As our 14th year of airshow coverage comes to a close, we’re taking a look back at another awesome season of aviation and airshows! These are our 12 favorite videos from 2019:
Red Arrows in the USA!
The RAF Red Arrows made a very rare trip across the Atlantic to perform in the US and Canada, giving many fans a chance to see them for the first time!
Corsair Crazy at Thunder Over Michigan
Thunder Over Michigan has long been one of the premiere warbird airshows in the US, and in 2019 they gathered a staggering 11 F4U Corsairs together.
A cockpit view of the PACAF Viper Demo
The Japan-based PACAF F-16 Demonstration Team is maybe a bit obscure to fans in the continental US, but they’re an awesome outfit. The team’s pilot “Primo” helped us get several amazing videos from inside his cockpit throughout the year. This one has caught particular attention as it showcases the intense G forces Primo endures while rocketing around in the F-16!
Stealth fighters toying with the traffic pattern – and our eardrums
What do a group of fighter jets do when they’ve got gas to burn and clear airspace on a beautiful evening? RIP. IT. UP. The US Air Force F-22 Raptor and F-35 demonstration teams showed no mercy during this series of low approach flybys at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. The best part? We’ve got even more video that hasn’t been published yet – subscribe to our channel to catch it!
Fighter jets racing through the famous Star Wars Canyon
We paid our first visit to Star Wars Canyon in March, where we caught F-18s and F-16s ripping through the low level “Jedi Transition” training run.
Blue Angels at the end of the runway
Although high winds denied us the legendary ‘hay bales’ shot of F-18s just feet overhead, it is always a treat to watch the Blue Angels from the end of the runway. We caught two full performances during their winter training period prior to the start of the season.
F-35 Lightning II makes its own clouds to hide in
Situated on the shore of Lake Erie, it’s no shock that the Cleveland National Airshow features lots of coveted vapor cones. Combine that with a vapor-machine like the F-35 and you get some of the best vapor we’ve even seen! This video is also special as it is the first season for the full F-35 demonstration profile, which we first saw at the Heritage Flight Conference in March.
XP-82 Twin Mustang cockpit cam
The world’s only flying XP-82 Twin Mustang was undoubtedly a star of the year, and we got a front row seat when our camera went for a flight in the second (empty) cockpit during EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. Watch the control surfaces move as Ray Fowler pilots this unique gem through the skies. Want more? Check out the view from the ground!
Raw airpower on display at Nellis AFB
Aerobatic performances are great, but nothing displays the raw power of the US Air Force like a more realistic Combined Arms Demonstration. This low level simulated war combined eleven jets, two helicopters, and dozens of flares into one jaw-dropping spectacle at Nellis AFB.
Legendary fighters flown like you’ve never seen before
The Mustang and the Spitfire are both among the most iconic aircraft ever produced, and we were lucky to see them flown through graceful, low-level aerobatic routines at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh.
Vintage Soviet fighter plus sunset equals beautiful
Randy Ball can fly the wings off of his MiG-17s, but combine the flickering afterburner with a setting sun and orange/pink/purple sky (and a wall of fire!) and you get one of the most beautiful scenes we’ve ever filmed.
Thunderous Merlin music from eighteen P-51s
One of the primary themes for EAA AirVenture 2019 was “Year of the Fighter”, including a tribute to World War II triple ace and P-51 Mustang pilot Col. Bud Anderson. Eighteen P-51s, including a rare P-51H, roared into the sky during the Thursday airshow. You’ve never heard Merlins make music like this!
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Looking for an airshow to attend in 2020? Check out our airshow and aviation event calendar to find events near you!
john jusko
Great series of airshow videos and i love all of it.