Content warning: This article contains discussions of suicide.
Bob Carlton, air show pilot, watched a bird soar across the sky over 60 years ago. After being told humans couldn’t fly, Carlton felt inspired to prove everyone wrong. He began flying at 19 — starting with his Salto sailplane and expanding his expertise to airplanes, hang gliders and helicopters — and became a pilot. Since 1993, he has performed in airshows across the nation.
These days, Carlton’s inspiration comes from the audience: the smiles, the autographs, the crowds laughing and the children awed by the nature of aerospace.
“Every show, I get to walk the crowd line, sign some autographs and just talk to people and see them smiling, see them believing that they’ve just seen something completely amazing, and I was able to provide that,” Carlton said.
Carlton’s inspiration would have continued in what would have been the inaugural Texas Capital Air Show, an aviation show including classic and modern aircrafts as ground displays and flown by civilian performers. Originally set for Nov. 1-2, the event would have raised funds and awareness of suicide prevention for veterans and first responders. The air show was canceled on Oct. 22 amid the government shutdown that lasted from Oct. 1-Nov. 12. Due to the shutdown, all military involvement was pulled, meaning military acts weren’t possible.
Participants, like Carlton, were disappointed by the cancellation but remain hopeful for the Texas Capital Air Show to return on Nov. 7-8, 2026, especially with the shutdown ending. Those who bought tickets had three options, including holding onto them for next year’s show.
“We’ve got [people who plan on going to the air show] penciled in again for next year, so we’re all good,” Carlton said.
The Texas Capital Air Show was also a fundraiser for Wings & Warriors, a non-profit organization promoting the eradication of suicide and providing post-traumatic stress disorder treatments for veterans and first responders. Tim Scherer, chairman and founder of the Texas Capital Air Show and founder and president of Wings & Warriors, said he was heartbroken over the cancellation and the impact it will have on the veterans and first responders that Wings and Warriors aids.
“Some men and women will not get funding for the treatments that we were going to make from this; ultimately, it will have an impact on our nation’s bravest individuals,” Scherer said.
The San Marcos community was deeply involved in preparing for the event, including financial sponsors such as the city of San Marcos, , the San Marcos Regional Airport and residents who volunteered to organize the event.
“There’s a ton of people, including sponsors of the city of San Marcos itself, that put in a great amount of work, a great amount of funding to help support the air show,” Scherer said. “My daughter is currently at Texas State, my wife is an alumna, and so we have a love for the community. We wanted to bring a world-class air show to San Marcos, and ultimately that won’t happen.”
Cassidy Berenato, vice president of Texas Aviation Partners, wrote in an email to The Star that the San Marcos Regional Airport was selected as the air show’s host location due to the airfield offering the necessary runway length, space and infrastructure to support an event of that scale. The unexpected unavailability of the aircraft and performers would have not made it possible for the air show to exceed expectations.
“Large aviation events require extensive coordination, and sometimes circumstances make it necessary to adjust timelines,” Berenato wrote. “Preparations will continue with strong momentum, and [the airport will] be working closely with the organizers to ensure a safe and successful event for the community.”
Although the event will not happen as originally planned, Scherer said organizers will not give up. The community has shown great support and understanding of the cancellation, and excitement knowing that the air show will take place next year.
“Most of [the community] have responded extremely positively,” Scherer said. “So, they understand that decision that had to be made. They also understand that we had a decision to save the air show for subsequent years and, along with that, save the nonprofit for subsequent years. Everyone’s disappointed, of course, but it’s one of those things that’s out of our hands, and most people understand that.”
Despite setbacks, organizers and pilots like Scherer and Carlton are determined to return next year to deliver thrilling aerial stunts and ultimately support the veterans and first responders of the San Marcos community. The Texas Capital Air Show will happen, if not now, then later.
“We put two years into this air show, and to have it postponed for nothing that we did personally or any failures of our own, it was very tough,” Scherer said. “We will move on. We will continue to grow the air show.”
For more information about the Texas Capital Air Show, visit https://texascapitalairshow.com.
