It is a party one decade in the making as the Hangar 24 AirFest & 10th Anniversary Celebration is scheduled to take place Saturday, May 19 at the Redlands Municipal Airport.
Top aviation acts like the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CF-18 Demo Team, and the United States Air Force’s F-16 Viper Demo Team are set to take to the skies in Redlands. Civilian acts already confirmed include Jon Melby in his Hangar 24 Muscle Bi-Plane, Vicky Benzing, the fastest female ever to qualify at the Reno Air Races, Bill Braak and his Smoke-N-Thunder JetCar, local pilot Tony Higa and Kent Pietsch in his Jelly Belly Interstate Cadet. More AirFest acts will be announced as they are added.
But this event is more than an air show. For the first time, AirFest will include a beer festival with local, regional and national breweries on hand. There will be a wide array of Hangar 24 flavors as well, from original recipes to innovative offerings and our newest creations. There will also be the traditional debut of our anniversary beer, currently in development. The 2017 anniversary beer was a Hazy IPA that has garnered rave reviews. Music acts will be scheduled throughout the day, including an after-dark headliner still to be announced.
At least two dozen food vendors are expected to be on hand, with plans for an Oktoberfest-style covered beer garden to provide shade, as well as a spot to sit and enjoy the beverage options. There will be a Kids Zone and static aircraft displays throughout the AirFest grounds.
Tickets are tentatively scheduled to go on sale Feb. 15. More ticket information, as well as additional performers and musical acts will be announced at a later date. As always, a portion of the proceeds from AirFest will benefit Hangar 24 Charities, a 501 (c)(3) that focuses on children’s and military veteran’s causes.