COCOA BEACH, Fla. — Top Air Force display teams including the Thunderbirds will headline this weekend’s two-day air show over Florida’s Space Coast.
The Cocoa Beach Air show will host the nation’s top military aircraft plus civilian aerobatic planes. Guests are invited to arrive early each day to the beaches near Lori Wilson Park.
The Thunderbirds, along with the A-10C Warthog and B-52 bomber, touched down at Patrick Space Force Base on Thursday. The F-22A Raptor and B-1B Bomber are also scheduled to perform across the ocean waters.
“We are incredibly excited to kick off the 2021 season over Cocoa Beach,” Thunderbirds right wing pilot Maj. Ian Lee expressed from the flight line at Patrick. “We are fired up to get out there and showcase the pride, precision, and professionalism of your United States Air Force.”
For 2021, the Thunderbirds have completely changed their show with new maneuvers and a new music list. For the first time in 38 years, their flight demonstration will look, sound, and feel different.
At the Kennedy Space Center, the runway used to support space shuttle landings is supporting another supersonic craft. The swept wing B-1B bomber will call the Shuttle Landing Facility home this weekend.
Civilian aerobatics include Mike Wiskus piloting his Pitts bi-wing and John Black flying his Super Decathlon. A 1945 Douglas C-47 Tico Bell is also scheduled to fly each day.
The six World War II aircraft of the GEICO Skytypers will highlight the show each day. Their formation flying includes maneuvers used by the pilots of the Greatest Generation.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
