Thunder And Lightning Over Arizona Airshow Week Is Here!

Airshows are a great way to see our military in action. It is also a good way to get inspired for Adults and Children. It bonds families and they are all around a blast to watch in person.  The aircraft and military hardware and capabilities that are displayed are of the best in the world. 

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is home of the A-10 Thunderbolt II. DM Hosts the EC-130 Compass Call Aircraft as Well as A CSAR Contingent for Search and Rescue. The Capabilities at this Air Force Base are quite awesome. Of course we cannot forget about the "Boneyard" where thousands of aircraft are flown in to either be reclaimed or stored for future sale or reactivation. 

The airshow experience is a tradition as football is to sports. Walking around with Cameras, binoculars checking out all of the flying acts is a surreal experience. Watching the aircraft fly and the performers do amazing things is awe inspiring.

This weekend will be no exception. It will be one of the largest Airshows on the West Coast. My experience with airshows dates back to my younger years when I first went to an airshow in Niagara Falls and In Schenectady N.Y. Watching the U.S Navy Blue Angels and their A-4 Skyhawks. Unfortunately my Second Airshow was Very Tragic and we lost LtCdr. Bob Gershon at the Niagara Falls International Airport. (See Video Below)

I remember when Lt Andy Caputi bailed out of his aircraft and seeing his Skyhawk Plummet in a flat spin in front of us. To me being a kid seeing that had a big effect on me, however did not deter me from ever watching an airshow again. Since I am a big aviation enthusiast , I continue to go to airshows no matter where they are and if I have money to travel to the airshow sites. It is the thrill of seeing everything going on.

That's why the November 6 and 7th 2021 is going to be a great weekend. Here is what is going on and the schedule of who is going to be there and flying.

Schedule: 

November 6-7, 2021
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
3100 S. Craycroft Road. Tucson, AZ 85707

SCHEDULE

Please note the schedule is the same for both Saturday and Sunday

Parking, gates and static displays open 8:30 AM

Flying begins 10:30 AM

Flying ends 4:30 PM

Static ramp closes 4:30 PM

• Performers: (Specific times and order of performers will not be released by the air show)
• U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
• U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II Demo Team
• U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II Demo Team
• U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet Demo Team
• U.S. Air Force Desert Lightning CSAR Demo
• U.S. Navy Parachute Team “The Leap Frogs”
• Vicky Benzing
• Kent Pietsch
• Kirby Chambliss
• Red Bull Helicopter – Aaron Fitzgerald
• Red Bull Skydivers
• Joe Shetterly – RV/8
• Tom Larkin – Mini Jet Airshows
• B-17 Flying Fortress “Sentimental Journey”
• B-25 Mitchell “Semper Fi”
• F6F Hellcat
• Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero
• Douglas C-47 “Old Number 30”
  Aftershock Jet Fire Truck

*Performers and aircraft are subject to change or cancel without notice.

So when you come out to enjoy the many flying acts, please bear in mind on ways to be safe as well as be very aware of your surroundings while having fun. It is an experience like no other.  Let's Roll.

Dan Rivera- November 2021