The Pacific Air Show returns to Huntington Beach for 2023!
September 29th - October 1st
10:30am - 4:00pm
Pacific Air Show 2023
The coolest air show
What sets this air show apart from others is the variety of aircraft and location! This air show features military and private planes/jets. Also, the viewing from right along the beach makes it even more enjoyable. Relax at the beach, hotel, pier, or on a boat as these pilots make their rounds right over you! Since 2016, the Pacific Air Show has become the largest air show by attendance and each year has consistently gotten better and better. This year will be even better!
For the most up to date information and official website, click here
Viewing locations
From the beach - You can watch the air show for free from the sand just to the left or right of the Drop Zone and reserved area. While you won't be right in front of the main focus, viewing here is just fine and still good. The planes fly all along the beach so really anywhere from Huntington Pier to Beach Blvd. offers a good show. Parking is difficult.
From the Drop Zone - This is dead center to all the action. Watching from here will bring you right into the action the planes cross right here and the paratroopers land on the beach in front of you. You can pay for unreserved beach seating or reserve tables and cabanas here. While this is right in the action, the downside to this viewing angle is that you will looking directly into the sun and the planes will be backlit. The parking around here is difficult so arrive early. Pacific Air Show
From the Pier - Watch the planes/jets fly directly at you as they fly along the beach. While you will not be center stage to the drop zone, you will still see all the action just fine and also have aircraft flying right over you and directly towards you. Pier tickets can be purchased from Pacific Air Show.
From a boat - This offers the best lighting since you will have the sun behind you which means you see the sunny side of the planes. You will also have a nice background which includes the beach, people, mountains, and buildings. There are several companies offering tours from whale watching boats out of Newport Beach and Dana Point.
From a hotel - HB Waterfront offers an amazing view from their rooftop lounge. The main action is located straight in front of this hotel so not only will you be watching from dead center of the drop zone, but you will be eye level to the performers. Viewing from here also gets you out of the sand and allows you to relax at a table where you can also order food and drinks. Valet parking is also available here so you don't have to deal with the chaos of parking.
Parking: Parking will be difficult as thousands of people flock to the beach for this event so you'll need to plan accordingly. Arrive nice and early and hang out, there is plenty to do in the area with lots of shopping and restaurants just across the street. You can pay for parking in the beach lots or find street parking but the easiest way to access will be by parking further away and riding a bike or taking a rideshare service in. If you bring a bike, be aware that all bike racks will be full so you'll need to get creative as to where you lock your bike.
Performers for 2023
- U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
- Canadian Forces Snowbirds
- F-22 Raptor Demonstration team
- Tom Larkin (Mini jet)
- Emma McDonald (Stunt plane)
- Bayou Militia (F-15's)
- Matt Hall (Stunt plane)
- Fed Ex (Boeing 757)
- U.S. Army Golden Knights
- F-35A
- U.S Navy Leap Frogs
- Aaron Fitzgerald (Red Bull)
- U.S.A.F. Heritage Flight
- F-35C
- KC-135
- Growler Legacy Demo Team
- Greg Colyer (Stunt plane)
- B-52 (Saturday only)
- Blackfly (Drone)
- Mike Goulian (Stunt plane)
- O.C.F.A. water drop demo
- Jarrod Lindemann (Biplane)
- Sammy Mason
Boat Race
To kickoff the Pacific Air Show, a boat race will take place starting and ending at Huntington Pier. Called "Pacific Rum Run," this will happen just before the pier is closed off to the public for the safety of the air show. You can walk out to the end of the pier to watch the start and finish of this race. Some of these boats will reach speeds above 100mph as they race around Catalina Island and back.
Schedule for 2022 (last year)
Friday, September 30th
7:30 AM - Ocean Cup Boat Race
10:51 AM - U.S. Navy Leap Frogs - Flag Jump
11:00 AM - U.S. Air Force T6 - A
11:01 AM - O.C. Fire Authority Water Drop
11:06 AM - U.S. Navy F/A - 18 Super Hornet Demo
11:22 AM - Grumman Albatross
11:30 AM - Sammy Mason
11:41 - U.S. Army UH60 Demo
11:47 - PACAF - F-16 Demo
12:03 - U.S Air Force F-16 Agressor
12:12 PM - U.S. Air Force C-130J
12:20 PM - Lyon Air Museum / "Guardian of Freedom" Flypass
12:26 PM - U.S. Navy F-35 Demo
12:46 PM - Michael Goulian / Goulian Aerosports
12:55 PM - FedEx 757 Flypass
1:04 PM - BlackFly
1:12 PM - Matt Hall
1:25 PM - U.S. Navy F/A - 18 Super Hornet Demo & Legacy Flight
1:15 PM - U.S. Air Force KC -135
1:57 PM - U.S. Air Force C-17
2:07 PM - Ace Maker Airshow 2 - ship Demo
2:19 PM - Red Bull Airforce
2:32 PM - A-4 Skyhawk & Mig 17
2:45 PM - U.S. Army Golden Knights & UK Army Tigers
3:11 PM - Yak110 & Jet Waco
3:23 PM - U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
Saturday, October 1st
10:32 AM - OC Fire Authority Water Drop
10:37 AM - Coast Guard SAR Demo
10:51 AM - U.S. Navy Leap Frogs - Flag Jump
11:00 AM - U.S. Air Force T6 - As
11:51 AM - Sammy Mason
11:26 AM - U.S. Army UH60 Demo
11:34 AM - PACAF F-16 Demo
11:51 AM - U.S. Air Force F-16 Aggressors
12:00 PM - U.S. Air Force C-130J
12:08 PM - Lyon Air Museum / "Guardian of Freedom" Flypass
12:14 PM - U.S. Navy F-35C Demo
12:30 PM - Michael Goulian / Goulian Aerosports
12:43 PM - Edwards B-52 Bomber Flypass
12:51 PM - FedEX 757 Flypass
1:00 PM - BlackFly
1:08 PM - Matt Hall
1:21 PM - U.S. Navy F/A -18 Super Hornet Demo & Legacy Flight
1:47 PM - U.S. Air Force KC -135
1:56 PM - U.S. Air Force C-17
2:05 PM - Ace Maker Airshows 2- ship Demo
2:18 PM -Red Bull Air Force
2:31 PM - A-4 Skyhawk & Mig -17
2:44 PM - U.S. Army Golden Knights & UK Army Tigers
3:10 PM - YAK 110 & Jet Waco
3:26 PM - U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
Sunday, October 2nd
10:51 AM - U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Flag Jump
11:00 AM - Ace Maker Airshows
11:06 AM - U.S. Air Force T6-A
11:12 AM - A-4 Skyhawk
11:18 AM - Grumman Albatross
11:26 AM - Sammy Mason
11:37 AM - U.S. Army UH60 Demo
11:46 AM - PACAF F-16 Demo
12:02 PM - U.S. Air Force F-16 Agressor
12:11 PM - U.S. Air Force C-130J
12:19 PM - Lyon Air Museum / "Guardian of Freedom" Flypass
12:28 PM - U.S. Navy F-35C Demo
12:44 PM - Michael Goulian / Goulian Aerosports
12:57 PM - FedEX 757 Flypass
1:06 PM - Matt Hall
1:19 PM - U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet Demo & Legacy Flight
1:45 PM - U.S. Air Force KC-135
1:54 PM - U.S. Air Force C-17 Demo
2:03 PM - Ace Maker Airshows 2-ship Demo
2:16 PM - Red Bull Air Force
2:29 PM - A-4 Skyhawk & Mig 17
2:42 PM - U.S. Army Golden Knights & UK Army Tigers
3:08 OM - Yak110 & Jet Waco
3:20 PM - U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
Lyon Air Museum
Stop by Lyon Air Museum to see some beautiful vintage planes and their history. This is a hidden gem in Orange County and you can also see some of the place that are performing in the Pacific Air Show.
We have a boat chartered out of Newport Landing
Orange County Outdoors Air Show Charter.