Naval Air Station Wildwood (NASW) Aviation Museum is thrilled to announce the return of AirFest, NASW’s signature event and largest annual fundraiser, taking place Thursday, Aug. 28, through Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Now celebrating its 29th year, AirFest continues to grow in both size and popularity, with this year promising to be the biggest and most exciting event ever. If you’ve never attended before, this is the year to experience it.
AirFest 2025 will feature an extraordinary lineup of historic aircraft and the unique feature about this event is you get up close and personal with the aircraft, and attendees get to meet the pilots and crews. Highlights include the Messerschmitt Me 262, the world’s first operational jet fighter, capable of flying over 500 mph and forever changing the nature of air combat. The Goodyear FG-1D Corsair nicknamed “Whistling Death,” will be on display all four days of the festival. The C-53 “Beach City Baby,” a rare troop transport variant of the beloved DC-3, brings history to life with its fully restored wartime interior and exterior (interior tours available). Returning to honor NAS Wildwood’s legacy as a training base, the SNJ (AT-6 Texan), a staple at past AirFest’s, represents the thousands of pilots trained right here during the war. Also appearing is the rare Fuji LM-1 “Nikko,” a Japanese postwar trainer with only three airworthy examples remaining in the U.S.
AirFest offers more than aircraft; it’s a weekend-long celebration for the whole family. Attendees will enjoy full access to the museum’s collection of over 28 aircraft and helicopters, including NASW’s most recent acquisition, the AV-8B Harrier II+, as well as special exhibits like the Longest Yarn and Warbirds of Glory’s B-25J SandBar Mitchell nose section and operating turret. The grounds will be filled with military vehicles, fire trucks, reenactors and beloved guests like Smokey Bear.
Saturday brings a unique fly-in by the Aero Club of Pennsylvania and the Experimental Aircraft Association, along with performances by the Magnolia Sadies, a vintage dance troupe. Throughout the weekend, guests can enjoy live entertainment, food vendors, local artisans, free face painting and caricatures, and Ted Schwartz’s 1940s-style radio broadcast for a nostalgic twist. Community partners, including AtlantiCare (Saturday and Sunday), the New Jersey State Police (TBD) and the United States Coast Guard (TBD), will also be on site.
This exciting weekend is made possible in part by the generous support of our Title Sponsor: J. Byrne Insurance Agency, whose ongoing commitment to community and history helps ensure AirFest continues to thrive year after year.
As always, all aircraft attendance and scheduling are subject to change based on mission requirements, weather conditions and maintenance needs.
