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Date: 5/10/2023
WESTFIELD — Following an absence of several years, the Westfield International Air Show will return the tarmac and skies over Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport on May 13-14.
Admission is free, though there is a charge for parking. Parking lots will open at 7 a.m. both days, and gates will open at 8 a.m. Ground exhibits open at 9 a.m., and aerial performances will run 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. both days.
Performances — almost all of which can be seen both days — include a demonstration of the F-35A Lightning II, recently announced as the new fighter jet to be operated by the Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing, based at Barnes. The wing’s current F-15C jets will also fly during the show.
Other military demonstrations will include the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team; the Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry; the Marines’ CH-53 heavy-lift helicopter; the Air Force’s A-10C Thunderbolt II; and the Coast Guard’s MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter, on Sunday only.
Historical aircraft to fly at the show include “the Ace Maker,” a T-33, the Air Force’s first jet aircraft; Placid Lassie, a C-47 that flew in World War II; the Bald Eagle, a P-51 Mustang; and planes from the American Airpower Museum and Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation.
Kyle Franklin’s Flying Circus, which is described as “airshow comedy,” stunt biplane flier Jason Flood, the Liberty Jump Team and stunt flier Rob Holland’s Ultimate Airshow will also perform. The Aftershock Jet Truck will perform on land.
Attendees can also walk up and explore aircraft parked on the tarmac, including an A-10, AH-64D Apache, B-25, C-47, C-130, C-172, CH-47 Chinook, 1935 DeHavilland DH.82 Tiger Moth, EA-18 Growler, F-15C, F-16, F-22 Raptor, F-35, KC-46A Pegasus, KC-135 Stratotanker, 1930 Fairchild KR-21B, P-51 Mustang, 1937 Boeing PT-13B Stearman, 1943 Fairchild PT-23, T-38, UH/HH-60 Blackhawk, Lakota helicopter, MassDOT MD500 helicopter, and Army trucks and Humvees.
While the airshow itself is free for all to attend, there is a $20 per car charge for parking this year, instead of free parking as in previous years. Parking must be purchased in advance at westfieldairshow.org.
VIP tickets are available for $180, which include front-row access to the staging area.