Pikes Peak Regional Air Show takes to the sky and draws big crowds after a three-year hiatus
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The annual Pikes Peak Regional Air Show returns to the skies Saturday morning.
The show has not been held since 2019, so the community is expected to come out in full force. 30,000 people are expected to attend throughout the weekend.
Gates open at 8 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday with static displays and the show will begin at noon spanning over 40 cutting edge, vintage and historical aircraft.
"You're gonna wanna look for the F-35A, that's the air force's demo team," Colorado Springs Sports Corporation Marketing Supervisor Molly Sharples said. "They're gonna be doing some crazy cool stuff in the air. So keep your eyes to the skies for that. As well as the growler, the U.S. Navy's demo team will be out there as well, and if you're a top gun fan, that is your aircraft."
The show will begin with the National Anthem and the Air Force Wings of Blue jumping from the 98 Flight Training Squadron B-17 Bomber. Followed by a Bomber parade, aerial aerobatics, a water drop demonstration, and much more. The show will conclude around 3 p.m.
"Being upside down and inverted 300 feet above the ground is pretty cool, so that's typically my favorite part of the show," F-35A Lightning II Pilot Major Kristin BEO Wolfe said.
Displays along with a STEM-focused educational kid zone will be open throughout the two-day event.
The F-35A is the featured aircraft at this show, as the newest fighter currently being built.
"Our whole mission on the demo team is to bring the airplane out and if we get one person excited about aviation, whether they join on the civilian side or the military side, that's our whole goal, so we've achieved our mission," Wolfe said. "It's really important for people to see that they can fly airplanes and do the same job that we're all doing out here."
Major Kristin BEO Wolfe is the first female demonstration pilot for the F-35. She'll be flying the F-35A Lightning II this weekend in a variety of performances. Which is the newest fighter being built right now.
"It's important to inspire the next generation either to get excited about military aviation, fighter jets, and aviation in general," Wolfe said. "Just to see kids' faces light up as well as adults to see the airplane fly is important to inspire them and get people excited."
She hopes to inspire people to want to pursue a career as a pilot. She says a lot of fighter pilots she's spoken with realized they wanted to be a pilot at an air show.
"It's really important to keep that legacy going," Wolfe added.
For more information, to view the full schedule, and to purchase tickets, visit the Pikes Peak Regional Air Show website.
