The roar of jet engines filled the sky over the Santa Maria Public Airport this weekend as aviation enthusiasts from near and far gathered for the history and the spectacle of AirFest 2025.

Photographers and families walked the flight line, capturing the moment. Laughter mixed with gasps as aircraft like the P-40N Warhawk, the F7F Tigercat, and the high-speed MiG-17 cut the autumn sky.

Alice Nexton, who drove with her husband and three children from Ontario, were all dressed in Planes of Fame gear.

“My oldest, Nathan, wants to be a pilot. He’s already taking lessons down at a school in Chino and doing some flight hours there,” she said. “It’s kind of become our family hobby, going to different aviation events.”

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