Aviator Crew (@aviatorcrew)

🕊️✈️ FAREWELL TO A LEGEND — TOM SKERRITT (1933–2026) 🇺🇸 The aviation and film communities say goodbye to Tom Skerritt, who passed away on October 21, 2026, at the age of 93. Best remembered by aviation enthusiasts as Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf in the legendary 1986 film Top Gun, Skerritt brought wisdom, leadership, and authenticity to a character who inspired generations of aviation fans. Beyond Hollywood, Skerritt was also a U.S. Air Force veteran, making his connection to aviation even more meaningful. Nearly 40 years after Top Gun first took flight, Viper's legacy continues to soar. Rest in peace, Viper. Your final flight may be over, but your legacy will forever remain in our skies. 🪽 Blue skies and tailwinds, Sir. 🫡✈️ — Aviator Crew #TomSkerritt #RIPViper #TopGun #F14Tomcat #AviationLegends

I miss flying in my beautiful island of Puerto Rico ✈️🇵🇷 #AviatorCrew #Aviation #CAF #puertorico #following

Finally home! 🙏🏼❤️🏡 And what a welcome home on my first day! 🚑🍝✈️✈️✈️✈️🏝️ I loved seeing the four T-6s flying in formation, although I won't deny that I would have loved to be up there flying with them. ✈️❤️ After so many weeks, finally home, happy to be with my family. THANK YOU, GOD, for allowing me to return home! 🙏🏼❤️#aviatorcrew #Aviation #CAF #F14Tomcat #following

Press "Follow" 🤣😂 Why aren't you following us yet? 🤔 #aviatorcrew #Aviation #F14Tomcat #following #CAF

When we like playing mechanic 🤦🏻‍♂️ 😂🤣😂 #aviatorcrew #Meme #MemeCut #CapCut #CommemorativeAirForce

🎃 October has arrived… and some legends come alive after dark. 🌙✈️ The F-14 Tomcat doesn’t need a costume to be scary. 😈 Some legends never die… they just fly in the dark. Welcome to Spooky Season — Aviator Crew style. 🎃🦇✈️ #F14Tomcat #Aviation #AviatorCrew #SpookySeason #halloween

Almost a month ago, during the Midland Airshow, my life changed unexpectedly. I wasn’t able to finish an event I had worked so hard for, and I ended up needing emergency surgery. Today, I’m still in the hospital, working every day toward my recovery. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to my family, friends, and everyone at the Commemorative Air Force for every visit, every thoughtful gesture, and for never letting me feel alone throughout this journey. ❤️ I hope to be back home soon, back at the hangar… and one day, back in the sky. ✈️🙏 One day at a time. #Aviation #CommemorativeAirForce #Recovery #NeverGiveUp #AviatorCrew

Any Time Baby F-14 TOMCAT #AviatorCrew #AnytimeBaby #CAF #F14Tomcat #Tomcat

Some legends don’t need an introduction. 🔥 F-14 TOMCAT — Anytime, Baby! 😎✈️ Two guys. Two Tomcats. One hell of a view. 🤙 #F14Tomcat #AnytimeBaby #Tomcat #TopGun #Aviation @BeardedJacob

✈️ Sometimes it’s good to go back to where it all started. No matter what you get to fly, there’s still something special about getting behind the controls of a Cessna. Just flying, having fun, and remembering why you fell in love with aviation in the first place. ❤️✈️ #AviatorCrew #Cessna #PilotLife #Aviation #BackToBasics

✈️🔥TORA! TORA! TORA! A glimpse of a very special presentation of *Tora! Tora! Tora!*—the airshow that recreates the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, featuring aircraft modified to represent Japanese forces. But this presentation was different. ❤️ Among our guests was a large group of children and adults with special needs from local schools and care centers. The show was adapted specifically for them: there were no gunshots, explosions, fire, or pyrotechnics that might prove too intense or cause distress. This time, the aircraft and the smoke took center stage, allowing our guests to enjoy the *Tora! Tora! Tora!* experience in a more accessible and comfortable way. ✈️ Because sharing history also means finding a way for everyone to be a part of it. 🇺🇸❤️ #ToraToraTora #PearlHarbor #Airshow #Warbirds #AviationHistory

Not every F-14 has a story like this one. 🦅🇺🇸 Fast Eagle 102 is living history. On August 19, 1981, over the Gulf of Siria, she scored the F-14’s first-ever air-to-air combat kill. Today, she remains the sole surviving Tomcat from that historic engagement. And you can see her in person at the CAF High Sky Wing in Midland, Texas. 🦅🇺🇸 #FastEagle102 #Tomcat #NavalAviation #AviationHistory #AviatorCrew

These are the only takeoffs I can see for the moment, and the only emergency alarms I hear. I hope to return soon... #AviatorCrew #outofservice #f14 #cr

In the 1940s, the area of ​​Midland Army Air Field was one of the major American centers for training bomber pilots on AT-11 aircraft during World War II. It was known as the “Bombardier College”. Eighty-three years later, we continue to keep this AT-11 flying at the very same location where so many training missions were flown. #AviatorCrew #midlandtx #CAF #AT11 #SecondWorldWar

We showed you ours… now show us yours! 👀📸 What was the BEST shot you captured at the Airshow? Your favorite aircraft, flyby, formation, explosion… whatever made you grab your camera! ✈️🔥 👇 Drop your best Airshow photo in the comments — let’s see who got THE shot! #Airshow2026 #AviationPhotography #AviatorCrew #CAF #midlandtx

🔥✈️ Midland Airshow! Which aircraft or moment was YOUR favorite? 👀👇 Drop it in the comments ✈️ #MidlandAirshow #AviatorCrew #CAF #Airshow2026 #Aviation

Awesome meeting Stephen Covington of SRC Airshows today at the Midland AIRSHO! ✈️🔥 Then getting to watch him put Fury 2.0 through its paces… absolutely incredible! Great pilot, great show, and a pleasure meeting him. 🤙 Who else got to see Fury 2.0 fly today? What did you think? 👇🔥 #AviatorCrew #CAF #midlandtx #fury #Airshow

#tiktoklive #livehighlights

The F-104 Starfighters are ready to put on a spectacular show at the 35th annual AIRSHO at Midland International Air & Space Port tomorrow, September 12, and Sunday, September 13! ✈️ Don't miss it. This is a unique opportunity to experience a piece of aerospace history right here in Midland! Get your tickets: highskywing.org/?page_id=5188 #AviatorCrew #CAF #airshows #midlandtx #odessa

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow and Sunday at the Air Show. This is part of today's practice sessions. #AviatorCrew #airshows #CAF #midlandtx #odessa

The AT-11 ready for the airshow. After some repairs and inspections, the AT-11 is finally ready for the airshow. #AviatorCrew #AT11 #CAF #airshows #midlandtx

✈️🔥 The F-4 is ready to make its way to Midland for the Airshow! Who else is excited to see this legend up close? 👀🔥 👇 Drop a comment: What do you love most about the F-4 Phantom? #AviatorCrew #CAF #F4 #Airshow #midlandtx

first arrival for the Air Show #Airshow #AviatorCrew #CAF #midlandtx #odessa

✈️ Bringing History Back to the Sky — AT-11 Kansan After spending nearly a year in the hangar undergoing inspections, maintenance and repairs, this incredible piece of WWII history is finally making its way back to the sky. Over the last several days, I've had the privilege of being part of the work to get her ready — working on the aircraft, running the engines, and helping with the testing leading up to her return to flight and the upcoming Airshow. And this isn't just another old airplane. N7335C is a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan, originally built for the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1943 as military serial 42-37634. The AT-11 was one of America's primary bombardier trainers during World War II. Approximately 90% of the more than 45,000 USAAF bombardiers trained during the war received their training in AT-11s. These aircraft carried the famous Norden bombsight and helped prepare the men who would eventually fly combat missions aboard America's bombers. Even more meaningful is its connection to Midland. During WWII, Midland Army Air Field became one of America's major bombardier training centers, where AT-11s filled the West Texas skies while thousands of young men trained for war. More than 80 years later, this AT-11 is still here... and still flying. Being able to put my own hands on an aircraft with this much history — working on its engines, helping prepare it, hearing those radial engines come alive and then watching it return to the sky — is something that's difficult to put into words. We're still researching the individual military history of 42-37634 to find exactly where she served during WWII. But one thing is certain: We're not just maintaining an airplane. We're keeping history alive. 🇺🇸✈️ See you at the Airshow. AT-11 Kansan | USAAF 42-37634 | N7335C Commemorative Air Force #AT11 #CAF #AviatorCrew #Warbirds #Airshow

When you're racing against the clock to get everything ready for the Airshow, but it's Sunday and you still want to spend time with the family… you bring the work with you. 😂🚁 Today’s project: working on the door of the Huey. There’s still plenty to get done before showtime, and every little detail counts. Sometimes you have to find a way to balance family time and getting the job done. So if I can't stay at the hangar all day, I guess the Huey project is coming with me. 😎🔧 The countdown is on, and we’re getting closer every day. Can’t wait to see all this work come together at the Airshow! ✈️🇺🇸 #CAF #UH1Huey #Airshow #Warbirds #aviatorcrew

AIRSHO is an exciting annual event held at Midland International Air & Space Port, Midland/Odessa, TX. You will see an impressive flying display of vintage military aircraft, popular civilian aerobatic performers, jet truck, reenactors & ground rattling pyrotechnics. #AviatorCrew #airshows #MilitaryAviation #CAF #VietnamWar

10 days until the Airshow… ✈️🔥 Almost ready. The countdown is on! ⏳ #AviatorCrew #AviationTok #airshows #CAF #AviationHistory

Just another day for the B-52. #B52 #AerialRefueling #MilitaryAviation #AviationTok #AviatorCrew

AIRSHO is an exciting event held annually at Midland International Air & Space Port in Midland/Odessa, Texas and hosted by the Commemorative Air Force High Sky Wing.  In addition to one of the most impressive flying displays of vintage military aircraft, you'll also see some of the most popular civilian aerobatic performers.  AIRSHO offers visitors a chance to get close to the aircraft and see them perform in ways you won't experience anywhere else.  In addition to a dazzling display of aircraft, you'll want to be sure to watch the CAF's Pyrotechnic Groups, award-winning groups of licensed pyrotechnic technicians shake the ground with simulated bombing raids, strafing runs and the infamous "wall of fire." Watch history come alive before your very eyes (and ears! #AviatorCrew #VietnamWar #AviationLovers #CAF #airshows

Different missions. Same attitude. 💪🚁 One owns the road. One owns the sky. Which seat are you taking? #AviatorCrew #Griffin66 #AH1Cobra #CAF #VietnamWar