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The 2014 Air Show roared back into Cleveland on Labor Day Weekend…and featured the U.S. Navy Blue Angels!  Other performers included a civilian owned British Aerospace Sea Harrier, Jet Waco Screamin’ Sasquatch and Tin Stix of Dynamite with was an amazing mix of jaw-dropping aerobatics with pyrotechnics.  WWII Warbirds included a B-25 Mitchell Bomber “Yankee Warrior”, B-17 Flying Fortress “Yankee Lady” and a beautifully restored TBM Avenger.  Cleveland was one of the first air shows in the country to have a drone demonstration along with a drone display by Dronewerx.  And spectators were also entertained by a U.S. Navy Rock Band and the U.S. Air Force Drill Team.  Due to the impact of Federal Government Sequestration budget cuts on the Department of Defense military single ship tactical demonstrations and military static displays were not available to public air shows.

The 2013 Air Show was canceled due to the impact of Federal Government Sequestration budget cuts on Department of Defense and Aerospace Industry support of public air shows. Planning and preperation proceeded for the 2014 Cleveland National Air Show featured the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

The 2012 Air Show featured the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and commemorated the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. Cleveland experienced heavy rains Saturday night into Sunday morning which forced the closing of the air show parking lot due to muddy conditions. The Blues flew Sunday but folks were invited back on Monday to view the show as General Admission patrons. The Bicentennial of the War of 1812 brought some unique features to the 2013 Air Show including a rare appearane of the U.S. Navy SEALS Leap Frogs Parachute Team on Saturday plus a “Pass-in-Review” of U.S. and Canadian Ships on Sunday. Cleveland was also one of 20 cities selected to host a Navy Week leading up to the Air Show which included ships in port. History was also made when the Canadian CF-18 performed in two countries on the same day…at the Cleveland National Air Show and the Toronto Air Show. This may sound easy for a supersonic jet, but the idea posed a myraid of logistical issues: weather, timing, and coordination among numerious government agencies. Not to mention the biggest issue: how fuel the hornet. That’s where a CC-130 tanker came into play. After the CF-18 performed its demo in Cleveland…it refueled mid-air en route to Canada…then perfomered for fans at the Toronto Air Show.

The 2011 Air Show was Gravity Defying Fun with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. The weekend was a wild weather ride with temperatures on Saturday in the 90s and dipping to the fifties on Monday. But everyone flew and fans saw a terric show. The Air Force represenation was second to none and included the A-10 Demo, F-4 Phantom and P-51 Mustang. Other military included the F/A-18 Hornet Demo, Golden Knights, Canadian Forces CP-140 Aurora flby and USMC MV-22 Osprey on static. Cleveland fans were treated to a laundry list of first time appearances including extreme aerobatics by Jason Newburg, Kenty Pietsch Jelly Belly Extreme Comedy Act and RV Top Landing, Jim Maroney flying the Super Chipmunk and School Time Jet Bus…the world’s first jet-powered school bus. The Cleveland National Air Show also hosted the CAF Red Tail Squadran Rise Above Traveling Exhibit. The RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit is one-of-a-kind…housed in a 53′ long customized trailer with sides that slide out to create a 30-seat climate-controlled movie theater with a 180-degree screen. The exciting original movie, “RISE ABOVE”, is about the Tuskegee Airman.

The 2010 Air Show featured the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and some rain on Saturday. The Blues flew but folks were invited back on Sunday or Monday to view the show as General Admission patrons…and what a show they saw. Military participation included the F/A-18F Super Hornet Demo (with a FU4-Corsair Legacy Flight), F-15 Strike Eagle Demo, C-17 Globemaster Demo and U.S. Army Golden Knights. The Red Eagles two-ship aerobatic team made their first Cleveland appearance and long time air show performers Gene Soucy/Teresa Stokes also appeared. WWII was represented with the B-17 Flying Fortress “Yankee Lady” and TORA 101. Plus lots of smoke/fire from Shockwave Jet Truck and Pyrotechnics. Unique ground displays included the FAA’s vintage DC3 N34. Cleveland was also one of 20 cities selected to host a Navy Week leading up to the Air Show giving area residents an opportunity to meet some of the Navy’s Sailors and learn about the Navy’s critical mission and its broad-ranging capabilities.

The 2009 Air Show was filled with lots of Roaring, Soaring, Fun featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Marine Corp AV-8B Harrier Demo. The “Harrier” performed each event day and a second “Harrier” was on static display. The Cleveland National Air Show was one of only 14 show sites to recieve the coveted 2009 “Harrier” demo. The 2009 show included first time appearances of Skip Stewart in his high-energy gyroscopic muscle bi-plane, Pirated Skies – Franklin’s Flying Circus and duel announcers Danny Clisham/Rob Reider. The U.S. Army Golden Knights celebrated their 50th Anniversary and further military performances included the Army’s AH-46 Apache, F-15E Strike Eagle, A-10 Thunderbolt, Heritage Flight with P-51 Mustang, Coast Guard HH-65C Dolphin, C-130 and KC-135 flyby. And also for the first time, the Navy’s E-6B Mercury was on static display. The E-6B Mercury enables the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense to directly contact submarines, bombers and missile silos protecting our national security through nuclear deterrence. Due to rain and poor visibility, the Thunderbirds did not perform on Monday.

Another beautiful weekend! Sunny skies and a comfortable breeze provided strong crowds. The 2008 Air Show featured the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and celebrated NASA’s 50th Anniversary. NASA Glenn Research Center was front and center with an expanded display that included hands-on activities and digital learning stations packed into its Journey to Tomorrow trailer, plus the Aerospace Enviromental Bus and photos opportunities along with the S-3 Viking and T-34. Astronauts from Ohio also attended the Air Show and fans were able to meet them and obtain autographs. NASA hosted a Black Tie Gala on Friday eveing of the Air Show weekend where over 17 Ohio Astronauts were honored. The Air Show’s military flying line-up included the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Super Hornet, World War II ara P-51 Mustang, F4U-5 Corsair and B-17 Yankee Lady. And some of the best civilan pilots performed including Nikolay Timofeev, Sean D. Tucker and his son, Eric Tucker, John Mohr, Red Star and Dragon dogfight and Bob Carlton in the world’s only twin-engine sailplane. And for the first time…3 of the world’s largest planes were on static display; C-5, C-17 and KC-135.

What a beautiful weekend! Sunny skies and a comfortable breeze provided strong crowds. The 2007 Cleveland National Air Show featured the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the U.S. Air Force. Appearing for the first time in Cleveland was Major Nicole Malachowski in the #3 right wing position, the first female demonstration pilot on a U.S. military high performance jet team. She has been with the Thunderbirds since 2006. Joining the team in 2007 was Captain Samantha Weeks in the #6 opposing solo position, the second female Thunderbird aviator. Other female Thunderbird officers included Captain Amy Glisson, Thunderbird #10, executive officer; and Captain Amy Kreft, Thunderbird #12, the team’s public affairs officer. Women have served in the Thunderbirds since 1974 but not in a pilot capacity until 2006. As a recap of the weekend, the 2007 Air Show also included the first Cleveland appearance the F-15E Strike Eagle Demo and U.S. Army Sky Soldiers Helicopter Team. Not to be missed were the F/A-18F Super Hornet Demo and both the U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight along with the U.S. Navy Legacy Flight. Sean D. Tucker, Julie Clark and John Klatt provided a change of pace along with a very unique demonstration by the C-17 Globemaster. On the ground, spectators experienced Shockwave Jet Truck, Jay Jay the Jet Plane, the Euclid Beach Rocket Car, static display planes, interactive exhibits including the Virtual Army Experience, JVC High Definition Tour and NASA Glenn. To the fans delight, the improved Souvenir Program returned with trading cards and a Thunderbird poster.

Cleveland ‘s 2006 edition of the annual aerial extravaganza recognized the 60th Anniversary of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. “2006 was a special year to host the Blue Angels,” said Air Show Executive Director Chuck Newcomb, “the Blue Angels performed at the National Air Races in Cleveland during their inaugural 1946 demonstration season and so it was fitting they return to Cleveland for their historic 60 th Anniversary.” Despite Saturday’s frequent rain showers the U.S. Navy Blue Angels performed and brave spectators were treated to the Blue’s flat show. As the weather improved over the weekend strong crowds prevailed and the event was a success. The 2006 Air Show also included a one day “fly-by” of the F-22 Raptor and was the first “sneak-peek” of this aircraft in Cleveland. Other fly-bys included the B-1B and F-117 Stealth, while an A-10 Warthog and C-130 Hercules demonstrated their capabilities along with two of the world’s most historic military jet trainers, the Red Knight Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star and Polish Iskra. On the ground, fans experienced Shockwave Jet Truck, the Wall of Fire, more than 50 aircraft, interactive exhibits and high-tech simulators along with an improved Souvenir Program with trading cards and a Blue Angels poster plus a jumbo TV screen with up-close looks at pilots and their planes.

Strong crowds, near perfect weather and a fantastic act line-up combined to make the 2005 Cleveland National Air Show presented by Discount Drug Mart a Labor Day weekend success. After an absence of a jet team in 2004, Air Show fans were delighted by the return of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Jet Demonstration Team. But the Thunderbirds were just the tip of the act line-up which included the A-10 Warthog, Heritage Flight with a P-51 Mustang, Sean D. Tucker, Legacy Flight with a F6F Hellcat, Shockwave, B-25 Yankee Warrior, B-17 Yankee Lady, Matt Chapman, Golden Knights, Michael Mancuso and Mad Bomber Pyrotechnics. Clevelanders were also very proud of the many hometown pilots and crew members that came back to Cleveland to celebrate Labor Day weekend Air Show style which included Lt. Tyler Sherwin from VFA-106 piloting the awesome F/A-18F Super Hornet Demo, Capt. Joe Ferfolia from 337 th TES piloting the supersonic B-1 Lancer fly-by and Maj. David Moreland the Maintenance Officer for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. The prestigious Clifford W. Henderson Award was presented to National Concession Company for its 40 years of consistent and reliable service to the Cleveland National Air Show. National Concession Company was born at Cleveland’s 1929 National Air Races organized by Clifford Henderson. The affects of Hurricane Katrina were felt by the Air Show resulting in last minute re-assignments of several static display aircraft and the C-130 demo. However, the Cleveland National Air Show did team up with the American Red Cross Cleveland Chapter and worked to raise $8,000 to help hurricane victims.