Visitors can expect thrilling aircraft performances, hands-on exhibits, and family-friendly activities at the Sky High Aerospace Expo this weekend at Laurinburg-Maxton Airport.
Courtesy photo | Via Sky High Aerospace Expo, Inc.
LAURINBURG — The inaugural Sky High Aerospace Expo is ready for takeoff this week, promising a high-energy celebration of aviation, innovation and community at the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport.
The three-day event runs Sept. 5-7, with STEM Day on Friday reserved for schools, retirement communities and other groups seeking a more hands-on, less crowded experience. The public shows follow Saturday and Sunday, featuring everything from aerobatic performances to exotic sports cars racing down the runway.
Expo founder, president and CEO Hugh “Trey” Brown said the event is more than just an air show.
“I started the Sky High Expo to recreate the experiences that shaped my own life,” Brown said. “As a kid, meeting the Blue Angels and attending airshows with my dad gave me more than just a thrill — it gave me a purpose. Those moments lit a passion for aviation that kept me focused, driven and on a clean, honest path toward achieving my dreams. My hope is that Sky High can do the same for someone else — to ignite a spark that gives their life direction, or at least create the atmosphere where that spark can be born.”
Brown said the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport offers the perfect stage.
“It’s a vast expanse of real estate with room to grow, paired with an incredible military history and a legacy of service to our country,” he said. “It’s a place where the past, present and future of aviation can come together in one unforgettable weekend.”
Weekend highlights
The Sept. 6–7 shows will feature a fireworks display Saturday night to close the evening, along with a lineup of nationally recognized performers. Attendees can see thrilling routines from Charlie Morris Airshows, the U.S. Army Golden Knights, Franklin’s Flying Circus and Warbird Thunder Airshows, each bringing their own brand of aerial excitement to the skies above Laurinburg-Maxton. Headlining the expo is TORA! TORA! TORA!, a dramatic reenactment of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor with replica aircraft and pyrotechnics. Another crowd favorite is expected to be Smoke-N-Thunder Jet Shows, pairing a custom-built jet truck against an aircraft in a battle of speed and spectacle.
On the ground, Precision Exotics will showcase Lamborghinis, McLarens and other high-performance cars, offering attendees the chance to ride or race them down the runway.
Beyond the spectacle
Brown emphasized that Sky High is about more than machines.
“Sky High isn’t just about airplanes, engines and speed — it’s about people,” he said. “This event has the potential to bring visitors from across the region, boosting local businesses, creating opportunities for youth through STEM and career exposure, and putting our community on the map in a positive way. If we do this right, it will be more than just a weekend of excitement — it will be a source of pride, a catalyst for growth, and a tradition that benefits Laurinburg, Maxton and the surrounding area for years to come.”
A full schedule and ticket details are available at www.skyhighexpo.com
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