Stuart Air Show

Honor

By Gabby GregoryHonor, Duty, & Country: The Stuart Air Show

Over the last 32 years, the Stuart Air Show has dazzled both locals and visitors on the Treasure Coast with aweinspiring aerial performances, remarkable aeronautical artifacts, and exciting opportunities for aerospace education. The event has become so popular, in fact, that it was nominated to win USA Today’s 2021 award for “Best Air Show!” People from all places and of all ages look forward to going to the Stuart Air Show every year, so the event is a huge contributor to the economic development of Martin County. This year’s show will take place during the weekend of Friday, November 12th through Sunday, November 14th. It’s poised to be even better than ever thanks to the hard work of the air show’s director, Skylar Gorman, and the nonpro t’s Board of Directors, plus the generous support of the Board of Martin County Commissioners.

The 2021 Stuart Air Show will feature a plethora of thrilling performances and attractions! Among them are a Red Bull BO105 C Helicopter, which is “still the only helicopter that can perform the same maneuvers as conventional planes.” Another is the world’s fastest semi-truck, the Shockwave Jet Truck, which set the record at 376 m.p.h. and will race an aircraft on the ight line.

Of course, there will be returning fan favorites like the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team, which ies the North American T-6 Texan aircrafts that were used as the primary training mechanisms for all U.S. airmen in World War II. Skylar explains that the Aeroshell team ies in formation as they complete complicated maneuvers, “almost like synchronized swimmers.”

The Stuart Air Show will also feature static displays of aircraft for attendees to look at, take pictures with, and even climb into (in some cases). You’ll be able to learn all about the aircrafts and their history from some of the pilots themselves!

Not so interested in airplanes? The Stuart Air Show has more than just aeronautics! Countless vendors from all types of local businesses set up booths at the weekend event, so you can explore all that the area has to offer in one convenient location. If you have children, then you can entertain them with the Kid Zone, complete with rides and bounce houses. On Sunday morning, November 14, there is a “Race the Runway” 5K run that you can enter. How many times can you say that you’ve raced on an airplane runway? Additionally, on Friday night, there is a stunning reworks display that takes place after the

Need More Coupons - MyLivingMagazine.comexciting twilight air show performance. Some of the aircrafts can y in different light settings, and have special features like sparklers that shoot off mid- ight. Even if you’re not particularly interested in aeronautics, witnessing such a remarkable scene can give you the chills... just ask Skylar Gorman.

Skylar didn’t realize her passion for aviation until her rst air show in 2019, when she saw an Air Force F-16 ghter jet break the sound barrier. In that moment, Skylar caught “the air show bug,” and it hasn’t left her since. “It’s an unbelievable, spine chilling feeling,” she explains, continuing, “and then you see the veterans who come and have this personal connection to the aircrafts… it’s inspiring. The patriotism that comes with the air show… it’s just honor, duty, country. It’s American.”

You can purchase general admission tickets to the Stuart Air Show, which will get you inside the gates and into the general viewing areas, where you can choose to stand or bring your own blanket and/or chairs to sit. There are also multiple ticket upgrades that are available for purchase, with advantages like front row covered or uncovered seating and/or access to the exclusive Dirty Flight Suit Party that’s held on Friday night. The Dirty Flight Suit Party is “everyone’s favorite” because it’s a catered, open bar event that many of the pilots from the show attend in their real ight suits.

Local resident and Board of Directors member Glenn Rivers encourages everyone to attend the Stuart Air Show, saying, “Why wouldn’t you go? There’s something for everybody! Stuff for kids and older kids, jets, cars, props, great food, reworks. All the pilots love to talk about whatever planes they happened to bring. It’s a great event!” Need even more reason to give the Stuart Air Show a try? Skylar adds, “Air shows exist to inspire people to learn about our history: American history… to recognize American history and respect it. And then to inspire people to join workforces related to the aerospace industry.”

The 2021 Stuart Air Show will be held on Friday, November 12 through Sunday, November 14 at Witham Field at the Martin County Airport, located at 1895 SE Flying Fortress Lane in Stuart. To purchase tickets, visit stuartairshow.com or call 772-837-9954.

The Stuart Air Show Administrative Of ce is located at 3320 NE Sugarhill Avenue in Jensen Beach. For more information, call 772-781-4882 or visit

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