2024 Breckenridge Airshow combines aviation history with aerobatic entertainment for community, visitors
By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
Last weekend, the local community joined others from around the country at the Stephens County Airport for the 2024 Breckenridge Airshow, carrying on a tradition that was started in 1977.
The “Tora! Tora! Tora!” show featured eight planes and recreated the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Click picture to enlarge. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
The 2024 Breckenridge Airshow was the 22nd such show. The first 19 Breckenridge airshows took place from 1977 to 1996. Then, after a 21-year hiatus, the 20th Breckenridge Airshow was held in 2017, followed by another one in 2018. After another break, the airshow returned this year with plans to continue it every two years in the future, according to Rhonda Rogers Crawford, director of the Breckenridge Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The two-day event took place May 25-26 and included not just the aerial show, but also displays from the RWS Military Museum and the Museum of the American Veteran, as well as a World War II-style field camp set up by the USAAF of WW2 Reenactors-Texas and others. There were also food vendors and other booths set up.
Each morning of the airshow started with an opportunity for the public to get a close-up look at many of the aircraft. Then, following the presentation of the colors and the National Anthem, the show got started with a skydiving team dropping in to the show with a giant U.S. flag.
The in-air portion of the airshow included aerobatic performances by several aviators, including David Martin, who lives at Possum Kingdom Lake; Aarron Deliu of Australia; Julia Wood with JT Airshows in Akroville, Texas; the Commemorative Air Force – Central Texas Wing’s Yellow Rose, a vintage World War II B-25 bomber; the two-plane NextGen Eagles team; and more.
The always-popular “Tora! Tora! Tora!” by the Commemorative Air Force, headquartered in Dallas, featured the show that recreates the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, leading to the formal U.S. involvement in World War II. The show included eight planes, simulated bombings, complete with lots of smoke and flames, and a narration throughout, explaining the events to the audience.
According to Crawford, the next Breckenridge Airshow is scheduled for 2026 and planning has already started.
Julia Wood performs some aerobatics in her Pitts-S2B biplane during the 2024 Breckenridge Airshow. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
The RWS Military Museum and the Museum of the American Veteran were set up in the Howard Pardue Museum at the Stephens County Airport during the 2024 Breckenridge Airshow. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
The crowd kept a close eye on the sky during the performance segment of the Breckenridge Airshow. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
The airshow also included a World War II-style field camp set up by the USAAF of WW2 Reenactors-Texas and others. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline, top photo: The Yellow Rose B-25 bomber can be seen in the background as the colors are presented at the beginning of the 2024 Breckenridge Airshow on Saturday, May 25. Click here to see more photos from the event. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
