Van Nuys Hosts Aviation Expo This Weekend

The skies over the mid-San Fernando Valley will fill with aerobatic performers, skydivers and pilots this weekend during the Van Nuys Airport Aviation Expo.

On the ground, there will be a display of military aircraft including the C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane, as well as such vintage planes as the North American AT-6 Texan, the last known original aircraft from the Tuskegee Airmen Squadron.

More than 300,000 people are expected to attend the annual event, which is being held a month earlier than usual.

Having the event earlier may be a welcome change for those who have had to find shade under the wing of an airplane during midsummer expos, some said.

Opening ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by a variety of aerial demonstrations by the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, Clay Lacy in the Pilatus Turbo Porter and Sean D. Tucker in the Challenger II, among others.

As a fund-raiser for Special Olympics Southern California, the public will form teams on the ground to see who can pull a Boeing 727, weighing more than 100,000 pounds.

At 12:15 p.m. Saturday, the B-2 Stealth Bomber will do a flyover, followed at 2 p.m. by more aerial demonstrations, which will include aerobatic pilot Patty Wagstaff in the EXTRA 300S.

The expo runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Van Nuys Airport. Free parking and shuttle bus service are available from Woodley Golf Course at 6335 Woodley Ave.; Anheuser-Busch at 15800 Roscoe Blvd.; Monroe High School at 9229 Haskell Ave.; and Cal State Northridge at the corner of Lassen Street and Lindley Avenue. There is no on-site parking.

Admission is free. For more information, call (818) 773-3293 or visit the Van Nuys Airport section of the Los Angeles World Airport’s Web site at https://www.lawa.org.

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Van Nuys Air Show

The Van Nuys Airport Aviation Expo 2000 will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Organizers expect more than 300,000 spectators at the free show. The pedestrian entrance is at 8030 Balboa Blvd.

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Schedule is subject to change. Each demonstration runs 10-15 minutes, except the 2 p.m. Golden Knights performance, which runs 30 minutes.

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Saturday, June 24

10 a.m.: Flyover by Condor Squadron AT-6 Texans, International skydiver Dave Benson with 5,000-square-foot U.S. flag, recognition awards to NASA astronaut Marsha S. Ivins, veteran pilot Robert Hoover

10:30 a.m.: Dave Eastman in the Pitts S2S “Patriot,” U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, Clay Lacy in the Pilatus Turbo Porter, Tim Weber in the EXTRA 300, LAFD Helicopter Team, Sean D. Tucker in the Challenger II.

11:45 a.m.: “Plane Pull” fund-raiser, sponsored by the Southern California Special Olympics

12:15 p.m.: B-2 Stealth bomber flyover

2 p.m.: Dave Benson skydiving display, Patty Wagstaff in the EXTRA 300S, Dan Buchanan in the Airwave Glider, Sean D. Tucker in the Challenger II, U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, Aerobatic Flying Circus

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Sunday, June 25

10 a.m.: Flyover by Condor Squadron AT-6 Texans, International skydiver Dave Benson with 5,000-square-foot U.S. flag, Aerial demonstrations

10:30 p.m.: Dave Eastman in the Pitts S25 “Patriot,” U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, Clay Lacy in the Pilatus Turbo Porter, Tim Weber in the EXTRA 300, LAFD Helicopter Team, Sean D. Tucker in the Challenger II

2 p.m.: Dave Benson skydiving display, Patty Wagstaff in the EXTRA 300S, Dan Buchanan in the Airwave Glider, Sean D. Tucker in the Challenger II, U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, Aerobatic Flying Circus

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PARKING LOTS

Parking is free and shuttle bus service is provided. Handicapped parking is available at 8050 Balboa Blvd. For information, call the Expo Hotline at (818) 773-3293 or visit the Van Nuys Airport section of the Los Angeles World Airport’s Web site at www.lawa.org.

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Sources: Van Nuys Airport, Boeing, “Jane’s Aircraft Recognition Guide”