Pilots, planes, and demonstrations dazzle at Leaseweb Manassas Airshow 2018

MANASSAS — Thousands packed the Manassas Regional Airport on Saturday for the Leaseweb Manassas Air Show 2018.

The show ran from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. and featured bi-planes, formation fliers, and the world’s only privately owned Sea Harrier Jet that stole the show when the plane took a bow for the crowded pack on the tarmac.

During ribbon-cutting demonstration, pilot Clemens Kuhlig flew the Pitts S1S biplane he built in his garage in 2013 over the runway at Manassas Airport where multiple people stood hooding up two poles with a ribbon attached to each mast.

With the ribbon taut, Kuhlig inverted his plane over the runway and flew close enough to the ground to cut the sash.

Also in the air on Saturday were the Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team which took to the sky in three yellow planes that served the Canadian Royal Air Force during WWII. The four pilots flew in spectacular formation demonstrating the power to the planes radial engines and supersonic propeller tips, which give the planes a thunderous roar.

It was the world’s only privately-owned Harrier Jet, piloted by Northern Virginia native owner Art Nalls, who demonstrated what the Sea Harrier (SHAR) could do. The retired Marine Corps aviator stole the show when he brought the jet in for a vertical landing, something unique to the Harrier, and then tipped the nose of the jet forward to make it look as if the plane was bowing to the crowd.

Onlookers cheered as the plane touched down and then rolled past the bystanders on its way back to the hangar, Nalls giving a thumbs up to the crowd.

In addition to high-flying antics, there were helicopters on display — to include the police helicopter Fairfax 1, the only police helicopter in use north of Richmond. The Prince William Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol not only put its Cessna airplanes on display, but CAP cadets helped direct traffic in the parking lots surrounding the airport during the show.

The $50,000 headlining sponsor of the show was Leaseweb web hosting firm. The show’s website lists the Manassas City Government and Manassas Regional Airport as the 2nd tier $25,000 sponsors.

The annual show was free to attend once again this year. Donations for were collected at the door for the Freedom Museum, located inside the airport’s terminal, which showcases the stories of local war heroes.