Oakland County Open House & Air Show features skydivers and aviators

The Misty Blues, an all-women skydiving team, is returning to Oakland County International Airport (OCIA) to headline its 36th annual Open House & Air Show on Sunday, August 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Waterford. Event admission and parking are free.

The air show runs from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early. Joining the Misty Blues will be professional aviators soaring above the crowd, executing aerobatics:

• Skip Stewart piloting “Promethus the Flying Machine”
• Stephen Covington piloting “The Raptor” Highly Modified Pitts
• Galen Killam piloting RV-8 “Hammerhead”
• Mike Vaknin piloting Extra 300L High Energy Monoplane

On the ground, the Yankee Air Museum will present historical exhibits on the aircraft and vehicles from WWI, WWII, and the Vietnam War, as well as the people who built and piloted them. The museum will offer hands-on activities including sitting in a real cockpit. Attendees can get a closer look at the McKinnon G21G Goose, which won the Experimental Aircraft Association’s 2022 Gold Lindy Award and was restored by Bloomfield resident Bob Redner.

For $45 per rider, attendees can board an airplane or helicopter for a ride through the skies, too.

Oakland County Parks will provide inflatable playscapes and face painting while Oakland County Health will host a health and safety fair with free emergency preparedness kits, lock boxes and more.

Other vendors include the 99’ers, Civil Air Patrol, DCT Aviation, District 11-A2 Lions Club, Eastern Michigan University, FAA FAAST Team, Face Flair, Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan, IFL, Joe’s Army Navy, Masons Child ID Program, Maven at Midfield, Michigan Helicopters, Oak Management, Michigan Department of Health and Human Resources Foster Care Program, Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, Operation Good Cheer, Premier Jet, Royal Air Aviation, Tuskegee Airmen, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, Warbirds of Glory, Waterford Fire/EMS and Police Departments, Waterford Senior Center, and Western Michigan University College of Aviation.

Sponsoring the 36th Annual Open House & Air Show are Ajax Paving, Williams International, Vibe Credit Union, M1 Concourse, Crosswinds Aviation, Pentastar Aviation, LL Johns & Associates, Corporate Eagle, Mead & Hunt, Kris Hase, DPM, White Pine Helicopters, and Oxus America.

OCIA is located at 6500 Patterson Parkway in Waterford Twp. For additional information, visit oakgov.com/community/airports/open-house-air-show or facebook.com/OakGovAirport.