Due to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, 2021 was an unusual year. The Air Show organization had to wait for City of Cleveland Special Event approval and build a plan that would include current COVID-19 health/safety protocols. Thus the event was not “Cleared for Take-Off” until the beginning of June and it was a full court press to bring the 2021 Cleveland National Air Show presented by Discount Drug Mart to life. The ground attractions looked a bit different but the show had the awesome flying that folks love. The show featured the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds along with the A-10C Thunderbolt II, U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, C-130 Hercules and Shockwave Jet Truck. Plus Adam Baker playful Airshows made his first appearance in Cleveland and Bill Stein’s solo aerobatics in his Edge 540 knocked it out of the park. And kids loved seeing Kent Pietsch land his Jelly Belly plane on top of a truck driving down the runway. Fans also saw history take flight with Cleveland’s first appearance of the WWII Douglas C-47 Skytrain “Luck of the Irish”. The 2021 Air Show was extremely hard to produce and during the days leading up to the event it was impacted by a crises in the Middle East, a hurricane, staff shortages and the global pandemic. But thanks to the patronage of the fans, sponsors and partners the Air Show was just what the community needed to lift its spirits.
Featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds