Castle Airport hosted the first-ever Castle Airfest and Family Fun Day last Saturday.
The free community event proved to be the end-all-be-all for a fun Saturday for the whole family. Food and goods vendors, a live band, a car show, aircraft fly-bys and historic aviation displays provided entertainment for thousands.
This year, the annual Bombs Away Car Show relocated to be alongside the AirFest, allowing visitors to enjoy vehicles meant for the ground and the sky all in one place.
George Clover has been the Airport Coordinator for Castle Airport for about a year, and was very enthusiastic about the results of the hard work that went into putting the event together.
“Everybody that I’ve talked to has been very excited about it,” said Clover. “It’s been very heartwarming and exciting to me that people have been so happy with it. I’ve had a love for aviation my whole life … Now I’m able to bring my love of aviation and use that love to create the type of event that I’ve been going to as a pilot for decades, and bring that to Merced, which has never experienced it for 30 years since the Air Force left.”
One could easily spend the whole event duration at the airport, as the displays throughout the day left no shortage of entertainment. In addition to more than 30 vendors, the event featured multiple public service agencies and first responders from Merced County and beyond, and aircraft from different organizations as well as independent pilots. The band Fired Up played classic rock hits on stage, adding to the fun atmosphere.
Three World War II fighter aircraft — P-51 Mustangs — flew into Castle for the event, and were one of the most highly anticipated displays. Crowds gathered to the viewing area as they approached, first flying overhead together, then separating for their individual landings.
As the P-51 Mustangs landed, an older Japanese man could be heard explaining to his grandson the history of World War II. He explained how at the time some countries thought they were better than everyone else, in a way that a child can understand. He explained how the child’s family is here now because the United States were the good guys.
Farther down the crowd, a group of teenage Civil Air Patrol cadets argued amongst themselves about what characteristics identify a Cessna versus a Comanche. Throughout the day, one could see aviation enthusiasts embrace their passion, and curious young minds for the first time saw up close the power of flight.
Other displays throughout the day included a US Coast Guard C-27J Spartan display, a rescue display by CalFire, and a Commemorative Air Force display.
As the event came to a close, those who stayed until the end had the opportunity to see as one by one the various aircraft departed.
With high turnout, happy crowds, and enough variety for everyone, the likelihood is high that the event will become an annual tradition.
“My most positive takeaway is just the turnout of the people that came out to enjoy it. I mean, that’s what makes it, you know? If they’re excited to come out, or they take a chance that it might be good and they come out and they find out that, wow, this was great,” said Clover.
“That means next year it’s really gonna multiply too … [The airport] is the county’s biggest asset. We need to be able to keep people interested in growing that asset, for the benefit of everybody.”