Propel Forward

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from the Pistons & Props Airshow Team!!!

As we head into the holiday, we want to extend our warmest Thanksgiving wishes to you and your families. We are especially grateful for the veterans in our community — thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your continued support of our mission.

We are also thankful for our volunteers, sponsors, partners, and everyone who helps Propel Forward bring world-class aviation experiences to Southern Wisconsin.

Enjoy a safe, relaxing holiday weekend with your loved ones.

Happy Thanksgiving!

11/24/2025

Sponsor Opportunities Now Open for the 2026 Pistons & Props Airshow!

The 2026 airshow is shaping up to be our biggest event yet — and we’ve already locked in two major sponsors for next year.
More exciting announcements are coming soon…

Whether you’re a small business or a large regional brand, we offer multiple sponsorship levels designed to fit your goals, budget, and visibility needs.

Why get involved?
• Align your brand with one of Wisconsin’s fastest-growing aviation events
• Reach thousands of attendees across three action-packed days
• Sponsor an airshow performer
• Or upgrade to a private flight-line chalet for the ultimate VIP experience

Email [email protected] to explore available packages.

Big things are coming for 2026 — and this is your chance to be part of it!

Pistons and Props - The ultimate air and car show event featuring aviation displays and automotive excellence

11/20/2025

Craig High School students are hard at work rebuilding the Pistons & Props Rocket Launcher for the 2026 Airshow.

This afternoon the students wrapped up the underside design, selected their motor and electronics layout, and divided into three focused build teams:
• Motor Systems
• Container & Structure
• Legs & Aesthetics

Propel Forward continues to expand our outreach educational programming, and projects like this are a perfect example of hands-on learning in action. We love seeing students take on real engineering challenges and bring fresh ideas to the events challenges.

More updates to come as the rocket launcher construction is completed—and as the student rocket-building class begins!

11/14/2025

🚀 Calling All STEAM & Career Educational Partners — We Need You for 2026! 🚀

Propel Forward is actively recruiting additional educational partners for our expanded STEAM & Career Day, returning April 30th, 2026 to the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport and Blackhawk Technical College.

After a successful first year serving 200+ students from Janesville and Beloit, the program is growing — with more space, more hands-on zones, and up to 400 students rotating through aviation, technology, trades, arts, and career exploration experiences.

We are seeking organizations and groups who can provide interactive, hands-on educational booths designed for 6th–8th grade students in areas such as:
• Science & Technology
• Engineering & Trades
• Arts & Design
• Math & Problem-Solving
• Aviation, Manufacturing, Public Safety, and Career Pathways

If your organization or know of an organization that can offer a hands-on activity, student engagement, and a STEAM- or career-focused learning experience, we want to hear from you.

👉 To participate, please email: [email protected]

We will send the information sheet and sign-up details.

This event is not open to the public — it is a dedicated education day for area schools and students. Please join us the Pistons and Props 2026 Airshow at our public educational area!

The STEAM & Career Day program is free for all participating students, made possible through proceeds from Pistons and Props and our community partners.

If you’d like to help support or donate to this initiative, please reach out to [email protected].

Together, we can inspire the next generation of innovators, creators, and community leaders!

11/11/2025

🇺🇸 Veterans Day 2025 🇺🇸

Today we pause to honor and thank all who have served — and especially the veterans on our Propel Forward board and the hundreds of local veterans who have stood beside us over the past two years to make Pistons and Props possible.

Your dedication, teamwork, and community spirit have shaped this event from the ground up, ensuring that it remains true to its purpose: honoring service, inspiring youth, and strengthening our community.

We are proud to once again have a portion of the proceeds from Pistons and Props Airshow 2026 to go directly to help local veterans through the Rock County Veterans Donation Trust that offers emergency assistance and providing vital support to those in need right here at home.

👉 Learn more or support the fund here: https://www.co.rock.wi.us/departments/veteran-service-office-home/emergency-assistance

To all who have served — and continue to serve our community — we thank you!

10/21/2025

The Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport Board has officially approved the return of the Pistons & Props Airshow at today’ board meeting.

A huge thank-you to the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport Board and the airport management team for their continued help and support in bringing the airshow back. Our volunteers and partners are hard at work, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport.

Save the dates: August 28–30, 2026.

10/17/2025

We’ve started working with the 8th grade class at St. John Vianney School in Janesville on a fun educational project!

The students are taking on the challenge of redesigning and rebuilding the Pistons & Props kids’ rocket launchers as part of our ongoing education efforts between airshows.

It’s awesome to see their creativity and ideas taking shape — here are a few photos of the start!

10/09/2025

Big news! 🚀 Pistons & Props is expanding in 2026!

What started as a 2-day festival is now growing into a 3-day event in 2026— featuring two full airshow days!

📅 Friday, August 28, 2026 – Veterans Night
📅 Saturday & Sunday, August 29-30, 2026 – Full Airshow Days

Our Propel Forward volunteer team is already hard at work — September alone saw over 200 volunteer hours poured into planning for 2026!

We can’t wait to share everything that’s coming — from incredible performers to new attractions and expanded experiences over 3 day period. Plus everything you have come to know and love from the past 2 years!

Stay tuned… this will be our biggest and best year yet!

10/02/2025

Hope to see everyone out there this Saturday!

BELOIT — Kids will be climbing into the seats of some big construction equipment, building their own toolboxes and knocking down styro- foam blocks at the Sixth Annual Community Construction

09/26/2025

Great event if your kids want to learn and explore these career options!

Get Ready! The Dare to Dream / Building the Future – Community Construction Zone is back, powered by Hendricks CareerTek, Corporate Contractors Inc. (CCI) and our amazing partners.

09/22/2025

We’re rolling out a refreshed Pistons & Props logo to better represent our full airshow coming in 2026. Clean, simple, and true to the design you know and love. You’ll start seeing it on our site, tickets, and merch soon—tell us what you think!

09/18/2025

Come join our partners at this fantastic educational event in construction in 2 weeks!

The Dare to Dream - Building the Future Community Construction Zone Event was powered by Hendricks CareerTek, Corporate Contractors Inc. (CCI) and our fantas...