I have been to plenty of theme parks and city attractions, but I had never walked through an aircraft show built for people who might actually buy the planes. The US Aircraft Expo stopped at Camarillo Airport in Ventura County on September 18 and 19, 2026, and I spent Saturday wandering the ramp with my phone out and my jaw a little bit open.
If you are searching for an aircraft show near Los Angeles, or you have never attended a US Aircraft Expo and want to know what to expect, this is the guide I wish I had read the night before.
2026 Southern California stop: September 18 to 19, 10 AM to 3 PM
Venue: Channel Islands Aviation, Camarillo Airport (KCMA), 305 Durley Ave, Camarillo, CA 93010
Entry: Registration through the official event website is required. No admission price is listed on the event page.
What is left in 2026: Spanish Fork, Utah, October 16 to 17, and Scottsdale, Arizona, November 6 to 7
What Is the US Aircraft Expo?
Think of it as a car dealership lot for airplanes, minus the pressure. The organizers describe it as an event for potential buyers, with the newest aircraft from major manufacturers sitting on static display so you can walk right up to them. In 2026 the tour visited Naples, Houston, Manassas, Nashville, Bozeman, Palo Alto and Southern California, with more stops still to come.
The manufacturer list on the official site includes Cirrus, Cub Crafters, Daher, Diamond, Epic, Game Aerospace, HondaJet, ICON, JMB, Pilatus, Piper, Robinson Helicopter, Scalewings, Sling, Tecnam, Textron Aviation and Vashon. Not every brand parks at every stop, so treat that as the menu rather than a promise.
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Is the US Aircraft Expo Free? Tickets and Registration
Here is what I can say for certain: the expo requires registration for attendees, and the sign-up runs through the official event site. The event page does not list an admission price, so open the registration page for your city and read the current terms before you go. If the stop you want is close, register a few days ahead, because it is a buyer-focused event and the organizers want to know who is coming.
Money tip:
Registering is the one step standing between you and a day of walking up to million-dollar airplanes, so do it early and screenshot your confirmation. Beyond that, budget for gas and lunch.
The Aircraft I Saw Up Close
Cirrus Vision Jet: the one everyone photographed
The sleek dark jet with the V-tail was the one I kept circling back to. This is the Cirrus Vision Jet, a single-engine personal jet, and it looks even better in person than in brochures. Cirrus launched the G3 version in February 2026, and one industry pricing guide puts the base price at about $3.6 million. Pre-owned G2+ jets have been listed from roughly $2.5 million to $3.6 million on Controller. That guide also estimates operating costs at $900 to $1,300 per flight hour, which is a useful reality check if you are daydreaming.
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ICON A5: the toy box of the show
The lime-yellow amphibian was easy to spot from across the airfield. The ICON A5 is a light sport amphibious aircraft, built to take off from land or water. Listings I found in August 2026 ranged from about $229,500 to $349,900, and older published base prices were higher, so the used market clearly moves around. It is a fraction of a jet price, and that alone made it feel like the most approachable airplane on the ramp.
Turboprops and piston singles
Some of my favorite photos came from the smaller airplanes, because the details are so close. One silver turboprop had its engine cowl propped open so anyone could peer at the plumbing, which is not something you get at a regular airport. I also found an Epic aircraft in black and gold, and a couple of blue single-engine airplanes with their doors raised like wings.
A white jet, and a P-51 for good measure
A small white jet with a turboprop parked behind it gave me one of the best wide shots of the day. And near the end of the afternoon I spotted a P-51 Mustang painted in black and white stripes, drawing a small crowd of its own. I did not catch who owned it, so I will leave that one as a happy surprise.
The Buyers Resource Team (Yes, You Can Just Ask)
Along the edge of the show sat tents for the expo’s ownership sponsors: Airfleet Capital, Aviation Tax Consultants, In Flight Law, Southwest Aero and Wings Insurance. The idea is that someone thinking about buying can get questions about financing, taxes, legal structure and insurance answered without leaving the field. I saw Wings Insurance and Aviation Tax Consultants tables in person.
You do not have to be shopping for a plane to be polite and curious, but do respect that these folks are there for buyers. If you are just enjoying the view, keep your questions short and let serious shoppers have the floor.
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About Camarillo Airport
The setting adds a lot. Camarillo Airport opened in 1942 as a wartime landing field, and it grew into Oxnard Air Force Base, with the runway extended to 8,000 feet in 1951. The base was deactivated on January 1, 1970, and the field became a public airport. Today it sits about three miles west of downtown Camarillo and covers roughly 650 acres.
Tips for Visiting the US Aircraft Expo
- Bring sun protection. The ramp is wide, flat concrete and there is not much shade beyond the tents. A hat, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle will make your afternoon much better.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You will walk more than you expect, and the pavement is hard.
- Go early for photos. Canopies and doors were already up when I started shooting around 11 AM, and fewer people were in my frame.
- Keep your hands off. Many of these airplanes cost more than a house. Look, take pictures, and wait to be invited into a cockpit.
- Check the venue instructions. I would not guess about parking or bag rules, so read your registration confirmation.
- Charge your phone. You will take more photos than you plan to.
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Make a Weekend of It: Things to Do Near Camarillo Airport
The expo runs 10 AM to 3 PM, so you have the rest of the day free. The Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing Museum sits on the same airfield at 455 Aviation Drive. Its official site says admission is always free, with donations welcome, and other local guides list hours of Thursday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM and Sunday from noon to 4 PM. Confirm hours before you go, especially if you are visiting on a different weekend.
If you decide to come in from out of town, book late and shop around: Expedia’s last-minute travel deals advertise savings of up to 60% off on hotels and trips, which is handy for a spur-of-the-moment weekend in Ventura County. Prices swing a lot by date, so compare a few nights before you commit.
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