By Joe Seemayer –
The 2025 Wings Over Camarillo Air Show, held Saturday and Sunday, August 16–17, marking the 44th annual edition of this beloved Ventura County tradition. This year’s show ran under the banner “Honoring Community Responders,” paying tribute to those who supported the region during recent wildfires. The two-day event once again transformed Camarillo Airport into a stage for aviation history, modern flight, and community celebration.
Community and Celebration Take Flight
From the moment gates opened, throngs poured onto the flight line. Though final attendance numbers are not yet confirmed, organizers estimated more than 20,000 visitors over the weekend, filling the grandstands and vendor areas. The crowd reflected Ventura County itself -families, veterans, aviation buffs, and curious first timers who came to see what has become one of Southern California’s signature summer events.
Mornings were alive with static displays and hands-on STEM exhibits that gave young people the chance to climb into cockpits, try out simulators, and ask pilots questions about flying. These early hours created a welcoming, educational atmosphere before the engines fired up and the aerobatics began. Veterans’ hangars offered tributes and living history presentations, while the car show displayed dozens of restored classics and hot rods, adding a ground-level counterpart to the aerial excitement.
By midday, the skies belonged to the performers. Highlights included parachute drop-ins by the Wings of Blue, dramatic fly-bys of WWII-era aircraft such as the D‑Day Doll, precision helicopter demonstrations, and modern jet formations. As the sun lowered, pyrotechnics lit up the horizon, bringing cheers from a crowd that stayed energized until the final note of the National Anthem closed each day.
Stephanie Goetz: The Pilot, the Pink Jet, and the Message
Amid the noise and spectacle, one performance stood out for its meaning as well as its style. The Pink Jet – an L‑39 Albatros painted in vibrant bubblegum pink and adorned with breast-cancer awareness ribbons – made a statement that was both visual and emotional. At the controls was Stephanie Goetz, a highly accomplished pilot with multiple jet ratings, extensive instructor credentials, and recognition as one of NBAA’s “Top 40 Under 40.” She has flown everything from corporate jets like the Bombardier Global 6000 to single-pilot missions in the Cessna Citation V, while also working as a coach, TEDx speaker, and former broadcast journalist.
Goetz’s decision to dedicate her flight routines to breast-cancer awareness comes from a personal place – her mother is a stage‑3 survivor. Her performance is equal parts tribute and advocacy, proving that flight can inspire far beyond the runway. “You can wear glitter, fly with red nails, and still push the limits in the sky,” she has said. Her loops and climbs thrilled the audience, but perhaps the most memorable moment was more grounded: she and her co-pilot slowly taxiing past the crowd, clearly visible through the canopy, waving to an audience that responded with standing applause.
Prop Planes Steal the Show Groundside
Even with the Pink Jet capturing attention, the airshow’s heartbeat remained with the propeller aircraft that embody aviation’s golden age. Open-cockpit biplanes like the Pitts Special and the Stearman drew gasps as they tumbled and rolled through their routines. Single-wing aircraft such as the Piper Cub provided quieter, graceful arcs that reminded spectators of a simpler time in flight history. Their polished fuselages caught the afternoon sun, while the sound of piston engines mixed nostalgia with raw energy. For photographers and aviation enthusiasts alike, these machines offered as much inspiration as the fast jets.
What the Show Means to Ventura County
Wings Over Camarillo has become more than an airshow – it’s a community tradition that blends education, entertainment, and economic impact. Visitors travel from across California to attend, supporting local hotels, restaurants, and shops. The event also funds local nonprofits, STEM programs, and veterans’ organizations, ensuring its benefits extend far beyond the weekend itself.
This year’s theme, honoring community responders, underscored Ventura County’s resilience in the face of wildfires and other challenges. Between the roar of jets, the quiet dignity of veterans’ tributes, and the smiles of children trying flight controls for the first time, the message was clear: this is more than spectacle – it is a reflection of who we are as a community. And as the last plane taxied off the runway Sunday evening, Ventura County could take pride in another successful chapter of Wings Over Camarillo.
