AirshowStuff Forums

I thank everyone for taking the time to read this post.
My husband is turning 40 next year and he is plane mad. I was thinking about surprising him by booking a vacation so we could visit American and more importantly so he could visit an airshow.

I would be grateful if anyone could recommend which are the best shows to visit.

He has always wanted to see the Blue angels or Thunderbirds

Thanks again in advance

Here's a list of shows for next year that are worth checking out.

1. Luke AFB, Glendale, Arizona [March 19th - 20th] featuring the USAF Thunderbirds
2. MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida [March 26th - 27th] featuring the US Navy Blue Angels
3. Shaw AFB, Sumter South Carolina [April 2nd - 3rd] featuring the USAF Thuderbirds and USAF F-16 Viper Demo Team
4. Lakeland Lindor Regional Airport, Lakeland, Florida [April 5th - 10th] featuring the USAF Thunderbirds (9th - 10th)
5. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (McGuire AFB), Wrightstown, New Jersey [May 7th-8th] featuring the US Navy Blue Angels
6. March ARB, Riverside, California [May 14th - 15th] featuring the USAF Thunderbirds
7. Dover AFB, Dover, Delaware [May 21st - 22nd] featuring the USAF Thunderbirds
8. Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh, New York [May 28th - 29th] featuring the US Navy Blue Angels
9. Hill AFB, Ogden, Utah [June 25th - 26th] featuring the USAF Thunderbirds and USAF F-35A Lightning II Demo Team
10. Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan [July 16th - 17th] featuring the US Navy Blue Angels
11. Dayton International Airport, Dayton, Ohio [July 30th - 31st] featuring the US Navy Blue Angels
12. Chicago, Illinois [August 20th - 21st] featuring the USAF Thunderbirds
13. Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio [September 3rd - 5th] featuring the US Navy Blue Angels
14. Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland [September 10th - 11th] featuring the USAF Thunderbirds
15. NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, Virginia [September 17th - 18th] featuring the US Navy Blue Angels
16. Joint Base Andrews, Camp Springs, Maryland [September 17th - 18th] featuring the USAF Thunderbirds
17. MCAS Miramar, San Diego, California [September 24th - 25th] featuring the US Navy Blue Angels
18. Huntington Beach, California [October 1st - 2nd] featuring the USAF Thunderbirds
19. NAS Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida [October 22nd - 23rd] featuring the US Navy Blue Angels
20. Ellington Field, Houston, Texas [October 29th - 30th] featuring the US Navy Blue Angels
21. Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada [November 5th - 6th] featuring the USAF Thunderbirds
22. NAS Pensacola, Pensacola, Florida [November 10th - 11th] featuring the US Navy Blue Angels

Does he like military jets? historic military aircraft ("warbirds")? Certain shows are better than others.

Is there a particular area of the US you want to visit at the same time?

IT would be a lot of driving but you can see both the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels the weekend of September 17th -18th at NAS Oceana and Joint Base Andrews. They are around 4 hours drive from each other, I have done it myself makes for a long weekend but is very doable.

With 2022 being the USAF 75th Anniversary, I would expect big things from the Nellis show in November. They skipped a year to align their show with the Anniversary and if they even come close to the 50th Anniversary show in 1997 it will be one not to miss. And you have the bonus of having Las Vegas right next door.

Going to either the Dayton Airshow in Dayton, Ohio or the Blue Angels Homecoming Airshow in Pensacola, Florida gives you the bonus of visiting an aviation museum. Located on the base of NAS Pensacola, which is the home of the Blue Angels, is the National Naval Aviation Museum and the National Museum of the US Air Force is an 18 - 23 minute drive from Dayton International Airport. Both are great museums.

If your husband really likes warbirds, I recommend checking out the Planes of Fame Airshow. However if he likes jets I recommend going to places like Nellis AFB for their Airshow as it’s also the Air Forces 75th anniversary.

Head to Wisconsin from July 23-31. Milwaukee will host the Blue angels and F22 demo team among others July 23-24. Then, July 25-31 is the Mecca of all airshows; Oshkosh Airventure. 10,000 aircraft, 9 airshows, 7 days, any aviation enthusiasts DREAM.