AIRSHO Celebrates 35 Years with Warbirds, Jets and a Starfighter
Midland, Texas (September 14, 2026) - The Commemorative Air Force High Sky Wing celebrated the 35th anniversary of AIRSHO on September 12-13 at Midland International Air & Space Port, bringing together aircraft representing more than eight decades of military aviation.
This year’s AIRSHO placed a special focus on the Vietnam War era, with a flight featuring two A-1 Skyraiders and an HU-16 Albatross. An O-2 and T-28 Trojan were also among the Vietnam-era aircraft participating in the weekend.
Two highly anticipated additions, an F-4 Phantom II and F-100 Super Sabre, were unable to attend after maintenance issues developed before the show. Crews from Fighter Jets Inc. and the Vietnam War Flight Museum worked through the night to get the aircraft to Midland, but ultimately both had to withdraw.
There was still plenty of horsepower on the ramp and in the air.
World War II aircraft included a P-51 Mustang, B-25 Mitchell, FG-1D Corsair, FM-2 Wildcat and P-40 Warhawk. Mark Todd put the WPP Legacy Warbirds Corsair through an aerobatic routine, while formations of trainers, fighters and transports helped tell different chapters of military aviation history.
"Midland-Odessa should be incredibly proud to be home to one of the largest airshows in the nation. What makes AIRSHO even more remarkable is that it is organized and produced entirely by volunteers," said Gena Linebarger, CAF High Sky Wing AIRSHO Director.
"Our volunteers put in countless hours throughout the year to create a great experience for this community, and once again, they’ve delivered an outstanding show,” continued Linebarger.
One of the weekend’s most unusual participants, however, connected aviation’s past with its future.
Starfighters Space brought an F-104 Starfighter from its operation at the Midland Spaceport Business Park. Developed as a supersonic interceptor in the 1950s, the F-104 became one of the most recognizable fighters of the Cold War and served with air forces around the world.
The Starfighter flying over Midland wasn’t there simply as a piece of living history. Starfighters Space operates what it describes as the world’s only commercial fleet-ready Mach 2-plus F-104 aircraft. The company uses the jets for high-speed research, testing, training, and next-generation aerospace applications.
The F-104 joined an AIRSHO lineup that stretched from World War II trainers and fighters to aircraft associated with the Vietnam War and Cold War, all flying from an airport that today also serves as a commercial spaceport.
Weather presented another challenge during the weekend. High temperatures led organizers to abbreviate Sunday’s schedule, although all planned acts were still scheduled to fly. Saturday’s flying program also ended earlier than planned after a participating aircraft experienced a nose-gear collapse on landing. No injuries were reported, but the runway closure and resulting delay prevented AIRSHO flying from resuming before the day’s FAA waiver expired.
The show returned Sunday with a full slate of flying, including the F-104, WWII fighter formation, Corsair aerobatics, AT-6 formation flying, and the Vietnam aircraft flight.
Thirty-five years after the first AIRSHO, the annual High Sky Wing event continues to bring aviation history to the skies over West Texas. This year’s lineup offered something a little different: a chance to see where that history has been, and in the case of the F-104, where it may still be going.
