If you see parachuters and World War II-era aircraft flying inverted straight toward the ground over the airport this weekend, don’t be alarmed.

The aerial stunts are part of Rumble Over the Redwoods, the first air show to grace the foggy Humboldt skies since the 1980s, and they’re performed by professionals. Featuring pieces of military aviation history, a bomb squad, cars racing aircraft down the runway at “unrestricted speeds” and a mock Coast Guard search and rescue operation, the show seemingly caters to aviation history buffs while offering thrills for the whole family.

“There’s a little bit of everything,” said Lindy Linebaugh, marketing director for the Rumble, explaining that the show will not only feature aerial stunts and demonstrations – “aerobatics” – but also static displays, meaning the audience can get a more intimate look at the planes (and cars and other craft) while the assortment is parked on the ground. Rides will also be available to spectators in the Precision Exotics vehicles (those cars that drive at “unrestricted speeds”). 

Air shows have been turning eyes to the skies worldwide since 1909 – just a few years after the Wright brothers first took flight – when the concept of humans taking flight in machines was still mind blowing to many. 

Linebaugh said that the Rumble was brought to the redwoods in large part due to a benefactor who sold cotton candy as a youngin’ at the last Humboldt County air show in the 1980s (and currently possesses an airport hanger), adding that the donor wants to remain “as anonymous as possible.”

“It’s been his dream ever since to bring it back to Humboldt County,” she said.

In an email to the Outpost, Humboldt County Director of Aviation Cody Roggatz said the benefactor, a local business owner, approached him with interest in putting on an air show “because of his love for the Humboldt community and historical aircraft” almost two years ago, and they have since worked together since to build an event that meets three goals: bringing the community together, introducing young people to aviation (as well as educating and inspiring on the topic) and honoring veterans. 

“Most people think of aviation as only airline travel,” wrote Roggatz, who said his interest in aviation started at 10 when he spent hours watching planes taking off and landing from the Minneapolis airport prior to his first airline flight. He said he hopes the Rumble will similarly galvanize young audience members to the industry. 

“Someday when they become a pilot, an airshow performer, an air traffic controller, an aircraft mechanic, or (if they’re really crazy) an airport manager/director … they can say ‘my love of aviation started when I attended Rumble Over the Redwoods,’” Roggatz wrote.

Spurred by the mysterious patron’s enthusiasm and made possible by the support of 25 local sponsors and over 100 volunteers, the event will showcase 16 performers, including aerobatic teams (meaning multiple pilots performing synchronized stunts).

“We bring in some of the best pilots and performers from all over the world,” said Linebaugh, adding that most of this weekend’s performers are West Coast-based, with some Midwesterners and one local performer – the Lost Coast Warbirds with their fleet of vintage WWII-era aircraft (featuring one particularly of-the-era paint job).  

(For readers new to the air show circuit, as we were just yesterday, “warbirds” are vintage military planes that have been repurposed for civilian activities – often air shows.) 

LoCO was lucky enough to get a press preview of the show’s dress rehearsal this afternoon, and the spectacle was enough to get LoCO photographer Andrew Goff nervous-giggling like the young lad he is.

“Think rodeo clown takes to the skies,” the Rumble’s website states, describing performer Eric Tucker. One of Tucker’s (two) routines centers around an Eric-to-air-traffic-control “how do I fly this thing?” lark broadcast over loudspeakers, which – after some dramatic wobbling to and fro mere meters from the ground – concludes with a dramatic “emergency” landing on top of an in-motion ambulance.

Eric Tucker, pilot/rodeo clown.

In between acts, Tucker was nice enough to climb off the roof of his ambulance (where he was hanging out with his kid) to chat.

Turns out, flying runs in the family. Growing up with a pilot pops, Tucker said he started young – first solo-ing a glider at 14 and achieving his pilot’s license at 17 (not to mention getting a degree in aerospace engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo soon after).

While today, he’s mostly a corporate pilot, Tucker said he still does two to four air shows per year. He also uses his experience as an aerobatics performer to give aviation safety talks to professional pilots in various forums, explaining that the process behind safely performing aerobatics feats offers a useful study of “brain and body stress in the cockpit.”

“In order to do them [aerobatics stunts] responsibly at low altitudes, you gotta get beyond the death-defying aspect,” Tucker said. “It becomes almost like a meditation.” 

“If you’re still getting an adrenaline rush, you’re doing it wrong,” he added, smiling.

Tucker said his favorite part of air shows is what the displays offer kids in the audience, who – looking up with “wide-eyed wonder” – see excellence in action. He said that even if children aren’t inclined toward aviation, he hopes the performances inspire them to “go out and be excellent at anything.”

For some kids, the spectacle does lead to a life in aviation. Nick Coutches, who will be piloting one of the Lost Coast Warbirds fleet this weekend, said he grew up going to air shows with his grandfather, father and uncles – all of whom were pilots

“I didn’t really have a choice [to fly],” he said, adding that his grandfather owned 50 Mustang warbirds. Coutches said he believes air shows keep history alive by providing spectators the opportunity to hear, see and smell the planes of days (and wars) past.

Another performer, NorCal gal Vicky Benzing, who Roggatz called “one of the most talented aviators in the entire world, if not the most talented” is also a racer – and a fast one at that. In 2015, she was the “fastest women at Reno” (meaning at the Reno Air Races), clocking in at 469.831 mph. 

In her cherry red 1940s Boeing Stearman, Benzing’s twists and turns during Friday’s practice seemed to take her straight for a fiery impact before she gracefully pulled back up each time.

Similarly, Cory Lovell – callsign “Zippy” – who has been flying since the age of 12, according to the announcer, performed aerobatics maneuvers including the “Cuban eight” and slow rolls.

“We are going to have some of the rarest aircraft in the world, flown by some of the greatest pilots in the world, all coming together in Humboldt to deliver a show that will be first class through and through,” Roggatz wrote via email.

While performing death-defying aerial stunts for crowds includes its fair share of risk, Roggatz said that a “specialized air show firefighting and emergency response group” made up of Arcata Fire, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Samoa Fire, Cal-Ore Life Flight/REACH and Coast Guard personnel will be in attendance this weekend to supplement the airport’s usual aircraft rescue and firefighting professionals.

Commercial travel in and out of the airport this weekend is not expected to be disrupted by the show (although the northern section of Central Avenue behind the airport will be), according to Rogatz, but the Rumble’s website does make clear that audience members planning to fly in for the show should land at Murray Field Airport and drive over as air show activity will mean limited ramp space at ACV.

Linebaugh said that 8,000 spectators from all over the country are expected over the course of the weekend. You may be asking “where will all of those aviation-lovin’ folks park?” (especially considering that the airport parking lot is largely under construction). We did ask, and Roggatz answered that audience parking will not be “anywhere near the terminal” and that spectators should follow signage and parking lot volunteer direction from the airport.

Both Saturday the 10th and Sunday the 11th, gates will open at 9 a.m. and aerobatics are scheduled to start at noon both days (weather permitting).

So if you’re craving some aerobatics and scoping of vintage aircraft in your weekend, head on over to Boeing Ave. Ticketing info here.

While Linebaugh said that an “executive decision” is yet to be made, there are intents to to make a Humboldt County air show an annual event, according to the Rumble team.

# # #

Below, find pictures of some more of the aircraft you have the potential to encounter in Humboldt this weekend.