The much-anticipated inaugural Texas Capital Air Show in San Marcos, Texas, has been officially canceled due to the ongoing government shutdown, which forced the withdrawal of military participation. The event, originally scheduled for November 1 and 2 at the San Marcos Regional Airport, was designed to raise funds for suicide prevention and mental health support for veterans and first responders.
Organizers of the show expressed deep disappointment over the cancellation but emphasized that the decision was necessary to preserve the quality and purpose of the event. Tim Scherer, president of the Wings & Warriors Foundation and the Texas Capital Air Show, explained that the absence of military aircraft made it impossible to deliver the full experience attendees had been promised. “We didn’t want to create a watered-down version of an air show,” Scherer said. “The military portion was expected to last nearly two hours. Without those assets, it becomes a one-hour civilian show, and that wouldn’t do justice to our sponsors, supporters, or the cause we stand for.”
The Texas Capital Air Show had secured several high-profile military teams, including the U.S. Air Force F-22 Demonstration Team, the C-17 Globemaster crew, and the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 Rhino Demonstration Team. With these aircraft grounded due to the government shutdown, organizers concluded that postponement was the only responsible option.
Erick O’Connor, the event’s director of operations, relocated from Canada to help launch the air show. He shared that the team’s primary motivation has always been to support those who serve. “Ultimately, our goal is to provide funding for PTSD treatment for first responders and veterans,” O’Connor said. “This mission is personal to all of us. We poured our hearts into it because we know how much it matters.”
Scherer noted that the team had spent two years planning the air show, preparing for an audience of around 20,000 people across both days. Within just four hours of receiving the news about the shutdown’s impact, organizers had to dismantle their plans. “It was gut-wrenching,” he said. “We wanted to deliver a show that San Marcos deserves and that our veterans and first responders deserve. Everyone on our team gave their best.”
The foundation behind the event, Wings & Warriors, was established in 2017 after Scherer and his family experienced a devastating house fire. Seeing the dedication of first responders inspired him to act. “While recovering from that, we kept hearing about first responders and veterans taking their own lives because of trauma,” he said. “I told my wife that someone needed to do something—and we realized that someone was us. We wanted to ensure that when these men and women seek help, they find it without cost or barriers.”
Despite the cancellation, the team remains optimistic. Co-founder Rusty West called the event “postponed, not lost,” and praised the dedication of everyone involved. “We surrounded ourselves with the most talented people in this space, and they gave everything for the cause,” West said.
The Texas Capital Air Show is now officially rescheduled for November 7 and 8, 2026. Organizers say the extra time will allow them to make the event even larger and more impactful. “We’re definitely having it for real in 2026,” Scherer said. “It’s going to be bigger and better than what we originally planned.”
O’Connor added that while the cancellation was painful, the process served as valuable preparation. “If there’s a silver lining, it’s that we got a great first practice run,” he said.
For attendees who purchased tickets, the organizers have offered three options. Ticket holders can choose to keep their tickets for next year’s show, request a refund by emailing the official event address by November 21, or convert their ticket purchase into a tax-deductible donation to the Wings & Warriors Foundation to support mental health programs for veterans and first responders.
The team expressed gratitude for the outpouring of understanding and support from the community, sponsors, and volunteers. “Everyone has been incredibly supportive,” Scherer said. “It reminds us why we do this in the first place—because Texas stands by those who serve.”
With renewed determination, the Wings & Warriors Foundation now turns its focus to 2026, when the skies over San Marcos will finally host the Texas Capital Air Show—an event they promise will honor service, celebrate resilience, and help save lives.
