PENSACOLA, Fla. — Aviation photography captured the unique views during the shortened air show season of 2020, as aircraft vapor and rare aerial images spotlight the military and civilian performers.
Gathered are only a few of the incredible imagery related to the 2020 air show season. Each photograph tells a brief story of America’s strength as Covid-19 cancelled two-thirds of the air show season.
The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds flyovers of major U.S. cities to honor first responders provided a lift as America struggled with Covid concerns. During Operation: America Strong, thousands of on lookers in each city gathered to witness the two squadrons fly together.
The Air Force devised a plan to resume air shows under the “drive-in air show” format in July. Thunder Over Cedar Creek Lake will be remembered as the military’s first step to resume air show performances.
Cedar Creek Lake became the first drive-in air show on Independence Day. The Air Force sent a few aircraft to perform including the F-35A Lightning II and A-10C Thunderbolt II demonstration teams.
The 2020 Airshow Year in Review
The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, and U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, honored frontline COVID-19 first responders and essential workers with formation flights over New York City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia on April 28, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Aaron Hicks)U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute onto White House grounds to celebrate the nation’s 244th birthday during Salute to America in Washington, D.C., July 4, 2020. The event provided the Department of Defense with an opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities and professionalism of the Armed Forces. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Kevin Roy)200817-N-YO638-2184 PENSACOLA, Fla. (August 17, 2020) The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, C-130 pilots and crew arrive at Naval Air Station Pensacola with the team’s new C-130J Super Hercules, alongside the Blue Angel delta formation. 2020 marked the team’s 50th year utilizing the C-130 as its lead logistics aircraft. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cody Hendrix/Released)U.S. Air Force Maj. Josh Gunderson, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team commander, utilizes the raw power and thrust vectoring technology of the Raptor during a practice at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., March 31, 2020. The F-22 Raptor’s two Pratt and Whitney F119 Turbofan engines bring a combined 70,000 pounds of thrust, allowing the aircraft to takeoff straight into the vertical. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Sam Eckholm)The GEICO Skytypers air show team break formation during a rehearsal performance for the 2020 OC Air Show Aug 14, 2020, Ocean City Md. The Skytypers fly T-6 Texans in aerial performances at air shows across the country. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Kip Sumner)All four Air Combat Command Single-Ship Demonstration Teams fly together in a special formation in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Nov. 20, 2020. Consisting of an F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, A-10 Thunderbolt II, and F-16 Fighting Falcon, this unique formation serves as a representation of all the men and women who serve in our Air Force all across the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Sam Eckholm)U.S. Air Force Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcons wait to be refueled by KC-10 Extender crewed by Reserve Citizen Airmen with the 78th Air Refueling Squadron, 514th Air Mobility Wing, over the United States Nov. 1, 2018. The 514th is an Air Force Reserve Command unit located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen)U.S. Air Force Capt. Kristin “Beo” Wolfe, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot, flies alongside Maj. Cody “ShIV” Wilton, A-10 Demonstration Team pilot, and Maj. Joshua “Cabo” Gunderson, F-22 Demonstration Team pilot, fly in a three-ship heritage flight formation Aug. 14, 2020, Ocean City, Md. This rehearsal was one of the first times that vapor has been seen on all three aircraft during a heritage flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Kip Sumner)An F-16 Fighting Falcon with the Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demonstration Team at Shaw Air Force Base, S. C., flies alongside a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 121st Air Refueling Wing, Columbus, Ohio, after being refueled near London, Ontario, Sep. 12, 2020. The F-16 was part of a demonstration team at Airshow London. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Mikayla Gibbs)Jerry “Jive” Kerby, and aircraft performer starts his T-28 Mad Dog at the Wings Over North Georgia Airshow in Rome, Georgia, Oct. 25, 2020. Kerby performed a demonstration during the air show and showcased the maneuverability of his aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Sergio A. Gamboa)New York, NY, April 28, 2020–The military’s elite flight demonstration squadrons, the Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds, gave a salute to health care workers and others on the front lines in the fight against the coronavirus. A total of 12 fighter jets, six of the Air Force’s F-16C/D Fighting Falcons and half a dozen F-18 C/D Hornets streaked over New York City, Newark, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island before heading to Trenton, N.J., and Philadelphia. (K.C. Wilsey/FEMA)
For many in the air show community, the name COVID-19 first came up in February with the F-22 demo team’s performance in Singapore.
2020 was highlighted by the America Strong flyovers. Not only by the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds, but by local air national guard aircraft.
The Air Force F-16C Viper and A-10C demo aircraft received stunning new paint jobs. The first female to lead a single-ship jet team, Capt. Kristin “BEO” Wolfe, became the F-35A demo team’s pilot.
The return of the Blue Angels Fat Albert as the squadron received a new C-130J Super Hercules. The Blues also officially upgraded from their legacy Hornets to the Super Hornets in November.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
