The third annual Bremerton Air Show is scheduled for July 12-13 at Bremerton National Airport (KPWT) in Washington state.
The airport, located 15 miles northwest of Tacoma, during World War II was used as a weapons transfer station by the U.S. Navy, which still maintains a strong presence in the area through the Port of Bremerton. The airshow is being held in partnership with the Port.
The theme of this year’s show is “Mustang Mania.”
“There will be 10 P-51 Mustangs there,” said Doug Fratoni, director of the Bremerton Air Show.
Among those set to appear are some famous aircraft from the airshow circuit, such as P-51D Grim Reaper, Red Dog, Valhalla, and Primo Bronco.
During WWII, P-51s provided fighter escort for B-17s going on bombing raids over Europe. And on the subject of B-17s, Ye Olde Pub from Erickson Aircraft will be there as well.
The performers include civilian as well as military acts.
According to Fratoni, this year the Bremerton Air Show is partnering with the Collins Historical Aircraft Foundation (CHAF), a nonprofit organization. The proceeds will help CHAF in its mission to keep historic aircraft airworthy and flying.
“The CHAF has three hangars at the airport, and they will be flying their T-28s and P-51 in the show,” Fratoni said. “Lee Oman will also be there flying a Stearman, and he has a wing walker, which we’ve never had before at the show.”
The modern military will also be in attendance with static aircraft displayed on the grounds. In the air, the Air Force KC-135 demo team from Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane and the C-17 team out of McChord in Tacoma will perform.
The show could not go on without the help of a small army of volunteers, according to Erica Filler, marketing and communications from the Port of Bremerton.
“We need about 150 [volunteers] to make it work; we have about 100 right now,” Filler said. “There is a volunteer coordinator who trains them.”
The volunteer jobs run the gamut from helping with parking details and keeping the ramp tidy to helping people who paid for reserved seating to find their accommodations.
The Civil Air Patrol will also be in attendance to assist with the operations.
Tickets can be purchased online and range from $30 for adults on Saturday for general admission to $10 for teens, and kids under 13 are free when accompanied by an adult ticket holder. Parking is $5. The show also features boxed seating for $45 and the President’s Chalet with catered food from $140 to $165.
Filler has been working with the port for three years
“It gets better every year, and our community absolutely loves it,” she said.
For more information or to purchase tickets, go online at bremertonairshow.com.
