Community members, aviation enthusiasts and supporters gathered at the Central Coast Jet Center Thursday afternoon to kick off Central Coast AirFest 2025 scheduled for Oct. 18-19.

The barbecue and celebration, hosted by Chris Kunkle of Central Coast Jet Center, also saw the Planes of Fame Air Museum update the gathering on construction progress for its new campus at the Santa Maria Airport.

Museum Director Jane Hinton, who is leading the development of the Planes of Fame Central Coast Campus, welcomed guests and talked about the Museum’s vision for the future and this fall’s airshow.

Central Coast AirFest, produced by the Planes of Fame Air Museum and presented by the Santa Maria Airport, will include performances from the USAF F-35 Demonstration Team, the U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet

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