Tacoma Freedom Fair Airshow
Airshow Co-Sponsored by 
and 
If you are looking for spectacular air show entertainment, great food, live music, classic cars, and let's face it, the biggest and best all-day family event of the year… Tacoma's annual Fourth of July Freedom Fair on Ruston Way promises to deliver again. Between 1:30 and 3:30 PM the Tacoma Freedom Fair Airshow will take to the skies over Commencement Bay with some of the best aviation acts in the country.
Support your Tacoma Freedom Fair and Air Show so the tradition can continue. Please donate at the entry gate - $1 for kids, age 18 and up $5, families $10. Souvenir pins and stickers are available on a first come first served basis for those who contribute the suggested amount or more. Pins and stickers are good for discounts with participating Freedom Fair vendors – look for the signs that display the Freedom Fair logo.
For a prime location to view the air show go to Marine Park between the Lobster Shop and Katie Downs. Spectators will have a superior view of the show and soft grass to sit on. Come early and get a good spot! KLAY 1180 AM will broadcast the air show live, so bring your radio and tune into an aerial display that epitomizes a combination of power, skill, and courage.
It takes community support to make this event possible. We are pleased to welcome and thank this year’s air show sponsor, Life Center, for supporting Freedom Fair and and for their hospitality to participating members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Life Center is celebrating 90 years in the community. Visit www.Life-Center.org for more information.
American Champion Super Decathlon
flies a 1992 American Champion Super Decathlon. It’s powered by a 180hp Lycoming with a constant speed prop and capable of +6/-5 G’s. The Decathlon is known as one of the best aircraft for tailwheel and aerobatic training.
Will has also been a musician and vocalist since high school. He has always loved performing on the stage so a National Anthem air show act was the perfect fit for him. Will has finally put together music and flying, the two biggest passions in his life, into one big showy production!
Fouga Jet Show
Watch as maneuvers two clover leafs, tight figure eight turns and 32-point rolls. The Fouga's ability to stay in close and tight keeps this ballet like show exciting. The tail slide at 2,000 feet caps a graceful performance.
Russian Warbird Yak-11
The Yak-11 is a two seat version of the Russian Yak 3 World War II fighter. This particular aircraft was in service with the Egyptian Air Force. It is now equipped with a U.S. made Pratt & Whitney 14 cylinder engine of 1350 horsepower and is capable of speeds of up to 400 MPH.
It is piloted by , who has flown well over 100 types of aircraft and accumulated over 30,000 hours flight time in aircraft from Bi-Planes to Warbirds and Wide Body Jets.
Navy F/A-18C Hornet West Coast Demo Team
The Hornet is the nations first true strike-fighter capable aircraft. It was designed for traditional strike aircraft missions without compromising its fighter capabilities. In fighter mode, the F/A-18 is used primarily as a fighter escort and for fleet defense; in its attack mode, it is used for force projection, interdiction, and close air support.
Demo Pilots: .
GEICO Extra
300 S
flies the GEICO Extra
300 S, one of the highest performance, one seat, production, aerobatic
aircraft in existence today. With over 300 horsepower and a roll rate in excess of 340 degrees
per second, this aggressive mid-wing aircraft provides the
performance and looks to make it an instant crowd pleaser.
In addition to flying, Tim's passion for music has grown through the years. Tim, a self-taught musician, was playing lead guitar professionally by the age of 17. He has since incorporated his love of music into his airshow routines by writing and performing original songs and instrumentals for his performances.
United States Air Force C-17
Featured elements in the air show will include
one of the newest military aircraft. A C-17 from McChord AFB
will demonstrate the capabilities of the United States Air Force.
The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area. The aircraft is also capable of performing tactical airlift and airdrop missions when required.
The Dueling Yak Show
The father & son team of Bud and Ross Granley pilot their slow flying Yaks in an exciting routine. Inside/outside rolls, rolls around each other, and other complicated maneuvers bring gasps from the crowd.
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight fighter, the Falcon's innovations including a frameless, bubble canopy for better visibility, side-mounted control stick to ease control while under high g-forces, and reclined seat to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot. Although the F-16's official name is "Fighting Falcon", it is known to some of its pilots as the "Viper", after the Battlestar Galactica starfighter.
Confirmed air show acts:
| Will Allen flying the American Champion Super Decathlon | |
| Bud Granley flying the Fouga Magister | |
| Bill Sheppard flying the Yak-11 | |
| U.S. Navy F-18C Hornet Tactical Demonstration | |
| Tim Weber flying the Gieco Extra 300 | |
| C-17 Globemaster III Demo | |
| US Coast Guard Rescue Demo | |
| Bud and Ross Granley Dueling Yaks | |
| F-16 Viper West Demo - USAF |
This is not a schedule. The order of the acts is subject to change.
Air show will be broadcast live on
