SPOKANE, Wash. — Tens of thousands of people flocked to Fairchild Air Force Base Saturday for the opening of Skyfest 2026.
Thirteen aircraft performed aerial shows throughout the day. Visitors could also explore grounded aircraft on display.
“We brought all of these amazing aircrafts out for an amazing event of airpower this weekend,” said Karianne Ernisse, Skyfest 2026 airshow director. “We are hoping to give the community a nice thank you.”
Pilots said the experience thrills them as much as spectators.
“When we are in the airplane, the best way to describe it is like being in the arena or the football stadium if you are an NFL player,” said Scott Kartvedt, a pilot. “Its 26 minutes of sheer professionalism, intensity and great flying.”
The airshow celebrates America’s 250th anniversary and the 82nd anniversary of D-Day.
“This airshow is very committed to honoring our veterans, looking back at our history, knowing we have to honor those folks,” Ernisse said.
Participants feel the weight of honoring past service members.
“In a lot of ways I think it makes a lot of us feel inadequate, cause we see those amazing sacrifices, the incredible heroism, the intense dedication,” Ernisse said. “And you want to repay that as best as you can, but it is almost an impossible debt to pay.”
Two World War II veterans will be honored Sunday. One is 99 years old and the other is 105.
“We are gonna have two World War Two veterans join us for the D-Day portion of our airshow,” Ernisse said. “We’d love to have people come out to support our World War 2 veterans.”
The airshow continues Sunday.
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