Los Fresnos News

2019 CAF Air Show a Success Despite Inclement Weather

Crowd watching an airplane doing aerobatics. Photo: Tony Vindell/LFN

by Tony Vindell/LFN

Vintage and modern airplanes flew by as hundreds of spectators watched the 2019 Commemorative Air Force show.

The event, held for the first time at the Cameron County Airport off FM 106, was a success despite the blazing sun and strong winds.

The show looked like a festival as people could be seen wandering around the airport tarmac. Some of them were under a tent, while others sat in the open taking photograph of the aerobatic demonstrations as an announcer kept bringing back war memories as airplane after airplane took to the skies and the pilots delighted the crowd with their daredevil actions.

Dozens of food vendors offered a variety of foods and drinks, including BBQ turkey legs, nachos, raspas, funnel cakes, corn on the cob, water, soft drinks and even cold beer.

For some people, this was their first time watching an air show featuring warplane planes in this part of the country.

Others said they were at the CAF-organized show when it was held at the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport where it took place for 20 years as Air Fiesta.

“We are really enjoying the show,” said Wayne Phinney of La Feria as his wife, Beth, kept watching an airplane flying with its cockpit upside down. “This is great.”

He said he had no problem getting to the airport located about half way between Laguna Vista and Bayview, but admitted it was a little confusing to get there.

A plane sits on the tarmac as air show went on. Photo: Tony Vindell/LFN

Lupe and Nydia Gonzalez of Harlingen were enjoying the show as they took picture after picture of the airplanes flying by.
David Hughston, a CAF member, said the shows went real well even though the strong winds did not help at all.

He estimated more than 2,500 people attended both shows.

“Everybody we talked to said they had a good time,” Hughston said. “We are already planning for next year.”

A more modern airplane fighter flies around before zooming by the airport. Photo: Tony Vindell/LFN