After a year’s absence, the Salida Airport Air Fair will be held on June 26, 2021 at Harriet Alexander Field, 9255 County Road 140 in Salida, Gates open at 7:00 a.m., with a pancake breakfast available starting at 8:00 a.m.
Promoters promise the ‘largest airplane aerobatic performance Salida has even seen,’ with planes performing loops and barrel rolls over the valley and displays of military and private jets, helicopters, gyroplanes, and drones. A drawing will provide for one attendee to experience those aerobatic maneuvers over the valley.
“It is amazing how much preparation goes into these events,” said Salida Airport Manager Zech Papp. “Fundraising, emergency response plans, scheduling EMS and Fire, crowd control, parking for spectators, parking of aircraft, sanitation stations, porta-potties, food vendors, other merchandise vendors, volunteer coordination, airspace waivers through the FAA, to finding performers, event insurance, coordinating transportation and accommodations for them, hangar space, fuel, smoke oil, property maintenance, etc.”
The Air Fair always features ground displays of military jets, WWII era planes, helicopters, and more, and in alternating years, includes aerobatic displays in the skies over Salida.
An aerial view of Harriet Alexander Field, Salida Airport.
(courtesy photo)
This year’s aerobatic displays will include Don Nelson in his T-6 Texan, Colorado aerobatic legend Dagmar Kress in her Pitts S-2C, Bob Freeman in his Extra 330LX, and Chris Murphy flying an RV-4.
On the ground, displays will include World War II planes, such as an iconic P-51 Mustang, Bird Dog, T-6, military jets, including a French Fouga, helicopters, gyroplanes, and drones. Chaffee County Search and Rescue South has one of the most sophisticated drone search capabilities in the state and will also be in attendance.
Admission to the Airshow is free. The pancake breakfast will cost $6 for adults, $4 for kids, and local food trucks will also be on hand. The Mile-Hi Wing of the Commemorative Air force will attend with their WWII plane, an SNB-5, and will be selling rides for $99 for a 20-minute scenic flight over the valley. There will also be a drawing for a free airplane scenic flight. Salida now has a flight school and anyone who is interested can sign up for flight lessons.
For additional information contact: Rob Dubin at 719-896-1298 or robdubin100@gmail.com or Airport Manager Zech Papp at 719-239-1648, or zpapp@chaffeecounty.org
Featured image: Colorado aerobatic pilot Dagmar Kress in her Pitts S-2C will appear at the Salida Airport Air Fair Saturday, June 26. Courtesy photo.
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