Show Notes
Interviews from the Pacific Airshow, a visit to the American Helicopter Museum, and an Australia desk with news from Down Under.
Pacific Airshow
The Pacific Airshow® ran Friday, October 2, through Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Huntington City Beach, Southern California. It launched in 2016, and organizers say it draws the largest attendance of any airshow in the United States. This year, Brian Coleman attended and recorded some interviews:
Kevin Elliott has been managing the show since 2018. He sees the event as a lifestyle festival with an airshow component.
Luke Mees talks about the Falcons, the premier UK military parachute display team.
Sean “Stroker” Gustafson is a retired USAF Reserve pilot and co-founder of Draken International. He’s a former USAF Thunderbird #4 pilot who flew the F-16, A-4, L-39, Alpha Jet, L-159, and 767-ER. He’s now the Deputy Mission Director of Polaris.
Mark Foster is president of the Lyon Air Museum in Santa Ana. The 30,000-square-foot hangar showcases operational World War II aircraft, military vehicles, and rare automobiles right alongside the John Wayne Airport tarmac. It features airworthy warbirds such as a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Douglas DC-3, and North American B-25 Mitchell, along with vintage military motorcycles, automobiles, and wartime memorabilia.
Matt Jolly is a national Edward R. Murrow Award-winning feature reporter, broadcaster, and writer who has spent his career telling stories about people, places, and the things that make us look up. Matt grew up around airshows and founded WarbirdRadio.com. He announces at airshows worldwide.
RJ is originally from Singapore and flies as a first officer for a major US airline based in Los Angeles. He has an extensive background in film and video and is also an FAA Gold Seal Certificated Flight Instructor.
The Pacific Airshow has a YouTube channel with the same name, and the 2026 Event Wrap video gives you a sense of how great the event is:
Video: Pacific Airshow® Gold Coast 2026 | Official Event Wrap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcmqcx067Lk
American Helicopter Museum and Education Center
Max and Micah visited the American Helicopter Museum & Education Center and recorded a chat with David.
Australia News Desk
Steve Visscher and Grant McHerron bring us aviation news from Down Under.
Hosts this Episode
Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, David Vanderhoof, and Brian Coleman.
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