COCOA BEACH, Fla. — The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and F-22A Raptor will provide the thrust over America’s Space Coast next weekend during the Cocoa Beach Air Show.
Popular military and civilian aerobatic aircraft are scheduled to fly on April 17 and 18 over the sugar beaches. Lori Wilson Park will be air show center during an exciting weekend.
Demonstrations by the Air Force A-10C Warthog plus a B-52H Stratofortress and B-1B Lancer are also planned. Civilian aircraft include the GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team, Michael Wiskus, and popular warbirds.
“We’re glad to be bringing the show back to the beach at a time where it can help the ailing tourism industry that has been so badly impacted in the past year,” Air show organizer Bryan Lilley told AvGeekery. “Having the double headliner of the Thunderbirds and F-22 Raptor will kick the destination appeal of the Cocoa Beach Air Show into afterburner.”
Homecoming for a Thunderbird and a F-22 Pilot
The Thunderbirds six red, white, and blue F-16C Fighting Falcons are scheduled to perform each afternoon. Led by Col. John Caldwell, the pilots perform an array of close maneuvers and high speed passes.
For one Thunderbird, Cocoa Beach will mark a homecoming. SSgt. Joshua Williams is one of the squadron’s tactical aircraft maintainers who regularly inspects their jets and replaces worn avionics.
“I am extremely excited to start the Thunderbirds 2021 season,” SSgt. Williams told AvGeekery.com on Tuesday. “2020 was a challenging year for everyone and the team’s thrilled to get back on the road performing air shows.”
Williams entered the Air Force in 2010, inspired by the aviation and space launches across Cape Canaveral. The sugar white beaches of Cocoa Beach is all too familiar to the veteran Thunderbird.
“I grew up camping at Patrick Air Force Base, going to space camps, lounging on the beaches, watching shuttle launches out of the Cape, and going to air shows,” SSgt. Williams added. “The air show at Cocoa Beach is the perfect way to cap off my four years as a Thunderbird.”
The Air Force will be on full display as the F-22A Raptor launches into a new season. This fifth generation stealth fighter will display spin maneuvers and high speed flat passes, plus the crowd favorite Heritage Flight.
Led by pilot Major Joshua “Cabo” Gunderson, the F-22 Demonstration Team is a must see at air shows. A Tampa native, Cabo himself grew up attending air shows in central Florida.
“I am extremely excited about returning to my home state of Florida,” Maj. Gunderson said. “I loved seeing the military jets, so it’s an honor to pay that forward to future aviators.”
Civilian Aerobatics to Perform over Cocoa Beach
The world famous GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team begin their new season above Cocoa Beach. Their six Navy SNJ-2 aircraft perform a nearly 18-minute display of exciting maneuvers.
“Following a year where most cities were unable to host events of any sort involving large groups of people, we’re especially excited to participate in the Cocoa Beach Air Show,” Flight leader and pilot Larry Arken said on Tuesday. “This will be our first appearance in Cocoa Beach in 10 years.”
The pilots of these historic warbirds will perform dogfighting maneuvers used by World War II aviators. The GEICO Skytypers precision flight to a colorful narration makes this a memorable performance.
Recent additions to the show include the Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, and the Douglas C-47 Skytrain Tico Bell.
Air show tickets remain available for select VIP viewing and beach areas known as Sand Boxes. Each are designed to ensure social distancing in the guidelines of the CDC. Food, beverage, and restrooms will be located along the beachline.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
