Dates

Saturday, August 16
Sunday, August 17

Hours

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Admission

Adult: $8
Couples: $16
Kids 11-16: $8.00
Kids 0-10: Free with an adult admission

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2008 Air Expo Overview

The theme for the 2008 Camarillo Air Expo (formerly referred to as the Camarillo Air Show) is "Wings over Camarillo"!

It will be a terrific aviation weekend, as the gates of the popular Camarillo Air Expo open at 9:00 a.on Saturday and Sunday, August 16-17, celebrating its 27th year of air events at the Camarillo Airport.

Once the Oxnard Air Force Base, the Camarillo Airport is now the home of over 560 production, home-built, and World War II aircraft, as well as active chapters of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the Ventura County Ninety-Nines (99s),and the Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). The Airport also supports numerous aviation related businesses.

"Chapter 723 of EAA is proud to sponsor this annual event," says Ken Coolidge, air expo chairman. "The Air Expo is our way of sharing with Southern California families the fun, diversity, and contribution of aviation."

The weekend will indeed bring together an entertaining and educational array of activities on the ground and in the air. Among these attractions:

This is a fun family event, so plan to spend the day! Start your day with the traditional "must" -- a pancake breakfast sponsored by our female pilots, the Ventura County Chapter of the 99s. In between bites, glance up! Though the formal air expo won't start for several hours, the skies will be busy. Ultralite pilots start fly-bys at 9:00 AM, with an announcer telling you about these interesting planes.

Spend the morning enjoying the diverse aircraft, talking with pilots, enjoying the variety of displays. Visit with the heroes of World War II, do some eating and shopping, and a little face painting for the kids. Don't forget your camera!

Around 12:30, be sure to wander over to the flight line viewing area for a special treat.  Mallory Lewis and Lambchop will be passing down the line on a golf cart on their way to the Air Expo tower where she will open the show on Saturday and Sunday at 1PM by singing the National Anthem -- or maybe Lambchop will sing the National Anthem.  Be sure to be there to make sure who actually sings.

Mallory Lewis and Lambchop will also be walking about the Expo grounds chatting with the crowd and entertaining them with Lambchop's antics.  The children will love it.

A new feature this year is the Learn to Fly Discovery Center where anyone 15 years old or older with an interest in learning to fly can get a thorough orientation about what learning to fly is all about. FAA licensed instructors will provide this orientation and first lesson. Upon completion of the introductory simulator lesson, the person will have a pilots log book with a first lesson logged in it.

Join the opening ceremony at 1:00! The color guard, National Anthem, Special Guest... together they signal the start of a great three hours. We'll recognize the local aviators -- military, commercial, sport pilot -- who have shaped aviation in Southern California. Their aircraft truly reflect history:

  • Ultralights, symbolic of the earliest flight (1903-1920)
  • Antiques and classics (1920s, 30s and 40s)
  • World War II aircraft, Allies and the Axis (late 30s-mid 40s)
  • Post-War aircraft (late 40s)
  • Korean War era (1950-53)
  • Cold War era(1953-63)
  • Vietnam era (1963-1975)
  • Factory-builts (1950-2007)
  • Experimentals (1975-2007)

Before the gates close at 5:00 PM, there's still time to finish enjoying the displays, food, fun... and most of all, the homegrown feel of this special airport.

Daily Schedule

09:00 a.m.: Gates open
09:00 a.m.: Pancake breakfast by the 99s (open for show staff at 8 a.m.)
09:00 a.m.: Fly-bys
10:00 a.m.: Pilot briefing (required for all air expo pilots)
01:00 p.m.: Opening ceremony for air expo
01:00-04:00 p.m.: Narrated air expo
05:00 p.m.: Gates close

Directions

To get to Camarillo Airport from U.S. Highway 101:

  • Exit at Las Posas Road
  • Go south ¾ mile on Las Posas Road
  • Turn right on Pleasant Valley Road
  • Go ½ mile on Pleasant Valley Road
  • Turn right on Airport Way or Eubanks Street
  • Follow directional signs and parking attendants

Google mapto the Camarillo Airport. Yahoo map to the Camarillo Airport.

Parking is free, and handicapped parking is available.

Flying in? Contact CMA tower at 128.20. Plenty of airplane parking is available. (See also pilot information.)

Admission

Proceeds from the Camarillo Air Expo support aviation in the community, through Chapter 723 of the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Helpful Suggestions

Here are a few ideas to make your day even more pleasant!

  • Check the weather. It could be overcast early in the day, but hot later on.
  • Wear good walking shoes. There's a lot to see and things are spread out.
  • Wear sunscreen.
  • Bring a portable chair or blanket for air expo watching.
  • Don't forget camera and binoculars.
  • Some bottled water will always come in handy!

Pilot Information

Here are some links to information of interest to pilots:

Last Updated 8/15/08