The California Capital Airshow has returned to Sacramento. Here’s what it looked like
By Xavier Mascareñas
After a hiatus because of the pandemic, the California Capital Airshow returned Friday to Mather Airport in Rancho Cordova, bringing the Air Force Thunderbirds and a slew of other planes to Sacramento’s skies.
The airshow concludes on Sunday. There are no on-site ticket sales. To see if tickets are still available, go to californiacapitalairshow.com
Holden Terry, 6, of Rancho Cordova, reacts to F-16 Fighting Falcon jets maneuver as part of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” performance to open the California Capital Airshow’s first of three days of aerial action, dubbed the Afterburnin’ Drive-In Airshow, on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. The drive-in event, which offered more personal space and opportunity to bring food and drinks from home, was a first of its kind for the airshow. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
The F-35A Lightning II is flown by Maj. Kristin “BEO” Wolfe as part of the U.S. Air Force demonstration team at the California Capital Airshow on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
Melvin Laxamana, top, and Charles Bolles, staff sergeants and crew chiefs with the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds,” prepare F-16 Fighting Falcons for flight at the start of the California Capital Airshow on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
Three F-16 Fighting Falcon jets with the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” perform an echelon pass at the California Capital Airshow on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” perform at the California Capital Airshow on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
F-16 Fighting Falcon jets with the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” fly over the Royal Canadian Air Force “Snowbirds,” performing over the weekend, at the California Capital Airshow on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” perform at the California Capital Airshow on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. Xavier Mascareñas Sacramento Bee file
U.S. Navy pilot Lt. Matteo “Hog Sweat” Mezzetti, a Sacramento native, stands with his F/A-18F Super Hornet, also known as the “Rhino,” before the California Capital Airshow on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
U.S. Navy pilot Lt. Matteo “Hog Sweat” Mezzetti, a Sacramento native, flies his FA-18 E/F Super Hornet, also known as the “Rhino,” above the Navy’s F-35C Lightning II during a first-of-its-kind pairing at the California Capital Airshow on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
U.S. Navy Lt. Matteo “Hog Sweat” Mezzetti, a Sacramento native, pilots the F/A-18F Super Hornet, also known as the “Rhino,” into a vertical climb during the California Capital Airshow on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
Roseville’s William Weisman, left, holds his son, Jonathan Weisman, 2, to watch a an incoming plane prepare to cross another during the California Capital Airshow’s Afterburnin’ Drive-In Airshow on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. The drive-in event, which offered more personal space and opportunity to bring food and drinks from home, was a first of its kind for the airshow. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
The F-35A Lightning II piloted by Maj. Kristin “BEO” Wolfe with the U.S. Air Force demonstration team flies low to give the crowd a look inside during the California Capital Airshow on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
The Ackermann family and friends, of Fairfield, watch as the F-35A Lightning II, flown by Maj. Kristin “BEO” Wolfe as part of the U.S. Air Force demonstration team, coasts at its slowest speed — under 100 miles per hour — at the California Capital Airshow on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
The F-35A Lightning II piloted by Maj. Kristin “BEO” Wolfe jets into the distance as part of the U.S. Air Force demonstration team at the California Capital Airshow on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
The California Capital Airshow gets loud during the Afterburnin’ Drive-In Airshow on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. The drive-in event, which offered more personal space and opportunity to bring food and drinks from home, was a first of its kind for the airshow. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” perform at the California Capital Airshow on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
The U.S. Air Force demo team perform a Heritage Flight to wrap up the Afterburnin’ Drive-In Airshow on the first day of the California Capital Airshow on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Mather Airport in Sacramento. The drive-in event, which offered more personal space and opportunity to bring food and drinks from home, was a first of its kind for the airshow. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
An Air Force C-5M Super Galaxy, left, out of Travis Air Force Base, sits with other planes at Mather Airport at sunset as the first day of the three-day California Capital Airshow wraps up Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, in Sacramento. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com
This story was originally published September 26, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
