BY KAREN BOSSICK
Some of the rarest military planes in the world will be accompanied by performances from elite skydiving teams and stunt performers on Saturday during the 75th anniversary of Joslin Field at Magic Valley Regional Airport near Twin Falls.
The free airshow will kick off at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 17, with a concert of patriotic tunes from the Twin Falls City Band, which is reputedly the longest running civic band in the nation. It will be followed by the opening ceremonies, during which DZONE skydivers will perform several special jumps—one with a large American flag.
Gates open at 10 a.m.; the show is expected to last until 3:30 p.m. with food trucks offering fair-type food and military uniforms on display.
The show is free, thanks to such sponsors such as Rob Green, Westmark Credit Union, Marriott Hotels, Elite Restoration and JUB Engineers. But parking will cost $10 for those who purchase parking passes online at https://www.magicvalleyairshow.com/tickets. Parking will cost $20 at the gate.
The show will feature some of the best airshow performers around, including one pilot who performs such tricks as landing on a camper van and taking off from it, according to Jim O’Donnell, airshow chair.
Among them:
- Nathan Hammond, who performs aerobatics and skywriting in his Super Chipmunk, sending messagesacross the sky that are visible for 20 miles.
Hammond, whose first flight came at two weeks on his mother’s lap, will fly a deHaviland Chipmunk, once known as the Pepsi SkyDancer. He has named it “GhostWriter” for his skywriting, which he performs in an action-packed routine full of loops, rolls and verticals. The closely held and highly guarded art of skywriting was passed on to him several years ago, and his sky writing has since been featured at NASCAR events, in USA Today and on national TV.
He has performed at Oshkosh in Wisconsin but has never between further West. Give him the night sky and he’ll light it up with 200 pounds of wing-mounted pyrotechnics and vibrant LED lights.
Hammond recently received the prestigious 2023 Bill Barber Award for Showmanship, honoring his creativity, innovation and imaginative performances, which include groundbreaking theme acts like the Adventures of Aviore.
“Nathan Hammond's inclusion in the airshow lineup adds a new level of anticipation and promises a captivating performance that showcases his innovative and creative style,” said O’Donnell. “His presence is sure to leave a lasting impression and further elevate the overall experience of the airshow for spectators.”
- Melissa Dawn Burns, a world record holder skydiver, world champion B.A.S.E. jumper (yes, she’s jumped from the Perrine Bridge), four-time member of the U.S. Unlimited Aerobatic Team and the top ranked female competition pilot in the United States,will perform aerobatics in her Edge 540.
“She was with us at the last airshow and wowed the spectators,” O’Donnell said.
- Danny Sorenson will take to the skies in his self-made, one-of-a-kind bi-plane, the BF9-2.
- Brad Wursten caught his first flight at 4 and soon began building and flying model aircraft near his childhood home in Hyde Park, Utah. He has logged nearly 4,000 hours in 50 different types of aircraft. He now performs jaw-dropping airshow displays packed with one-of-a-kind stunts and maneuvers in a lightweight all-carbon fiber MX2 aerobatic aircraft that offers the best maneuverability in aerobatic flying.
- Mark Peterson, who started flying at 6 with his father—a B-24 Liberator pilot during World War II—will fly the classic warbird P-51 Mustang, which he says is “like flying a National Monument.” The single-seat long-range fighter bomber was used in both World War II and Korea and, while American made, used a British-built Rolls Royce engine giving it an unforgettable sound.
- Greg Colyer, who stays in shape by cycling with the Clif Bar team, will fly his T-33 named “Ace Maker,” the 600-mile-per-hour plane that happens to be the symbol associated with Joslin Field. He will demonstrate why the “Shooting Star”—one of just a few left--was so useful in its day.
- Canopy Formation Specialists and the all-women’s Highlight Pro Skydiving, both of whom have won U.S. National Skydiving Championships and World Skydiving Championships, will show off their skydiving prowess.
- Elaine Hunt McCalley, the first female commercial pilot in Idaho, plans to make an appearance at the age of 105. Her son Mike Barriochoa is will serve as airshow announcer. McCalley grew up in Gooding and convinced her parents to take her to see the airport. She put her first paycheck towards flying lessons at the Boise airport and joined the Civil Air Patrol in 1941.
- Air Boss Ralph Royce, who founded the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, has flown more than a hundred air shows and air bossed more than 250 air shows.
In addition to planes in the air, there will be planes on the ground for spectators to tour and see up close and personal.
- Two of the rarest, most iconic Warbirds from World War II—the B-25 Mitchell “Maid in the Shade” and the B-17 Flying Fortress “Sentimental Journey”--arrived in Twin Falls on Monday and will be on public exhibition Tuesday through Sunday.
Ground tours of the planes will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Wednesday and from 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Tours also will be offered during the airshow. Tour tickets cost $15 a person or $30 for a family of four.
Those wishing to snag a ride on the aircraft may do so between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sunday and between 5 and 6 p.m. Saturday.
Rides cost $475 for a waist compartment seat on the B-17 Bomber, a heavy bomber bristling with armament, and $850 for Bombardier/Navigator Seat.
Rides on the B-25 Bomber—one of just 34 still flying of 10,000 produced-- cost $375 for radio room seats and $590 for Jump seats. The plane was used for as a low-altitude strafe bombing and was part of America’s first large-scale bombing offensive in the Philippines where it sunk eight ships and shot down five planes.
Get tour and ride tickets at https://www.azcaf.org/location/twin-falls-id-tour-stop/.
- The DC-3 “Miss Montana” from Missoula, Mont., has a long history as a smoke jumper plane. It is now cared for by the Museum of Mountain Flying in Missoula.
- In addition to the military aircraft, Fed Ex is expected to showcase its Cessna 408, Mountain Home Air Force Base will show off its F15 and Spur Aviation will bring its firefighting plane.
Before the Twin Falls airport was constructed, all commercial flights went to Gooding. Joslin Field-Magic Valley Regional Airport got its start in 1939 as a grass landing strip. The strip was used as a training base for the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was returned to the city of Twin Falls after the war to be used for general aviation purposes.
Bands played as dignitaries and crowds gathered to dedicate the new Twin Falls Airport on May 1, 1948. Two Douglas Aircraft DC-3 seating 28 passengers each became the first airliners to arrive, making FAA history as it was the first time two airlines opened operation to one airport on the same day.
The field was christened Joslin Field in honor of Sgt. Raymond R. Joslin, the first aircrew member from the Magic Valley to lose his life in aerial combat in World War II. Joslin, 24, served with the 98th Bombardment Squadron in the Solomon Islands.
He was a radio operator aboard a B-17 named “Blue Goose” for its unique blue color, which was designed to provide camouflage.
This is not the first time Joslin Field has hosted an airshow. The first was 25 years ago, inspired by a Boy Scout wanting to earn an Aviation Merit Badge. His father teamed up with airport members to organize an Aviation Camporee during which 300 Boys Scouts earned their Aviation Merit Badge. The airport followed that up with an air show for the airport’s 50th anniversary.
In honor of Joslin, the air show will honor veterans with a veteran’s lunch on Friday followed by an opportunity to watch the pilots practice. Boy Scouts, youth from Make a Wish and other youth organizations will also be offered the opportunity to watch practice.
A dinner for VIPS that evening will be accompanied by a night show.
O’Donnell noted that the airshow is taking place during Father’s Day Weekend: “What an exciting event for the family to celebrate with Dad!”
IF YOU GO…
To ensure the safety of attendees, such items as pocket knives, scissors, firearms, mace and pepper spray, drones, laser pointers, alcohol, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, coolers, backpacks and pets, except for service dogs, will be prohibited.
Strollers and wagons for toddlers, lawn chairs, wheelchairs and cameras will be allowed.