October 25-26
Ellington Field
Houston, Texas
Attractions & Displays
Modern Aviation Displays
Spread throughout the Airshow are numerous static (non-flying) displays of modern military and civilian aircraft. Tour the inside of a "Hurricane Hunter" or KC-135, walk through the massive C-5A cargo transport, maybe climb aboard the latest in Boeing cargo planes, examine all types of helicopters, training aircraft, experimental planes, and more! You can visit with the pilots and crew of the planes and maybe even grab an autograph or giveaway token.Participating aircraft subject to change without notice.
Warbird Ramp Displays
One section of our Airshow grounds is our Warbird Ramp which will have dozens of historic World War II, Korean, and Viet Nam era aircraft on display. Trainers, fighters, and bombers! You can take a tour inside many of the larger aircraft, or walk over the wing of some of the "birds" and get a close-up view of the cockpit or gunner's position. Visit the pilot and crew and maybe you can even sit in the pilot's seat! Historians will give tours and short talks about many of the aircraft. Please note: The Warbird Ramp is closed at certain times of each performance day so that these aircraft can "crank up" and fly in the show.Legends and Heroes Autograph Tent
Meet aviation and military legends and heroes at our Autograph Tent. Throughout the day, flying aces, decorated war-heroes, and veterans will be present to sign autographs. Many of these living legends will also offer for sale copies of their autobiographies and other memorabilia. Don't miss this opportunity to meet these heroes! Airshow performers may stop in before or after their Airshow performances. Below is a list of some of the Legends scheduled to attend. This list is tentative and subject to change. Below is our attendee list from the 2007 Airshow as an example of the many Legends and Heroes who may attend.
The list of expected 2008 attendees will be updated as we get closer to the Airshow date.
Legends and Heroes 2007
(This list is from 2007 and will change!)
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Lt. Dick Cole, Doolittle Raiders - Jimmy Doolittle's Co-pilot on the Tokyo raid.
M/Sgt Edwin "Ed" Horton, Doolittle Raiders - Engineer/Gunner, Crew #10, entered the Army in 1935. He volunteered, and was on Crew 10 as an engineer/gunner, for the secret mission that would later be know as the "Doolittle Tokyo Raiders," and bailed out over China at night during a rainstorm after his plane ran out of fuel. The Chinese rescued him and several other Raiders.
Capt. Birt Brumby - B-24 pilot with the 458th Bombardment Group In WWII. Led missions to German targets.
Col. Joe McPhail - WWII Corsair Pilot with VMF-323 "Death Rattlers" at Okinawa.
Lt. Col. Vince Lipovsky - F4U Corsair Pilot, VMF-223 Solomons, Took Charles Lindberg on several missions.
Lt. Col. John Lee - WWII P-51 Pilot, 20th FG, 79th FS, 8th Air Force. One of the first 35 engineers and scientists appointed to study manned space flight.
Lt. Richard "Rip" Collins - WWII P-47 and P-51 Pilot, 35th FG, 40th FS "Red Devils", 5th AF.
Flt. Officer J. Curtiss "Goldie" Goldman - Was a WWII Glider Pilot in the 441st TCG, 99th Sq. He flew in every major combat campaign in the European Theater, including Market Garden and Groesbeck, Holland. Goldie was known as a "Fighter Pilot trapped in a Glider Pilot's Body" for the way he handled the Waco G4 in combat.
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Capt. Pete Mullinax - WWII B-17 Pilot, 205th BG. Shot down over Germany during the 2nd Schwienfurt Raid. POW until end of war.
2nd Lt. Charles W. "Hong Kong" Wilson - B-17 Pilot, 100th BG. Missions included the tough targets of Hamburg, Berlin, Merseburg, and Ruhland.
S/Sgt. Stan Bruin - Flew 24 missions as a tail gunner on B-17 Bombers in the 92nd B.G. Flew on 2 missions bombing Nuremberg. 3 days later on February 25, 1945 his plane was shot down over Munich and on the way to his first POW Camp he was forced to march through the heart of Nuremberg, much of it still burning.
T/Sgt. David Stedman- Entered the Air Corps in April 1943, and after training was assigned to the 455th B.G. as a radio operator/ gunner. T/Sgt. Stedman completed 24 combat missions and was awarded the Air Medal with one Oak leaf Cluster and four Battle Ribbons
T/Sgt. Raul Baldit- was a combat infantryman of the 87th division of the third Army. In 1944 his unit entered combat in Frances Alsace-Lorraine. After heavy fighting, his division crossed the German border in the Saar Region on Dec. 15, 1944. On Dec. 25, 1944, his unit was called upon to take part in the historic counterattack in The Battle of the Bulge. The division raced 200 miles to attack the German Panzer Lehr Division near Bastogne. Sgt. Baldit also participated in the Breaching of the Siegfried Line, Moselle River Crossing, Capturing of Koblenz, Rhine Crossing and the dash across Germany to Plaven, near the Czech border.
Sgt. David Stedman- Entered the Air Corps in April 1943, and after training was assigned to the 455th B.G. as a radio operator/ gunner. T/Sgt. Stedman completed 24 combat missions and was awarded the Air Medal with one Oak leaf Cluster and four Battle Ribbons
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Members of the
PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS ASSN:
George Hemingway - PBY vet on Ford Island during Pearl Harbor attack.
Enoch Vaughn - Repair Sqdrn, Ford Island during Pearl Harbor Attack.
Lewis LaGesse - Was on the battleship West Virginia when hit by 7 torpedoes and sank.
Members of the
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN:
Tuskegee Airmen - members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen will attend (list to be determined)
"In Memorium"
1917-2007
Maj. Archie Donahue, USMC - F4F Wildcat Pilot VMF-221, Guadalcanal "Cactus Air Force". F4U Corsair Pilot, C.O. VMF-451, USS Bunker Hill. Twice "Ace in a Day" with 14 victories.
 "The more you learn about mankind the more you marvel at the patience of God, the fighter pilot’s last resort - hope. What we have learned in our time is history. It must be passed on so that it will not be relived."- Archie Glen Donahue, USMC
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Military Reenactor Camp
The soldiers on the ground are remembered with display areas featuring several military reenactor groups who bring their authentic WWII military vehicles, equipment and uniforms and set up a realistic military camp onsite. See how the man in the trenches lived during WWII. The reenactors also take part in the Airshow providing ground activity during many of the WWII battle recreations.Civil Air Patrol
As the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is chartered by Congress to promote aerospace education for the general public. CAP will be putting on an aerospace show at its booth in the airshow’s main modern aviation display area. The program will include displays of several general aviation aircraft, including search and rescue aircraft. CAP will also have "Name the Aircraft Component", straw rockets, gyroscopic precession, and an emergency services display including a demonstration of the type of equipment used in the search for Steve Fossett. The program will also have a model rocket demonstration involving the ignition of a model rocket motor and activation of the rocket’s parachute in a static display. The program is free and will begin hourly.
Boy Scout Aviation Merit Badge clinic will be held Sunday, beginning at 10:00am and continuing throughout the day at the CAP booth. CAP members will cover all of the merit badge requirements so Scouts can leave the airshow having completed all of the badge requirements. Scouts should be sure to bring a BSA Merit Badge card signed by your leader to the session. The merit badge clinic is free. Motion Simulator Rides
A popular feature of the Airshow are the M4 motion simulator rides which provide realistic views and sensations from inside modern aircraft such as the Thunderbirds, Blue Angels, or one of many other high-performance thrills.Kid's Carnival
We don't want to leave out the little ones and younger set who have their own area of special activities of carnival-style games and activities, such as inflatable slides and challenges, facepainting and crafts for tots, rock-climbing wall, Power Jumper, and Water Wars.Merchandise Booths
What festival show wouldn't be complete without lots of vendors who offer unique collectible and souvenir merchandise. Grab a set of authentic dogtags, that unique piece of artwork, a new set of earrings, or an official Wings Over Houston Airshow t-shirt. There are many booths to shop!Stop by the Commemorative Air Force booths for official shirts, caps, pins, dog tags, toys, and other collectible merchandise!
Participating aircraft and flying schedules are subject to change without notice.
A few reminders...
Though set for the fall, Houston weather typically is hot and humid. Comfortable shoes and clothing, as well as sunscreen and sunglasses, are recommended as there are no indoor facilities. Food and drink vendors will be set up throughout the grounds. Attendees may bring lawn chairs onto the grounds; however, glass bottles and alcoholic beverages may not be brought in. Airshow souvenirs will also be available. No Pets are allowed on the grounds, and please don't leave them in the parking area! No skateboards, bicycles, or rollerblades, please.Alcoholic beverages, glass bottles, coolers, and large tote bags are prohibited.
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Wings Over Houston and the Wings Over Houston Airshow logo are registered trademarks of the Commemorative Air Force, Inc.