Wings over Solano 2024
Article and photography by Jeff Serpa
Fairfield, CA
Travis Air Force Base
The 2024 Air Show season is getting off to a good start. Wings over Solano 2024 took to the skies over Travis Air Force Base, March 16 and 17th. The two day airshow featuring the United States Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron was attended by approximately 100,000 spectators.
Better known as the gateway to the Pacific, Travis Air Force Base is home to the 60th Air Mobility Wing, is the last active duty wing to operate the KC-10 Extender aircraft. As the Air Force continues to down size the use of the aircraft, the last expected flight of the KC-10 Extender is projected to be November of 2024. As the KC-10 Extender is being phased out, the KC-46 Pegasus has slowly been delivered and implemented as replacing the existing veteran tanker. The Wings over Solano featured “The parade of heavies”.
The demonstration of heavy aircraft included the C-5 Galaxy, the C-17 Globemaster, the KC-46 Pegasus and the KC-10 Extended Tanker simulating a refueling mission. The KC-10 flew several solo passes dedicated to its farewell, service and contributions to missions world wide since its inception in 1980. This event is likely the last public appearance the aircraft will make before its final flight at the end of 2024.
Wings over Solano 2024 had various static displays , including both military and civilian aircraft, along with local first responders. The demonstration aircraft took to the skys for about four hours of non stop flying. Flying demonstrations included:
-US Navy Blue Angels
-F-22 Demo Team
-Heritage Flight
-Edge 540-Kirby Chambliss
-Wings of Blue Parachute Team
-Edge 540-Sammy Mason
-Yak-50 Red Thunder Airshows
-Mig-17 Jason Somes
-T-33 Greg Collier
-Su-26 Sukhoi West Demo Team
-DH-115 Vampire
-Parade of Heavies
Wings over Solano is the first large airshow on the west coast for the 2024 season. It is the second flight demonstration show for the US Navy Blue Angeles, after a successful winter training season at NAF El Centro. At the conclusion of Wings over Solano, Travis Air Force Base announced the show would be returning in 2026.
