Compton Air and Space Fair aims to diversify the skies

Community members, city leaders and young aspiring pilots gathered at the Compton/Woodley Airport for Compton’s second annual Air and Space Fair Saturday, Oct. 24.

The daylong event featured an array of historic and modern aviation aircraft, flight simulators and interactive aerospace exhibits. 

Attendees were given the opportunity to step inside cockpits, meet seasoned aviators and explore the sciences behind flight.

Compton’s Mayor Emma Sharif was among the featured speakers who spoke on the city’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics for local youth.

A central mission of this fair is addressing the severe underrepresentation of Black students and professionals in the aerospace industry. 

According to industry data, Black pilots make up less than 4% of commercial aviators in the United States, while Black representation across broader aerospace engineering fields remains disproportionately low.

The fair aimed to build on that foundation, offering hands-on demonstrations and flight mentoring to spark curiosity among students who might otherwise never consider a career in aviation.

To bridge that gap, professional mentors were on hand to guide youth on how to navigate the pathway to careers in aviation. 

Among the professionals on hand was Lawerence Nance, a retired Navy officer, and current  Boeing 777 pilot with Delta Air Lines, Nance also serves as an interview coach at Spitfire Elite.

^{Two attendees at the Compton Air and Space Fair watch on as an RC plane does stunts over the tarmac at the Compton/Woodley airport during on Saturday. The fair aims to bring STEM and aviation interest to children through hands-on experiences and aviation demostrations. (Jacyn King)}

Spitfire Elite is a pilot coaching company made up primarily of major airline pilots that helps the next generation prepare for airline interviews. 

“I think it’s one very simple concept, and that concept is, you gotta be able to see it to do it,” Nance said.

“If you’re a kid, if you have any inkling at all in aviation, this is the perfect place to be particularly if you’re of color, because you’re seeing the entire rainbow here,” Nance said. “All of us that have done it well, some in the military, some in the civilian world, all coming back to a love for aviation.”

Eric Braxton, an Air Force veteran, and a pilot of United Airlines for over 30 years, also shared his story with attendees.

“What we’re hoping is that more kids will be interested in flying,” . 

“Most of the time kids are like, ‘I want to be in sports and music.’ So I’m hoping they’ll think about being in aviation, and give it a shot. Most people that fly, love it,” Braxton said.

He added that introducing young people to a simple “discovery flight” can be all it takes to spark a lifelong passion for flying.

A discovery flight is a hands-on introductory flight for people interested in beginning a career or hobby in aviation.

Beyond flight training, local community college programs provide direct technical pathways into the industry. 

In the past Long Beach City College offered Aviation Maintenance Technology and Aeronautics programs but discontinued the program to help cover a $6.4 million budget deficit in 2013.

The fair provided an especially vital showcase for local aviation enthusiasts this year. 

Long Beach has its own signature gathering, the Long Beach Airport Festival of Flight, but the event was placed on hiatus and canceled for 2026.

Long Beach city and airport officials opted to pause the large-scale public airfield event to accommodate scheduling adjustments and ongoing airport operational planning. 

The cancellation of the Festival of Flight underscored how crucial regional gatherings like the Compton Air and Space Fair are in ensuring local youth still have direct access to hands-on aviation experiences and academic outreach.

The fair also highlighted educational pathways connecting local youth with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and aerospace industry leaders. 

Ericka Price, a licensed marriage and family therapist, attended the event representing Southern University aiming to connect local high school students with higher education resources and encourage interest in HBCUs.

“Southern University is a historically Black university, so it’ll maybe move them to go to an HBCU by being here at this fly Compton event,” Price said. “I think it’s a really good experience for all Black youth.”

The fair paid tribute to the rich history of Black aviation pioneers who paved the way despite systemic barriers.

Figures like Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to hold a pilot’s license, and the Tuskegee Airmen, whose World War II accomplishments proved instrumental in integrating the armed forces, served as central inspirations throughout the day’s exhibits.

Compton itself holds a storied place in aviation history, Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum, located at the Compton/Woodley Airport, has long served as an engine for youth development, offering inner-city youth flight lessons and STEM tutoring. 

By bringing together community leaders, historic aircraft, and hands-on learning, the Compton Air and Space Fair sought not only to celebrate flight, but to inspire the next generation of Black aviators.