A Pacific Airshow logo with a jet silhouette, white text reading "Pacific Airshow, Huntington Beach, CA, USA," on a red and purple background.

2023 Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach

October 11, 2023/Jan Wagner/
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For 18 years, this has been a spectacular few weeks for major air shows in Southern California. Last week “AutoMatters & More” covered the 2023 MCAS (Marine Corps Air Station’s) Miramar AirShow — “America’s Air Show,” which was billed as “the largest military air show in America.” This week we’ll cover the following week’s Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach.

To accomplish that I drove back and forth between the greater Huntington Beach area and San Diego five times — not just to cover air show days but also to get my professional camera gear serviced by Canon in Costa Mesa and then return to pick it up, and also cover press events at the Lyon Air Museum in Santa Ana…

Sign for Lyon Air Museum with a blue and white star logo and bold text reading "MUSEUM ENTRANCE.
Entrance to Lyon Air Museum with vintage-style marquee sign, aircraft on display in foreground, and a map on the wall in the background.
A group of people in a hangar.
Four men in flight suits and uniforms stand in front of vintage and modern aircraft inside a well-lit hangar.
A man in a blue flight suit stands next to a small aircraft labeled "MINI JET AIRSHOWS" inside an aviation museum, giving a thumbs-up.
A man and a woman stand in front of a red and white backdrop while the man holds a framed certificate of recognition.

and at the Joint Forces Training Base (JTFB) in Los Alamitos — where we were treated to our own brief performances by the Thunderbirds and the Golden Knights.

A large sign at the entrance reads "Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos California," with a stone wall, plants, and a stop sign in the background.
Two skydivers with yellow and blue parachutes perform maneuvers in the sky, trailing pink smoke against a clear blue background.
A skydiver descends with a yellow and black parachute, trailing pink smoke against a blue sky.
A skydiver descends with a yellow parachute, holding a California state flag against a clear blue sky.
A skydiver lands on a runway with a yellow and black parachute, assisted by two people, while a wind indicator flag is visible nearby.
A row of fighter jets with open cockpits sits on the tarmac as pilots and crew stand nearby, preparing for flight.
A U.S. Air Force pilot climbs into the cockpit of a fighter jet, with a red helmet resting on the aircraft’s edge. The names "SSgt Haydon Codden" and "SSgt Teron Ung" are visible.
A U.S. Air Force pilot in uniform climbs into the cockpit of a Thunderbirds jet with its canopy open.
A grid of international flags is displayed on the side of a white aircraft, with part of another aircraft and insignia visible in the background.
A pilot in uniform adjusts his helmet inside the cockpit of a jet labeled "SSgt Andruw Reyes," with another jet visible in the background.
Two pilots interact next to a parked USAF Thunderbirds jet, with one pilot seated in the cockpit and the other standing beside the plane. Multiple flags are displayed on the aircraft.
Four U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 fighter jets fly in close formation against a clear sky.

Add to that covering the massive event, editing some of the thousands of photos that I took and writing this for you. In addition, I wrote and edited photos for the MCAS Miramar AirShow column, covered the OC AUTO SHOW (in Orange County), and covered the day-long SAM (Storytelling Across Media) symposium and the new Popology (pop culture meets technology) at the Comic-Con Museum in San Diego’s Balboa Park. I’ll be leaving almost immediately to drive to Los Angeles to cover yet another event for you. SoCal is definitely the place to be for non-stop entertainment.

A person in a wetsuit rides a wave on a surfboard, turning sharply as water splashes around them.
View from a pier overlooking the ocean, with a Pacific Airshow banner on a pole, a sandy beach, surfers in the water, and buildings in the background under a cloudy sky.
A surfer in a black wetsuit rides a wave on the ocean, maintaining balance with arms outstretched.
Two surfers in wetsuits ride a wave close together, with one surfer ahead and another slightly behind on the same wave.
People play volleyball on a sandy beach with multiple courts set up; a lifeguard tower, beachgoers, and distant ships are visible in the background.
Four flags flying against a clear blue sky: California state flag, U.S. flag, POW/MIA flag, and City of Huntington Beach flag.

Pictures really do tell the story best about the Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach, but here is some context for those photos. Whereas the MCAS AirShow was primarily a huge military air show and extensive display of static, mostly military exhibits on the ground; the Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach was billed as “the largest airshow in the United States by attendance, attracting millions of spectators to Southern California every fall.” The massive crowd on the beach was surely a testament to that statement.

Four colorful vertical surfboard sculptures with "HB" logos stand on a sandy beachside path with people, palm trees, and event tents in the background.
Two mounted police officers in uniform sit on brown horses at an outdoor event, with a banner and fence in the background.
People wait in line at the entrance to the 2023 Pacific Airshow Gate C, carrying chairs and bags, with event banners and palm trees visible.
A stage setup for the Pacific Airshow on a beach with people, flags of Australia, the USA, and Canada, and a large hotel building in the background.
Two people in flight suits greet a crowd from the back of a utility vehicle on a sandy area, while a driver sits in the front seat.
Photographers on a beach capture an airshow as a jet flies overhead, leaving a trail of smoke; caution tape marks off the area.
A crowded beach scene with hundreds of people, colorful umbrellas, and lifeguard towers along the shoreline on a bright, sunny day.

This pre-event press release sums it up well:

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – September 8, 2023 – The Pacific Airshow (September 29 – October 1, 2023) today announced its best lineup yet, featuring world-renowned military and civilian aviators performing for three days in Huntington Beach. Now in its seventh year, attracting 3 million live spectators, the three-day spectacle in the sky will feature over five hours of programming each day, showcasing a wide selection of aircrafts pushing the boundaries of speeds and skills.

A busy street scene at dusk shows a multi-story beachside shopping and dining complex, palm trees, cars, and people near the Main Street intersection.
Tall palm trees line a street next to Sandy's Beach Shack and Duke's Huntington Beach restaurant signs under a clear blue sky.
Green road sign for California State Route 1 indicating the southbound direction, with palm trees and blue sky in the background.
People walk along a wide pier lined with lampposts, banners, and palm trees on a cloudy day; buildings and parked cars are visible in the background.
A FedEx Express cargo airplane in flight against a cloudy sky, landing gear extended.
A FedEx Express cargo airplane in flight against a cloudy sky, viewed from the side with landing gear retracted.
A private jet with "TRUMP" branding on the fuselage and an American flag on the tail is flying against a clear sky.
A military aircraft flies in the sky near a streetlamp with a banner advertising the Pacific Airshow, scheduled for September 29 to October 1, 2023.
A large aircraft releases a stream of water over the ocean near a pier, creating a wide spray under a cloudy sky.
A U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft releases a stream of water or fire retardant from its underbelly against a cloudy sky.

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds…

Six fighter jets with red, white, and blue paint fly in close formation against a clear blue sky, leaving white smoke trails behind them.
Two U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds jets fly past each other at close range during an air show, leaving smoke trails against a cloudy sky.
Two U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 jets fly in close inverted formation while a third aircraft appears blurred in the background below.
Four fighter jets perform an aerial maneuver, flying in formation with smoke trails against a cloudy sky.

… F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team and Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be headlining…

Eight red and white aircraft fly in formation against a cloudy sky, leaving faint trails of smoke behind them.

… alongside F-15 combat pilot Tom “Lark” Larkin and the 122d Fighter Squadron F-15s from the Louisiana Air National Guard. Additionally, the Red Bull Air Race World Champion Matt Hall will be joined by Australian aerobatic pilot Emma McDonald for her United States debut, flying their MX and Extra 300 aircrafts.

A military fighter jet with afterburner ignited is banking left in flight against a gray sky.
A fighter jet flies at high speed through a cloudy sky, partially obscured by vapor.
A fighter jet flies at high speed through the sky, creating a visible vapor cone around its fuselage.
A red and white stunt plane flies low over the ocean near two boats, with sandy beach in the foreground.

The U.S. Army Golden Knights and U.S Navy Parachute Teams will help kick-off the show…

Two people parachute from a helicopter midair; one is near the open door, the other is descending with an open parachute against a pale sky.
A parachutist in a yellow and black canopy prepares to land on a sandy area near a crowd at an outdoor beach event.
A banner advertising the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, CA, featuring US Navy Leap Frogs parachutists, held from September 29 to October 1, 2023.
A person stands on a sandy beach near a flag reading "U.S. Navy Parachute Team Leap Frogs." Equipment cases and a large mat are also visible.
Two skydivers perform a tandem jump, descending with a yellow and blue parachute against a gray sky.
A skydiver descends with a blue and yellow parachute while displaying a large Navy-themed flag during a jump.
Two Navy parachutists descend with yellow-and-blue parachutes, displaying a large red-and-white striped "Don't Tread On Me" flag with a yellow snake.
Two Navy parachutists land on a beach, one trailing a large red and white "Don't Tread On Me" flag, as a crowd watches in the background.

… followed by appearances by the Opener Blackfly and Red Bull Bo-105 Helicopter, flown by Aaron Fitzgerald.

A black OPENER.aero flying vehicle with checkered accents is displayed on a sandy beach, with people and the ocean in the background.
A black electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with multiple rotors in flight against a white sky.

“Every year we try to outdo ourselves, and we’re confident that 2023 will be our most incredible, action-packed lineup of all time,” said Kevin Elliott, Pacific Airshow’s Executive Director. “Millions of people look forward to the annual Pacific Airshow and we aim to make it an unforgettably epic experience for all.”

A fighter jet ascends at an angle with afterburners lit, leaving vapor trails against a cloudy sky.
A fighter jet releases flares while maneuvering in the sky, leaving smoke trails behind it.
Three military aircraft fly in formation: a vintage propeller-driven fighter and two modern jet fighters, one above and one below, against a cloudy sky.
A jet fighter flies at high speed through the sky, creating a visible vapor cone around it as it approaches the speed of sound.
Several photographers with large cameras stand and sit behind caution tape on a sandy beach, aiming their lenses toward the ocean. A pier and oil rigs are visible in the background.
A modern fighter jet in flight, partially obscured by a vapor cone against a clear blue sky, indicating high speed.

The Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach’s lineup of performers varied from day to day, as did the weather, so it was good to go more than one day. Whereas the air show was not located on a large airbase with plenty of onsite free parking, there was plenty of parking to be had (some of it free) in Huntington Beach. I passed street free parking on the way there. Of course, if you have a boat, there were also plenty of those off-shore where the passengers could get a great view of the airshow, too.

Two aerobatic airplanes perform close-proximity maneuvers in the sky, leaving smoke trails behind them during an airshow.
Three helicopters fly over the ocean with several boats visible below them under a cloudy sky.
Two military helicopters fly over a pier with a building that has a red roof, above the ocean on a cloudy day.

I would recommend purchasing some category of the admission tickets, which will put you closer to show center and the loudspeakers, which will keep you informed.

A sign on sand displays "Pacific Airshow" with jet images and text reading "Tickets Sold Here" above a QR code.
A colorful poster for the 2023 Pacific Airshow with jet planes and text reading "Welcome to the 2023 Pacific Airshow Pier Seating.
Tall palm trees with green fronds stand against a clear blue sky on a sunny day.
People sit and stand along a fenced area on a pier near a lifeguard tower under cloudy skies, with ocean on both sides and event banners on lamp posts.
People seated on white chairs on a pier overlook a crowded beach with overcast skies and ocean waves in the background.
A Pacific Airshow merchandise booth with branded shirts, hats, and souvenirs on display, staffed by three people behind the counter under a blue canopy.

This is a great annual event. For more information about the Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach and the Pacific Airshow on the new Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, visit https://pacificairshowusa.com.

Two jet aircraft perform a close cross maneuver in the sky, trailing smoke against a cloudy background.

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Copyright © 2023 by Jan Wagner – AutoMatters & More #811r1

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Jan Wagner

2 Comments

  1. David Sperry on September 10, 2025 at 6:06 pm

    Jan, I must admit that I have never seen an air show of this magnitude. When I lived in England in the 1970’s, I went to a few national and local events, with mostly vintage aircraft. Nothing like your shows. I’ve always wondered about the dangers and risks of air shows, and I believe that recently there was a crash in an European (Germany?) Air Show where the pilot died but fortunately no injuries in the crowd. Is there any sense of danger at these high level air shows?

    Reply
    • Jan Wagner on September 10, 2025 at 6:50 pm

      Hi David,
      This was a particularly good airshow. All that was missing was more blue sky.
      Another great airshow that I usually go to is now called America’s Air Show, otherwise known as the MCAS Miramar Air Show in San Diego. It includes a simulated air and ground military assault, complete with pyrotechnics I (enter that in the Search bar on the AutoMatters & More Home Page). I hope to cover that again later this month (Sept. 26-28). I was a little late in applying for a press credential, so I am waiting to find out. I’m also waiting to find out if I will be approved for a press credential to cover the 2025 version of the Pacific Air Show (Oct. 3-5). Unfortunately, low ground cover of clouds prevented most of last year’s show from taking place, although I heard that some people saw some of the planes from vantage points inland. Perhaps that airshow should consider relocating inland.
      In answer to your question about whether or not there was a sense of danger, the planes fly over the ocean, so they are quite far away from the spectators.
      Jan

      Reply

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