June 28-29 marked the return of SkyFest at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, Washington. The SlickPixels.com team was on hand for Friday’s Media Day and Saturday’s public show to capture the action and bring you some of the highlights from another great aviation weekend.

Saturday proved cooler and windier than Friday’s practice sessions, but the gusty conditions helped clear away the smoke generated by the aerobatic performers, resulting in clearer skies throughout much of the weekend.

The show opened with a patriotic start as a parachutist descended with a giant American flag in tow during the National Anthem. Moments later, Fairchild’s SERE team made a pass in front of enthusiastic show-goers in their UH-1 Huey, from which they proudly displayed a second American flag from the open side door of the helicopter.

With opening ceremonies complete, attention quickly turned skyward as the aerobatic acts got underway. Torey Ward in his MicroJet demonstrated that aerial excitement can come in small packages, while Stephen “Christo” Christopher and Todd “Woody” Rudberg of Undaunted Airshows thrilled spectators with their pair of Vans RV aircraft, performing precision formation flying and opposing passes that from the crowd-line look like near collisions.

The flying schedule continued with one of the more unusual performances of the weekend, a Red Bull-sponsored stunt in which a performer was picked up from a moving Volkswagen convertible by a Cessna bush plane before later returning to earth by parachute. It was a unique spectacle, looking more like something from a Hollywood movie than the local airshow.

For many aviation enthusiasts, however, one of the most anticipated appearances of the weekend belonged to a pair of F-15C Eagles from the New Orleans Air National Guard’s 159th Fighter Wing.

Prior to their demonstration, we were provided rare access to the hot pit area where pilots and ground crews prepared the mighty Eagles for flight. Standing only yards away as the crews performed final checks, strapped into the jets, and brought the powerful fighters to life offered a unique behind-the-scenes perspective that few spectators ever get to experience.

Then came the moment everyone was waiting for.

The air erupted with the thunderous roar of four Pratt & Whitney engines as the pair of Eagles accelerated down the runway and launched into the Washington sky.

Although newer variants of the Eagle continue to serve and evolve, opportunities to see the classic F-15C Eagle have become increasingly rare. With an unmatched combat record and more than four decades of service, the Eagle remains one of the most respected fighters ever built. Watching a pair of these fine machines perform over Fairchild was absolutely one of the highlights of SkyFest 2026.

History then took center stage with a welcome collection of classic warbirds from the Erickson Aircraft Collection. The lineup included a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk wearing Royal Air Force markings, and the unmistakable Lockheed P-38 Lightning.

Seeing any one of these legendary aircraft is special. Seeing all three together was an unexpected treat.

Another crowd favorite was Vicky Benzing and her striking purple P-51 Mustang racer. Formerly owned by legendary aviation entrepreneur Clay Lacy, the aircraft is a wonderful combination of the timeless lines of the Mustang and performance enhancements developed through years of unlimited air racing competition.

One of the most visually striking aircraft of the weekend was the U.S. Air Force Viper Demo Team’s specially painted F-16. It sports a red, white, and blue scheme inspired by the original YF-16 prototype and serves as a fitting tribute as America celebrates its 250th birthday.

The patriotic livery is a fan-favorite and the high energy flight demonstration does a great job of highlighting the remarkable performance capabilities of the F-16.

Closing out the day’s flying was the Patriots Jet Team. Not originally listed on the schedule, their appearance proved to be a welcome addition to the show. Comprised of former military demonstration pilots, including veterans of the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels, the team flew their L-39 jets in a fast-paced routine of formation flying, opposing passes, and aerobatic maneuvers that provided a fitting conclusion to the day’s events.

The static display area offered visitors an opportunity to get up close with an impressive collection of aircraft including a pair F-22 Raptors, an A-10 Thunderbolt II, KC-46 Pegasus, KC-135 Stratotanker, C-5M Super Galaxy, P-8 Poseidon, L-39, and several historic warbirds.

Although attendance appeared somewhat lighter early in the day than in previous years, spectators continued arriving throughout the afternoon and the crowd steadily grew as the show progressed.

SkyFest 2026 once again delivered an outstanding mix of military aviation, aviation history, and aerial entertainment for enthusiasts throughout the Pacific Northwest. We are looking forward to the next one in 2028, hope to see you on the flightline.