Tacoma Freedom Fair Airshow

P-51 Mustang
The Mustang was the first single-engine fighter based in Britain with the range to escort and protect allied bombers all the way to Nazi, Germany. The Bomber Crews nicknamed the Mustangs – “Little Friends”. Reich marshal Hermann Goring, Commander of the German Luftwaffe was quoted as saying, “When I saw Mustang fly over Berlin, I knew the war was lost.”

P-51’s were produced at North American Aviation factories in Inglewood, CA and Dallas, TX. After World War II, the P-51 Mustang served in the air forces of more than 55 nations.

Pilot Lee Lauderback is the highest time P-51 Pilot in history, amassing over 7,000 hours in Mustangs.
Visit the Stallion 51 website.

USMC - AV-8 Harrier Demonstration
Born during the national call-to-arms immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Marine Fighting Squadron 311 (VMF-311) was first organized on December 1, 1942. The Squadron has deployed in World War II, the Korean war, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and now in Afghanistan and Iraq. The AV-8 Harrier aircraft has Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL) capabilities which allows this jet to practically hover in mid-air.

TB-25N Mitchell "Maid in the Shade"
From the Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force

A twin-engine bomber that became standard equipment for the Allied Air Forces in WWII, this was perhaps the most versatile aircraft of the war. It became the most heavily armed airplane in the world, was used for high-and low-level bombing, strafing, photo reconnaissance, submarine patrol and even as a fighter, and was distinguished as the aircraft that completed the historic raid over Tokyo in 1942.

Visit the CAF website
Click to buy a ride on this historic aircraft

Navy F/A-18E/F Hornet West Coast Demo Team
The Hornet is the nations first true strike-fighter capable aircraft. It was designed for traditional strike aircraft missions without compromising its fighter capabilities. In fighter mode, the F/A-18 is used primarily as a fighter escort and for fleet defense; in its attack mode, it is used for force projection, interdiction, and close air support.

Demo Pilot: LT Alexander "Scribe" Armatas

Visit the West Coast Demo Team website

GEICO Extra 300 S
Tim Weber flies the GEICO Extra 300 S, one of the highest performance, one seat, production, aerobatic aircraft in existence today. With over 300 horsepower and a roll rate in excess of 340 degrees per second, this aggressive mid-wing aircraft provides the performance and looks to make it an instant crowd pleaser.

In addition to flying, Tim's passion for music has grown through the years. Tim, a self-taught musician, was playing lead guitar professionally by the age of 17. He has since incorporated his love of music into his airshow routines by writing and performing original songs and instrumentals for his performances.

Visit Tim Weber's website

United States Air Force C-17
Featured elements in the air show will include one of the newest military aircraft. A C-17 from McChord AFB will demonstrate the capabilities of the United States Air Force.

The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area. The aircraft is also capable of performing tactical airlift and airdrop missions when required.

The Dueling Yak Show
The father & son team of Bud and Ross Granley pilot their slow flying Yaks in an exciting routine. Inside/outside rolls, rolls around each other, and other complicated maneuvers bring gasps from the crowd.

Visit the Granley Airshows website

F-16 Fighting Falcon
The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight fighter, the Falcon's innovations including a frameless, bubble canopy for better visibility, side-mounted control stick to ease control while under high g-forces, and reclined seat to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot. Although the F-16's official name is "Fighting Falcon", it is known to some of its pilots as the "Viper", after the Battlestar Galactica starfighter.

Visit the Viper West Coast Demonstration Team website

Click here to see a 2011 Viper West video

USAF Heritage Flight
The U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight (HF) program presents the evolution of USAF air power by flying today's state-of-the-art fighter aircraft in close formation with vintage fighter aircraft.

An HF performance involves a current USAF fighter piloted by an Air Combat Command single-ship demonstration team pilot and flown with a historical warbird piloted by a trained and certified civilian HF pilot. The program includes eight active duty pilots (six demo team pilots and two QF-4 pilots) along with nine civilians.

Visit the Heritage Flight website

American Champion Super Decathlon
Will Allen flies a 1992 American Champion Super Decathlon. It’s powered by a 180hp Lycoming with a constant speed prop and capable of +6/-5 G’s. The Decathlon is known as one of the best aircraft for tailwheel and aerobatic training.

Will has also been a musician and vocalist since high school. He has always loved performing on the stage so a National Anthem air show act was the perfect fit for him. Will has finally put together music and flying, the two biggest passions in his life, into one big showy production!

Visit the Will Allen Airshows website