Beginning today and continuing through Sunday in Huntington Beach is the Pacific Airshow, which will feature aerial displays by both military and civilian pilots.
The three-day airshow is the biggest in the world in terms of attendance; the previous edition helped draw almost 3 million visitors to the region. In May, director Kevin Elliott planned an expansion to Gold Coast, Australia. Tom Tate, the mayor of the Gold Coast, will be present this weekend to commemorate the collaboration.
In the Huntington Beach competition, Matt Hall, a fellow Australian and the current Red Bull Air Race Global Champion who is also an ambassador for the Gold Coast airshow, will fly for the first time.
The Thunderbirds, a team of the U.S. Air Force that includes two residents of Surf City, will compete this year in honor of the branch’s 75th anniversary in 2022. The event will be broadcast live on Hulu on October 1.
According to a study commissioned by Visit Huntington Beach, the Code Four-organized event contributed more than $100 million to the Orange County economy in 2019.
“We are thrilled to have the Pacific Airshow return for the 6th time to Huntington Beach,” the marketing organization’s CEO Kelly Miller said. “Our hotels and resorts are high in occupancy this weekend and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Surf City USA to witness the performers and take advantage of our endless summer weather.”
