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Blue Angels, Thunderbirds to Highlight Kansas City Airshow

Charles Atkeison
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Blue Angels, Thunderbirds to Highlight Kansas City Airshow

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Independence Day celebrations over middle America will be monumental this weekend as the nation’s two favorite military jet demonstration teams add to the flash of fireworks.

The Air Force Thunderbirds have been added to the Kansas City Airshow, joining the Navy’s Blue Angels and GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team. The huge two-day event will be held at the New Century Air Center southwest of the city.

“This is an incredibly rare opportunity to see both of these elite aerobatic teams fly at the same civilian air show,” KC Air Show Director Kerry Floyd said on Monday. “And, the first time ever this has happened in the Kansas City metro area.”

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The Blue Angels’ Super Hornets are a highlight of the team’s 75th anniversary season. (Charles Atkeison)

Air show attendees will see the Blue Angels perform high speed maneuvers and slower formation flying in new jets. This season marks the teams first with their upgraded F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets.

“The jets will look a new shiny blue and the delta formation will look a little bit bigger,” Blue Angels opposing solo pilot LCDR Cary Rickoff explained to AvGeekery.com. “You will notice about a 30 percent size increase — the jet is bigger.”

The Thunderbirds have overhauled their entire flight demonstration in time for 2021. The squadron has added a series of new maneuvers and dropped a few the team considered were redundant.

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The Thunderbirds diamond races across the skies of Tennessee in June 2021. (USAF/SSgt. Andrew Sarver)

Near the close of their 30 minute demonstration, the Thunderbirds will move to their patriotic pride and teamwork phase with all six aircraft. As guests look up, beautiful cascading maneuvers will highlight their show.

Last January, the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels created and practiced a new single formation flyover. Known as the Super Delta, the formation includes six F-16C Fighting Falcons and six Super Hornets.

Floyd could not confirm if air show guests will witness the first public Super Delta flyover.

Civilian Aircraft to Provide Dizzying Aerobatics

A third six-plane formation team is also scheduled to perform Saturday and Sunday. The GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team’s Navy SNJ-2 aircraft will showcase World War II-era aerial battle maneuvers.

“We’re excited to perform for the first time for air show spectators attending the Kansas City Air Show,” Skytypers flight leader Larry Arken said on Tuesday. “We consider it an honor to demonstrate the amazing abilities of these vintage warbirds on behalf of our sponsor, GEICO, while sharing a bit of aviation history.”

Fourth of July festivities over the air show will also include performances by the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute team. The Golden Knights are scheduled to jump with a huge U.S. Flag during an opening ceremony each day.

Civilian aerobatic pilots will take to the skies to perform dizzying maneuvers and corkscrew turns. Pilots Matt Younkin, Mike Goulian, Chuck Aaron, and Skip Stewart are just a few of the air show favorites performing.

“The best is to be on the air show line, feeling the thunder in your chest, hearing the jets roar by,” Thunderbird commander Col. John Caldwell said. “Seeing the speed and motion, and seeing the heights that this demo team can fly for the American public.”

(Charles A. Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

Southwest Airlines Rolls Out FreedomOne 50th Anniversary Color Jet

Bill Walton
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Southwest Airlines Rolls Out FreedomOne 50th Anniversary Color Jet

FreedomOne is One Great Looking Jet Worthy of a 50th Anniversary Celebration

Southwest Airlines celebrated 50 years of operation on 18 June 2021. You know the story of Southwest. The airline is one of the largest domestic airlines and the largest “low-cost” carrier. They fly to some 115 destinations in the United States and ten international destinations. The airline was originally established by Herb Kelleher and Rollin King on 15 March 1967 as Air Southwest. In June of 1971 the name was changed to Southwest Airlines. At that time Southwest flew only between destinations within the state of Texas. It wasn’t until 1979 that Southwest began flying to destinations outside the state of Texas.

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Image via Southwest Airlines

Southwest Today

Today Southwest employs nearly 56,000 people and operates roughly 4,000 flights per day during the peak travel season. Southwest had turned a profit for 47 consecutive years until COVID pretty much wrecked everything having to do with travel. As of 2021 Southwest flies scheduled flights to 115 destinations in 40 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The airline exceeded 130 million passengers in 2019. Southwest does not use the hub and spoke system of other major airlines, preferring the point-to-point system, combined with a rolling hub model in its base cities. Here’s a look at the newest Southwest color jet, FreedomOne, uploaded to YouTube by Southwest Airlines.

[youtube id=”T_XgX3Sirrc” width=”800″ height=”454″ position=”left”]

The Equipment Roster

From 1979 to 1980 and from 1983 to 1985 Southwest it leased and operated a few Boeing 727-200s. But from their beginning to the present they’ve always operated the Boeing 737 series of jetliners. Southwest is indeed the largest operator of the Boeing 737 worldwide. This has some advantages, chief among them that the use of the 737 enables Southwest pilots and flight attendants to crew any aircraft in the fleet without restrictions. Southwest flight attendants are justly famous for their humorous safety announcements. Here’s an example uploaded to YouTube by Tamara Overby.

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Here’s another example of Southwest flight attendants and their zany antics uploaded to YouTube by Andrew Keeth.

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An Enviable Safety Record

While Southwest has experienced a number of mishaps over their 50 years of operation, including some involving passenger deaths, the airline has never lost an entire aircraft to a mishap- an enviable record. The video below was shot from a passenger’s perspective during a flight from DEN to MDW aboard a 737-8 Max and was uploaded to YouTube by Skylite Productions.

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Southwest flight attendants also provide some comic relief upon landing. Here’s an example uploaded to YouTube by Marty Cobb Smile High Club.

[youtube id=”95ebmmGA9zM” width=”800″ height=”454″ position=”left”]

Ocean City Boardwalk to Host Thunderbirds, F-22A Raptor

Charles Atkeison
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Ocean City Boardwalk to Host Thunderbirds, F-22A Raptor

OCEAN CITY, MD — The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and F-22A Raptor will take to the skies over the Boardwalk this weekend providing high speed maneuvers and excitement during the Ocean City Airshow.

Good weather is forecast Saturday and Sunday on the Maryland coast as top military and civilian aircraft perform. Airshow organizers have confirmed guests in watercraft can view the show from a Coast Guard safety zone.

The program will begin at 11:30 a.m., and include a formation jump by the SOCOMM Para-commandos as they present the United States flag. The world famous GEICO Skytypers and aerobatic pilot Mike Wiskus are also scheduled to perform.

Air Force Jets to Demonstrate High Speed Maneuvers

The Thunderbirds six F-16C Fighting Falcon jets will highlight the family friendly show each day. Unlike last August when the team performed over Ocean City, this year they have an entirely different show from the ground up.

They have added new maneuvers and trimmed away several redundant maneuvers. The new show highlights many sequences beginning with high vertical maneuvers.

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The Thunderbirds two solo pilots will max-perform the F-16C aircraft during the O.C. Airshow. (USAF)

“The best is to be on the air show line, feeling the thunder in your chest, hearing the jets roar by,” Thunderbirds leader Col. John Caldwell told this reporter. “Seeing the speed and motion and seeing the heights that this demo team can fly 18-inches apart for the American public.”

The Air Force F-22A Raptor is scheduled to perform each day as the fifth-generation stealth fighter is flown at low altitudes. Maj. Josh ‘Cabo’ Gunderson will pilot the F-22 through gravity defying maneuvers and high-speed passes over the beachline.

Air Force demonstrations include the A-10C Thunderbolt II, also known as the Warthog. A C-17 Globemaster III and a C-5M Super Galaxy are also scheduled to perform each day.

The pilots of the GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team fly World War II-era Navy SNJ-2 aircraft. Their maneuvers are the same flown by the pilots of America’s Greatest Generation 80 years ago.

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The GEICO Skytypers air show team’s six SNJ-2 aircraft break formation during a recent flight. (USAF)

“Our pilots deliver crowd-pleasing performances at every event we attend,” GEICO Skytypers lead solo pilot and show designer Steve Salmirs explained. “During 2020, we were able to refine elements of our demonstration. We’ve created the best series of maneuvers and formations we’ve ever assembled.”

The team’s low-level flying showcases over 20 different tactical maneuvers. A patriotic narration and music will echo across the beaches as they showcase living history.

Ocean City Airshow Beach and Watercraft Viewing

The aerobatic performance box is 2.5 miles long and lies over the Atlantic waters parallel with 33rd Street south to Talbot Street. Airshow center is between 16th and 15th streets.

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Ocean City Boardwalk to Host Thunderbirds, F-22A Raptor 7

Boaters can view the air show from an area east of the beachline. The U.S. Coast Guard has established a safety zone where boaters cannot enter each day.

Tickets remain on sale and are sold online only and not at the event. Restrooms and food and drink stations will be located near the ticketed viewing areas.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

Historic B-29 Superfortress ‘FiFi’, B-24 ‘Diamond Lil’ Touring U.S.

Charles Atkeison
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Historic B-29 Superfortress ‘FiFi’, B-24 ‘Diamond Lil’ Touring U.S.

ATLANTA — A rare B-29 Superfortress and an equally rare B-24 Liberator are currently traveling to select cities across the United States on display providing public tours and living history flights.

The Commemorative Air Force’s B-29A Superfortress known as FiFi and B-24 Liberator named Diamond Lil are currently touring public airports. These World War II-era aircraft are the last of their kind and have been cared for over the decades by the CAF.

The Boeing B-29 FiFi first flew in 1942, and today is one of only two B-29s still flying. The public can purchase breath taking flights aboard each aircraft during their visits.

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The B-24 ‘Diamond Lil’ prepares to taxi out on a public living history flight recently. (Charles A Atkeison)

Of the 18,482 B-24 Liberators built, Diamond Lil is the world’s oldest airworthy four-engine bomber. The aircraft is currently one of only two flying B-24s left in the world.

These flying museums allow the public an up close view of the historic aircraft and even visit inside. For the families of fallen World War II veterans, this tour has provided them a since of closure for those who never made it back home.

“We had a woman who’s dad was the B-29 pilot for Straight Flush, which was the lead weather B-29 for the dropping of the atomic bomb,” Boccaccio said. “So she flew in FiFi with us, she was very emotional, crying as she sat in the navigator’s seat.”

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‘FiFi’ is one of only two B-29 SuperFortresses still flying passengers today. (Charles A Atkeison)

The flight fee covers the great fuel consumption associated with the multi-engine, 77 year-old hulking B-29 aircraft. The 99-foot long heavy bomber is powered by four radial engines providing 2,200 hp each.

“FiFi costs us over 10 thousand dollars an hour to run”, CAF spokesperson Don Boccaccio noted. “It uses 400 gallons of gasoline an hour and 1.5 gallons of oil per engine an hour.” In other words, that’s six milk jugs of oil each hour.

In the movie The Right Stuff, FiFi served as the mothership for Chuck Yeager’s Bell X-1 aircraft. The Superfortress also appeared in 1980’s Enola Gay: The Men, The Mission, and the Atomic Bomb and an episode of the TV series Better Call Saul.

CAF B-29 and B-24 Squadron 2021 Tour Dates

June 10-13 ………. Trenton, NJ

June 16-20 ………. Westfield, MA

June 23-27 ………. Nashua, NH

Jun 30 – Jul 5 …… Niagara Falls, NY

July 8-11 …………. Pontiac, MI

July 14-18 ………. Chicago/Romeoville, IL

July 23-25 ………. Janesville, WI

Jul 28 – Aug 1 …. Rochester, MN

August 4-8 ……… Sioux Falls, SD

August 11-15 ….. Lincoln, NE

August 17 ……….. North Platte, NE

August 20-22 ….. Scottsbluff, NE

August 25-29 ….. Denver, CO

September 1-6 … Colorado Springs, CO

September 9-12 . Duncan, OK

October 1-3 …….. San Marcos, TX

October 16 …….. Fort Worth, TX

October 23 …….. Waco, TX

October 29-31 .. Wings Over Dallas Airshow

November 5-7 .. Blytheville, AR

November 13 … Dallas, TX

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

Air Force F-35A Demo Pilot Motivates Civil Air Patrol Cadets

Charles Atkeison
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Air Force F-35A Demo Pilot Motivates Civil Air Patrol Cadets

ATLANTA — The only female commander of a U.S. Air Force demonstration squadron reached out to the cadets of the Civil Air Patrol on Thursday to inspire and motivate the future of America’s military.

Maj. Kristin “Beo” Wolfe, commander and pilot of the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team, spoke to the teenagers via video conference. The CAP cadets of Forsyth County hope to follow in the footsteps of officers such as Wolfe with a career in the military.

The Civil Air Patrol is an extension of the Air Force, providing communities with volunteer services including search and rescue. CAP also offers support during natural disasters and provides humanitarian services.

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Civil Air Patrol cadet Eliza Vega poses a question for Maj. BEO Wolfe on Thursday. (Charles A Atkeison)

“Major Wolfe is kind and down to Earth,” Eliza Vega, CAP Cadet Senior Airman, said following the conference. “She has inspired me to achieve my goals no matter what obstacles I might face.”

Maj. Wolfe opened with an informative slideshow presentation, providing a wealth of information for the teens. Several of the cadets had watched her perform at the Atlanta Airshow in May and were in awe of her flying capabilities.

“The tactical pitch is one of my favorite maneuvers,” Maj. Wolfe told a group of 25 cadets. “It’s pretty impressive to see an airplane sliding away from the crowd, plus the inverted passes are a favorite, too.”

Vega and her family attended the Atlanta Airshow featuring the F-35A Demo Team. Eliza and her sister Juli – herself a cadet – were excited to learn that a female was piloting the stealth fighter during the air show.

As the military’s first female single-ship aerial demonstration pilot, Maj. Wolfe discussed how she has worked to earn her position. Beo offered advice for college and the leap into the military’s Officer Training School.

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Maj. Wolfe details the $400K F-35A pilot’s helmet during her video conference. (Charles A Atkeison)

“Do your best in everything you are doing – that’s for anybody out there,” Maj. Wolfe added. “Try to be a well-rounded individual doing things you are interested in whether it’s volunteering or sports, and maintain a good GPA.”

Wolfe graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. A few weeks later, she began training as a pilot in the Air Force, earning her silver wings in 2012.

She served as pilot of the F-22A Raptor, and three years later, transitioned to the F-35A. Maj. Wolfe has has logged nearly 1,000 total fighter jet hours in the two fifth-generation aircraft.

When she’s not flying, Wolfe enjoys water skiing and hiking in the mountains of the mid west.

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Maj. Kristin Wolfe pilots the F-35A Lightning II at Hill Air Force Base, Utah in May. (USAF/Capt. Kip Sumner)

“I was impressed with the design of the F-35 helmet,” Cadet Ian Bowen said. “I enjoyed hearing about the maneuvers that set the three different F-35s apart.”

The F-35A Demo Team is made up of its pilot and several support personnel, including aircraft maintainers and logistics. Based at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, the squadron travels to select air show sites each year.

Air shows and public outreach allow the team to recruit, engage, and inspire the next generation of Airmen. In addition, they showcase the professionalism and excellence of the Air Force.

“I want to spread the word that any minority out there can be a pilot,” Maj. Wolfe explained. “The airplane does not know who’s flying it, it responds to inputs.”

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

Air Force Thunderbirds to Headline Great Tennessee Airshow

Charles Atkeison
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Air Force Thunderbirds to Headline Great Tennessee Airshow

SMYRNA, Tenn. — The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy’s F-35C Lightning II will join top civilian aerobatic aircraft this weekend performing at The Great Tennessee Airshow.

The Thunderbirds return to middle Tennessee for the first time in ten years on June 5 and 6. The squadron’s six F-16C Fighting Falcon jets demonstrate high speed passes and dynamic maneuvers each afternoon.

Lead by commander Col. John Caldwell, the Thunderbirds new season is highlighted by an entirely different performance from previous years. Air show guests will witness their new ground show and aerial maneuvers over Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport.

“We are very excited about the changes we have made to our show and ground performance,” Col. Caldwell explained on Monday. “One of our main goals was to take a look at our show sequence and enhance the design with the crowd experience in mind.”

The Thunderbirds added two new maneuvers to their thirty-minute demonstration. Every show will see the Low Bomb Burst with Hit; and during the six-ship low and flat shows is the Stinger Cross Break.

“The crowd will feel the thunder in their chest by hearing the jets roar, seeing the speed, seeing the motion, and seeing the precision of our team while flying 18-inches apart,” Col. Caldwell added.

U.S. Navy’s Newest Fighter Jets to Perform

Two of the Navy’s flight demonstration teams are also slated to perform, the EA-18G Growler and the F-35C Lightning II. A flyover of Nashville by the two teams is planned for Thursday.

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Two U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers perform over Melbourne, Florida in April 2021. (Charles A Atkeison)

The Navy’s EA-18G Growler jets, a newer variant of the F/A-18 Hornet, are scheduled to perform each day. Expect two Growlers to perform together on Saturday and Sunday.

Two of the Navy’s F-35Cs will take to the skies to perform a 15 minute demonstration. The fifth-generation stealth fighters will also fly in formation with an F4U-4 Corsair for the Navy’s Legacy Flight.

“Our squadron is an F-35C training squadron at NAS Lemoore and our mission is to train warfighters to go out to the fleet,” Navy Lt. Dave “Strokes” Hinkle explained to AvGeekery.com. “We find holes in our training schedule to attend air shows like The Great Tennessee Airshow.”

Air show guests can get up close with several of today’s aircraft on display. The Knoxville Guard’s KC-135, a Memphis Guard C-17, a V-22 Osprey, and a T-38 are just a few of the static aircraft.

Flight line and box seat ticket packages are sold online only and will not be sold at the gate. The air show will is a reduced-capacity event due to COVID, and no general admission tickets will be sold.

“While many other major events in the region have either canceled or postponed due to COVID, we are thrilled with our decision to move forward and present such a top-rate air show that aviation fans have come to expect here,” John Black, executive director of the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority said.

Gates will open at 8 a.m. and the opening ceremonies are expected to begin at 11:30 a.m.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

B-17 ‘Texas Raiders’, Vintage Aircraft Touring Southern Airports

Charles Atkeison
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B-17 ‘Texas Raiders’, Vintage Aircraft Touring Southern Airports

ATLANTA — The iconic sound of a B-17 Flying Fortress will echo across airports in the southeast as she joins several vintage aircraft during a current public tour by the Commemorative Air Force.

A historic B-17G known as Texas Raiders and fellow World War II-era aircraft are visiting airports to allow the pubic an up close view. Several aircraft are even available for the public to take a living history flight of their own.

Upcoming airport visits include Rome, Georgia; Mobile, Alabama; Houston and Tyler, Texas. The squadron of aircraft have recently completed visits in Florida and Atlanta.

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The B-17 Texas Raiders soars during take-off from Atlanta’s Cobb County Airport in May 2021. (Atkeison)

“The public is welcome to drive in for our Warbird Expo with three of our vintage World War II aircraft from the CAF on the ground,” Nancy Kwiecien, executive officer of the Commemorative Air Force’s Gulf Coast Wing, said. “We will be doing cockpit tours of the B-17, ground tours of the other aircraft, and public flights.”

‘Texas Raiders’ One of Only Four B-17s Still Flying

The Boeing-built B-17 Texas Raiders is one of only four flight worthy aircraft today. Construction was completed on the aircraft in July 1945, as one of the last built at the Long Beach, California plant.

During World War II, a B-17 was flown with a crew of ten. Powered by four Wright Cyclone nine-cylinder radial engines, the long range heavy bomber was used during every theater of combat.

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tours inside the B-17 and flights aboard the historic warbird are available to the Public. (Atkeison)

For Nancy, touring and promotion of the B-17 Flying Fortress is a heartfelt tribute to those who had served aboard them. Her Uncle Ken served aboard a B-17 during a monumental time for the Allies in the European theater.

“I was inspired to join CAF as I have an uncle who was a tail gunner on a B-17 in World War II,” she explained. “He flew across the English Channel on D-Day. I am very interested in the history and in the veteran’s stories.”

Beginning in June 1943, Allied Command used every surviving B-17 to bomb Hitler’s Europe. These aircraft helped bring a speedy end to the Axis domination across Europe.

“Eight years with the B-17 and I’m still inspired by the sight of her in the air,” Nancy added with a proud smile. “The Texas Raiders is gorgeous in the air and just a beautiful piece of art when she flies.”

A Beech JRB-6 nicknamed Little Raider was constructed in 1947 at the Beechcraft Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas. Two Pratt & Whitney radial engines provide a combined 900 hp.

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A Beech 18 known as Little Raider prepares for a public passenger flight on May 27, 2021. (Atkeison)

The aircraft served in the U.S. Army Air Force and the Navy during the Second World War. The Beech model 18 was designated as a C-45 Expeditor and a AT-7 Navigator by the Army Air Force. The Navy gave it several names, including the UC-45J Navigator.

Another aircraft touring with the B-17 is the North American SNJ-5. The tandem-seat trainer was known as The Pilot Maker, and prepared new aviators for air combat in the skies over Europe and the Pacific.

The SNJ is the Navy variant of the Army’s T-6 Texan or Europe’s Harvard. The aircraft is also a popular face at air shows around the globe.

CAF Gulf Coast Wing 2021 Tour:

Rome, GA: Richard Russell Regional Airport – May 28-31

Mobile, AL: Mobile Downtown Airport – June 1-3

Conroe, TX: Conroe North Houston Regional Airport – June 12 only

Houston, TX: Lone Star Flight Museum Ellington Field – June 19-20

Tyler, TX: Thunder Over Cedar Creek Airshow – July 1-4

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

Atlanta Airshow to Host Air Force and Navy Jets this Weekend

Charles Atkeison
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Atlanta Airshow to Host Air Force and Navy Jets this Weekend

ATLANTA — The first air show of the year in the middle south is this weekend as military jets and civilian aerobatics highlight the Atlanta Airshow in Peachtree City.

The U.S. Air Force F-35A and the Navy’s F-35C Lightning II jets will provide the thrust and high speed maneuvers on May 22 and 23. Civilian aerobatics include the Full-Throttle Formation Team and pilot Buck Roetman over Falcon Field.

Air show officials confirmed this week the addition of the Alabama Air National Guard’s F-16C Fighting Falcon to the line up. The F-16C Airfield Assault Demo is based at the 187th Fighter Wing near Montgomery.

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An Air Force F-35A Lightning II arrives at Dobbins ARB, Atlanta FRiday afternoon PILOTED BY MAJ. KRISTIN “Beo” WOLFE. (Charles A Atkeison)

The public can also get an up close view of several warbirds located on static display. A P-51 Mustang and a B-17 Flying Fortress are just a few of the World War II-era aircraft on hand.

First Airshow Featuring Two Flying F-35 Variants

The two F-35 demonstration teams arrived into Dobbins Air Reserve Base near Atlanta a day before the show. The Atlanta Airshow will mark the first time the public will see full demonstrations of the F-35A and the F-35C during one air show.

“I always liked the inverted pass just because it’s weird as a pilot to be 300-feet off the ground and inverted looking at the tree tops,” F-35A Demo pilot Maj. Kristin “Beo” Wolfe told AvGeekery.com from the Dobbins ARB flight line. “I always liked the crowd pleasers like the tactical pitch at the end of the demo.”

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The 2021 F-35A Demo Team featuring commander and pilot Maj. Krisitn Wolfe (center). (Charles A Atkeison)

Maj. Wolfe commands the F-35A Demonstration Team based at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. Her father is a retired Air Force F-15C Eagle pilot and attended Stone Mountain High near Atlanta. Her family resides in the Georgia area.

For the pilots of the Navy’s F-35, their air show season will occur on days when they are not teaching future pilots. LT Dave Hinkle and LT Joe Calvi are each F-35C instructional pilots based at NAS Lemoore in California.

“Our squadron at Lemoore is an F-35C training squadron and we fill holes in our schedule to attend air shows,” LT Hinkle of Lemoore’s VFA-125 told AvGeekery on Friday. “Our mission is to train warfighters to get out to the fleet.”

Each jet team will also perform a patriotic tribute to the historic past of their branch of service.

The Air Force Heritage Flight will see the F-35A fly alongside an P-51D Mustang aircraft. The F-35C will fly with a historic F4U-4 Corsair during the Navy’s Legacy Flight.

Each jet aircraft demo team are being housed at Dobbins ARB this week. Located northwest of Atlanta, the air base has a strong history in supporting the military’s visiting aircraft.

“We are really proud to host these aircraft,” Dobbins ARB spokesperson 1st Lt. Alan Abernathy said. “The metro-Atlanta community is a strong supporter of Dobbins ARB; and we are happy to bring these aircraft here for an air show showcasing aviation and military aircraft.”

One of only ten flight worthy B-17 Flying Fortresses is scheduled to perform during the show. Air show guests can reserve a flight aboard the B-17 Texas Raiders for Saturday and Sunday for a truly historic ride.

Gates open at 9 a.m. each day with the opening ceremonies at 11:30 a.m. Single tickets and ticket packages remain available online and will not be sold at the gate.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

WATCH: Just a Car Guy Calling “Car Talk” for Some Advice

Bill Walton
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WATCH: Just a Car Guy Calling “Car Talk” for Some Advice

Only This Car Guy is Driving a Rockwell “Van” Doing About 17K Miles Per Hour

Astronaut John Mace Grunsfeld crewed on five Space Shuttle missions. He became NASA’s Chief Scientist. After he retired from NASA (the first time) he became an accomplished mountaineer and served as deputy director of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. He later returned to NASA serving as associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD). Grunsfeld is also a tinkerer- he’s a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). He even has a passion for classic cars. Listen as Grunsfeld calls a couple of “Car Guys” from a very remote location to get their help with his current ride- a “Government van.” The video was uploaded to YouTube by 0do0m.

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NASA Career Begins and the Call is Made

Grunsfeld’s career with NASA began in 1992 when he was selected as an astronaut candidate. His first Shuttle flight was as a Mission Specialist for STS-67/Astro-2 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour (2 March – 18 March 1995). March 2–18, 1995). This was one of the few Shuttle missions to recover at Edwards AFB in California. His next Shuttle flight was as Flight Engineer for STS-81 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis (12 January – 22 January 1997). This mission was the fifth to dock with the Russian Mir space station. It was during this mission that Grunsfeld made his call to Car Talk via a relay from Mir to a TDRS satellite.

Hubble 2009 close up
Image via NASA

Servicing Hubble

Grunsfeld’s next mission was as a Mission Specialist for STS-103 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery (19 December – 27 December 1999). This mission was essentially a Hubble Space Telescope (HST) servicing flight which resulted in upgraded systems aboard the HST. Grunsfeld next returned to space as Payload Commander for STS-109 aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia (1 March – 12 March 2002). This was another HST servicing mission undertaken to install new cameras, solar arrays, and power systems. Here’s a video with Grunsfeld talking about his Hubble experiences uploaded to YouTube by Spaceflightnow.

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image via nasa

Space Mechanics

Grunsfeld’s final space shot was as payload commander for STS-125 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis (11 May  – 24 May 2009). This was the fifth and final servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope. The HST received replacement components and new sensors. This was another instance of a Space Shuttle mission recovering at Edwards- and resulted in another call to Car Talk. John Grunsfeld logged more than 58 total days in space during his five Space Shuttle missions, 58 hours and 30 minutes of which was spent performing eight “space walks.” Here’s a video of John speaking about the HST uploaded to YouTube by PSW Science.

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image via nasa

Blue Angels Super Hornets Arrive on Florida’s Space Coast

Charles Atkeison
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Blue Angels Super Hornets Arrive on Florida’s Space Coast

MELBOURNE, Fla. — The Super Hornets of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels arrived on Florida’s Space Coast on Thursday ready to perform this weekend during The Great Florida Airshow.

The Blue Angels will headline a very busy air show which will include an Air Force F-16C Viper and a Navy EA-18G Growler. Several of America’s top aerobatic pilots are also scheduled to perform over Orlando-Melbourne International Airport on May 15 and 16.

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The Blue Angels arrive into Melbourne on Thursday for the Great Florida Airshow. (Charles A Atkeison)

Six blue and gold F/A-18E Super Hornets touched down at Orlando-Melbourne at 10 a.m. EDT. Prior to landing, the jets performed a smoke-on flyover aligned in their popular delta formation.

There to greet the jets was the Blue Angels equipment and personnel transport known as Fat Albert. The four-prop hulking aircraft is a C-130J Super Hercules piloted and maintained by an all-Marine crew.

“We are looking forward to celebrating with the city of Melbourne an air show over an awesome city,” Blue Angels left wing pilot Maj. Frank Zastoupil told AvGeekery.com on Thursday. “We are excited to have the chance to be back to support the community.”

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The U.S. Navy Blue Angels jets arrive over Orlando-Melbourne Airport on Thursday. (Charles A Atkeison)

The Blue Angels jets returned to the air at noon to perform a few practice flights and familiarize themselves with the area. This is the squadron’s first visit to Melbourne in six years.

Each pilot typically appreciates a certain flight maneuver during their show. Their 45-minute flight demonstration provides thrilling low passes and high speed turns.

“I really like the low-break cross,” Maj. Zastoupil explained. “That is a maneuver when the diamond comes from behind the crowd. We then break out in four separate directions, cross in front of the crowd and then comeback and meet at center point, and then do two max afterburner turns right in front.”

AO1 Joseph Noffsinger serves as the crew chief of Maj. Zastoupil’s number 3 jet. He is responsible for the preflight care and final checks of the aircraft prior to its flight.

“It’s a big responsibility. I’m responsible for Maj. Zastoupil’s well being in the seat and the overall integrity of the aircraft,” Noffsinger said. “Almost everyday is a fun time as I enjoy working on the aircraft.”

Individual tickets and ticket packages are available online only and are not sold at the gate. Gates open at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and air show officials asks the public to arrive early as general parking near the airport for free and limited.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

WATCH: A Festival of A-10 Warthogs Delivering the BRRRRT

Bill Walton
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WATCH: A Festival of A-10 Warthogs Delivering the BRRRRT

This Group of Warthog Videos Will Warm the Hearts of A-10 Fans Everywhere

It’s no secret we love Warthogs here at Avgeekery. This group of A-10 Thunderbolt II videos contains all kinds of footage. Some was shot on ranges Warthogs were beating up. Some was shot in combat by troops in contact- some of whom were saved by those same Warthogs. But there’s one common denominator: BRRRRRT! So enjoy the action!

Video 1

This video was uploaded to YouTube by Rndm Compilation.

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Video 2

This video was uploaded to YouTube by LoveWarthogs.

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Video 3

This video was uploaded to YouTube by Military Machine.

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Video 4

This video was uploaded to YouTube by WarLeaks.

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Video 5

This video was uploaded to YouTube by The Real Deal.

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Great Florida Airshow to Host Blue Angels, F-16 Viper Demo

Charles Atkeison
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Great Florida Airshow to Host Blue Angels, F-16 Viper Demo

MELBOURNE, Fla. — The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force F-16C Viper are scheduled to headline the return of the Great Florida Airshow this weekend.

The family-fun event will feature top military and civilian performers over the Orlando-Melbourne International Airport. The public can also get up close with several static aircraft displays including a C-130 Hurricane Hunter.

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The Blue Angels C-130J Super Hercules Fat Albert during an air show visit in April 2021. (Charles A Atkeison)

Gates will open at 8 a.m. on May 15 and 16, and nearby parking is free. All single tickets and ticket packages are available only online and are not sold at the gate.

Blue Angels: ‘This is Gonna be a Gigantic Year’

Celebrating their 75th anniversary season, the Blue Angels six jets are scheduled to arrive on Thursday to prepare for the two-day show. The team’s new C-130J Super Hercules known as Fat Albert will arrive loaded with equipment and personnel to support the flight demonstrations.

“This is gonna be a gigantic year with the brand new Super Hornets and the C-130J,” Blue Angels executive officer and Navy commander Todd Royles told AvGeekery.com. “What a major milestone of 75 years of this historic, and just a national treasure of an organization.”

The Great Florida Airshow is the Blue Angels fourth scheduled show site of the year. Their Super Hornet jets are 30% larger than their previous legacy Hornet jets.

“With the Super Hornet, it’s a bigger jet so we have a little more power and little more thrust,” Blue Angels opposing solo pilot Lt. Cary Rickoff explained to AvGeekery.com. “Guests can expect the same Blue Angels maneuvers and precision that they are use to.

Rickoff added, “The delta (formation) will be bigger and so it will block out the Sun a little more.”

High speed passes and dizzying cork screw turns will highlight the maneuvers of the F-16C Viper each day. Led by pilot Maj. Garret “Toro” Schmitz, the Viper Demonstration Team

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Air Force Maj. Garret Schmitz will pilot the F-16C Viper over Melbourne Airport on May 15 & 16. (USAF)

“Support the air show community,” Maj. Schmitz told this reporter. “People putting on crazy shows, and performers doing crazy aerobatics — crazier than I do!”

In addition to the military’s current aircraft, the nation’s top civilian aerobatic pilots will showcase their flying skills. Pilots Rob Holland, Scott “Scooter” Yoak, and Mike Goulian are just a few scheduled to perform over the airfield.

Guests of all ages can learn more about the U.S. military with select virtual reality displays. The Air Force Experience and the Navy SEAL’s Nimitz mission simulation are scheduled to attend the show.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

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