Founded in 1951 (originally as the Confederate Air Force) when a handful of former WWII pilots started buying up surplus fighters headed for the scrapyard, the CAF has grown into a 13,000-member nonprofit with more than 70 regional “wings” across 27 states and beyond. Its collection tops 170 flyable aircraft — the largest airworthy warbird fleet in the world.
At an air show, a CAF appearance can mean anything from a single P-51 flying a heritage pass to a full formation from its “Ghost Squadron.” The CAF’s own AIRSHO event, held at its Texas headquarters, puts more than 80 warbirds in the air at once.