Los Angeles County Air Show March 21-22.
Performing several flybys in a Lockheed Martin F-16D Fighting Falcon, USAF Thunderbird advance pilot Maj. Scott S. Petz completed a site survey of Fox Airfield and surrounding areas in preparation for his team’s appearance in March.
Maj. Petz told the crowd of aviation enthusiasts that he just performed “some pretty awesome low altitude flying… and the airfield looks awesome.”
He said he was not only excited to put on a great air show for locals in March, but that he appreciated the work that organizers and volunteers were putting into the upcoming show.
“Bottom line, I love aviation, aviation enthusiasts and putting on an air show like this,” Maj. Petz said. “And I’ve been on your side. I’ve done the leg work as far as how much work goes into it, and it’s a ton of work. So the Thunderbirds and myself thank you for all the hard work.”
Dennis Dunbar, director of the Los Angeles County Air Show, said last year’s inaugural show proved how volunteers and sponsorships are critical to getting the air show off the ground.
“We really couldn’t do it without the partnership we had with this city, the county, our local business owners and volunteers,” Dunbar said. “It really does take a village to put a show like this on, and what a wonderful community to be part of.”
Dunbar said the air show has about 500 volunteers, which he called the “heartbeat of this organization that represents the cradle of aviation that is this Aerospace Valley.”
He said the air show could not exist without these volunteers, nor could the event take place without sponsors from the community.
Dunbar then announced that Lockheed Martin would be the title sponsor for this year’s air show, explaining that the aerospace and defense giant’s support for education in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math is a critically aligned with the air show’s mission to encourage a STEM-focus experience for students throughout the community.
Other sponsors to date include Southern California Toyota Dealers and Sierra Toyota.
Event representatives also noted that the LA County Air Show will be the USAF Thunderbirds’ first air show appearance on the west coast in 2015. The March event will also feature a variety of other jets, world-famous aerobatic performers and historic aircraft for aviation fans of all ages, officials said.
Aviation enthusiasts may purchase tickets and keep up to date on the air show’s news, performers and attractions by visiting www.lacountyairshow.com.
USAF Thunderbird advance pilot Maj. Scott S. Petz performs flyby
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Bob Alvis says
First year airshow and everybody wants a piece of the pie , big pieces ! The Non profits did very well for the “first year” and after paying the bills that would stager the average person we move forward to this years event with out the first year start up costs . We are the LA County Airshow we have a board of directors and are a private 501-3c not a government operation national or local . Our board is made up of local aviation fans from around the valley ,we are stem driven to provide support for our local schools and students . We gave out five scholarships to local students going off to college this last fall and helped with Veterans outreach projects . Instead of washing your hands of the event why not volunteer and make it better ? if we want to have an Airshow in the Antelope Valley this is our only way to have them , Edwards and their 2.5 million dollar airshow is not coming back anytime soon . I was born here in the AV in 1954 and Aerospace and Airshows are in my blood . My first ever Airshow was at Fox field in the early sixties , I started this ball rolling a couple years back not to make a buck but to bring back our community to its roots and we did just that last March. was it perfect ? Hell no, but it was a start and we learned, but in the end we put planes in the air and smiles on kids faces of all ages . I realize we cannot make everyone happy and I wish we could but just remember in the end this is just an Airshow and not a political platform to take shots at people or policies , were not government run we are just local folks doing the best we can without pay for our community and we give back the best that we can at this point .
Kevin says
I was one of those concession “volunteers” that worked the air show last year as a fundraiser for a private organization. The air show was not forthcoming at all about wages to be paid other than “if we meet our numbers you’ll benefit” Well, I’m here to tell you that my group ran one of the largest booths there and had the highest sales of the entire all directions show, we busted tail from 7 am to 5 pm both days and for all our efforts we were paid just over $4 an hour per person worked. The all n did sirs how board made all n did sirs how ton of money off concessions and shared a very small portion of the profits with the paid “volunteers” working. Good luck finding sucker willing to work that hard for that little! Be warned, if decide this is a great fundraiser opportunity, your private organization will be taken advantage of by the crooks running the airshow like they did to hundreds of us last year!
Son of the Anti Rex says
Expect nothing less from anything controlled by the Fern St. Mafia.
Rondizzle says
I’ll be attending. Only a couple decades left until manned flight is all but history.
Mark says
You all enjoy the airshow. Meanwhile our government fails to take care of our Veterans.
I will not be going.
Eric says
Good call. That’ll really stick it to the private enterprises running the air show.
Brandon says
Your logic is stupid. I’m one of those “vets” and I know damn good and well this airshow has NOTHING to due with the VA and their failures. Your argument is the equivalent of protesting China by not buying goods from Mexico.
Bob Alvis says
Ever listen to my Radio Show AV Veterans On AM 1380 Mark ? Ever hear how I hold fire to the feet of our Government ? Did you ever hear that from the show how the answer for our Veterans is not going to be found in Washington but in our local communities ? Is the Thunderbirds or the Blue Angels the problem or the elected officials that shut down our military and gutted its resources ? Good idea to remember the folks you will meet at an airshow support what your saying and the people who take form our Veterans will be out front of the airshow protesting it . I hope you reconsider your thoughts and I will by you a ticket to the event so you can see first hand that Airshows and the people who attend share your same passion for the Veterans