Did the Thunderbirs Ride With the Blue Angels

Introduction

LOOK! Up in the sky! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Yes! It's the return of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels!

These two aerobatic teams — literal highlights of air shows and open houses at military installations all across the nation — are ready to soar to new heights in their first season after similar events were cancelled during the COVID pandemic in 2020. Instead, both teams participated in fly-overs of hospitals and other facilities to honor health care professionals and first-responders.

Want to see each team's schedule for this year and learn some cool facts about them? Fly ahead to the section that interests you most:

Who are the Thunderbirds?
Thunderbirds History
Thunderbirds Air Show Schedule 2021
Thunderbirds Air Show Schedule 2022
Who are the Blue Angels?
Blue Angels History
Blue Angels Air Show Schedule 2021
Blue Angels Air Show Schedule 2022

Thunderbirds vs. Blue Angels

So is one flight team better than the other, or is there a Thunderbirds vs. Blue Angels rivalry? Not really. Both teams are incredibly talented and train untold hours year-round to delight fans of flight everywhere.

And as evidenced in this video, the two teams may fly different jets, wear different uniforms and serve in different branches of the military, but their missions are the same: to showcase the professionalism and precision of the men and women in service to our country.

Who are the Thunderbirds?

Officially known as the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds present precision aerial maneuvers to exhibit the capabilities of modern, high performance aircraft and the high degree of professional skill required to operate those aircraft.

The squadron is an Air Combat Command unit composed of eight pilots (including six demonstration pilots), four support officers, four civilians and more than 100 enlisted personnel performing in almost 30 job specialties.

Flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the pilots perform about 40 maneuvers during special demonstrations that build community relations with the public and strengthen morale among Air Force members. More than 280 million people in all 50 states and 57 foreign countries have seen the red, white and blue Thunderbirds jets in more than 3,500 aerial demonstrations.

Want to know who's who of the Ambassadors in Blue? Read short biographies of the team's current officers here.

Thunderbirds History

The Thunderbirds officially activated June 1, 1953, as the 3600th Air Demonstration Unit at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Initially, the team flew the straight-winged F-84G Thunderjet. In 1955, the team transitioned to the swept-winged F-84F Thunderstreak.

Suggested Read: Luke Air Force Base: In-Depth Welcome Center

In June 1956, the team moved to its current home at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and switched to the world's first supersonic fighter, the F-100 Super Sabre, which served the Thunderbirds for 13 years.

Suggested Read: Nellis Air Force Base: In-Depth Welcome Center

From 1969 to 1973, the squadron flew the Air Force's front-line fighter, the F-4E Phantom II, then converted to the T-38 Talon in 1974. Early in 1983, the F-16A became the jet of choice, exhibiting manpower and fuel efficiency while demonstrating to spectators the latest in fighter technology.

Thunderbirds Air Show Schedule 2022

Thunderbirds Air Show Schedule 2021

Want to see these amazing displays of aerobatics in person? Check this lineup to see when the Thunderbirds will be rolling into a community near you! Check each event's website for admission policies, extended schedules and more info.

May 2021

1-2: Sound of Speed Airshow & 139AW Open House, St. Joseph, Missouri
8-9: Defenders of Liberty Air & Space Show, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
26: USAFA Graduation 2021 Flyover, Colorado Springs, Colorado
29-30: Bethpage Airshow at Jones Beach, Wantagh, New York

June 2021

5-6: The Great Tennessee Air Show, Smyrna, Tennessee
19-20: OC Air Show, Ocean City, Maryland

July 2021

10-11: Dayton Air Show, Dayton, Ohio
17-18: Greater Binghamton Air Show, Binghamton, New York
24-25: Milwaukee Air & Water Show, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
28: Cheyenne Frontier Days, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming
31-Aug. 1: Oregon International Air Show, McMinnville, Oregon

August 2021

7-8: Thunder Over Michigan Air Show, Ypsilanti, Michigan
18: Thunder Over the Boardwalk Air Show, Atlantic City, New Jersey
21-22: The Great Pocono Raceway Air Show, Pocono, Pennsylvania
28-29: New York International Air Show, New Windsor, New York

September 2021

4-6: Cleveland National Air Show, Cleveland, Ohio
11-12: Pease Open House, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
18-19: National Championship Air Races, Reno, Nevada
25-26: California Capital Air Show, Mather, California

October 2021

2-3: 2021 Puerto Rico International Air Show, San Juan, Puerto Rico
9-10: Wings Over Houston Air Show, Houston, Texas
16-17: Central Florida Air & Space Show, Sanford, Florida
23-24: Los Angeles County Air Show, Lancaster, California
30-31: California International Air Show, Salinas, California

November 2021

6-7: Thunder and Lightning Over Arizona, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona

Thunderbirds Air Show Schedule 2022

March 2022

19-20: Luke Days Air & Space Expo; Luke AFB, Arizona
26-27: Wings Over Columbus; Columbus AFB, Mississippi

April 2022

2-3: Thunder Over the Midlands; Shaw AFB, South Carolina
9-10: SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo; Lakeland, Florida
23-34: JBSA Kelly Field Air & Space Show; JB San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
30-May 1: Fort Lauderdale Air Show; Fort Lauderdale, Florida

May 2022

14-15: March Field Air & Space Expo; March ARB, California
25: USAFA Graduation 2022 Flyover; Colorado Springs, Colorado

June 2022

4-5: Fort Wayne Open House & Air Show; Fort Wayne, Indiana
11-12: OC Air Show; Ocean City, Maryland
18-19: Grand Forks AFB Air Show; Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota
25-26: Warriors Over the Wasatch Air & Space Show; Hill AFB, Utah

July 2022

2-3: Field of Flight Air Show & Balloon Festival; Battle Creek, Michigan
16-17: Duluth Air and Aviation Expo; Duluth, Minnesota
23-24: Fight Over the Falls; Great Falls, Montana
27: Cheyenne Frontier Days; Cheyenne, Wyoming
30-31: Arctic Thunder Air Show; JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska

August 2022

20-21: Chicago Air & Water Show; Chicago, Illinois
24: Atlantic City Air Show; Atlantic City, New Jersey
27-28: Scranton Armed Forces Air Show; Avoca, Pennsylvania

September 2022

3-4: KC Air Show; New Century, Kansas
10-11: Maryland Fleet Week & Air Show Baltimore; Baltimore, Maryland
17-18: JB Andrews Air Show; JB Andrews, Maryland
24-25: Frontiers in Flight Open House & Air Show; McConnell AFB, Kansas

October 2022

1-2: The Great Pacific Air Show; Huntington Beach, California
15-16: Aerospace Valley Air Show; Edwards AFB, California
22-23: Bell Fort Worth Alliance Air Show; Fort Worth, Texas
29-30: Central Florida Air & Space Show; Sanford, Florida

November 2022

5-6: Aviation Nation Air Show; Nellis AFB, Nevada

Who are the Blue Angels?

The Blue Angels squadron showcases the pride and professionalism of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a culture of excellence and service through flight demonstrations and community outreach.

Each year, 17 total officers voluntarily serve with the Blue Angels; among them are three tactical (fighter or fighter/attack) jet pilots, two support officers and one Marine Corps C-130 pilot to relieve departing members. Officers typically serve two years with the team then return to the fleet after their tours of duty.

The Chief of Naval Air Training selects the Blue Angels Commanding Officer. Known as the "Boss," the officer must have at least 3,000 tactical jet flight-hours and have commanded a tactical jet squadron. The Boss flies the team's Number 1 jet.

Navy and Marine Corps jet pilots with an aircraft carrier qualification and a minimum of 1,250 tactical jet flight-hours are eligible for positions flying jets Number 2 through 7. The Events Coordinator, Number 8, is a Naval Flight Officer or a Weapons Systems Officer who meets the same criteria as Numbers 2 through 7. The Marine Corps pilots flying the C-130T Hercules aircraft, affectionately known as "Fat Albert," must be aircraft-commander qualified and have at least 1,200 flight hours.

The team is stationed at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, during the air show season. The squadron spends January through March training at Naval Air Facility El Centro, California.

Suggested Read: Naval Air Station Pensacola: In-Depth Welcome Center

Click these links to read more about the Blue Angels team officers, the enlisted maintenance and support team, and the technical representatives.

Suggested Read: Naval Air Facility El Centro: In-Depth Welcome Center

Blue Angels History

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Chester Nimitz established the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron in 1946 to raise the public's interest in naval aviation and boost Navy morale. The flight exhibition team, whose name became the Blue Angels (possibly after visiting a New York supper club of the same name), thrilled audiences throughout the 1940s with precision maneuvers in the F6 Hellcat, the F8 Bearcat and the F9 Panther.

Throughout the 1950s, the team evolved its aerobatic maneuvers in the F9 Cougar and F-11 Tiger and introduced the first six-plane delta formation, still flown today. By the end of the Blue Angels were flying the F-4 Phantom, the only two-seat aircraft flown by the delta formation.

In 1974, the team transitioned to the A-4 Skyhawk, a smaller and lighter aircraft that allowed for a more dynamic flight demonstration. In 1986, the Blue Angels celebrated their 40th anniversary by debuting the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet, which the squadron still flies today.

Read more about the history of the Angels and see a gallery of their vintage aircraft here.

Blue Angels Air Show Schedule 2021

Eager to see the Blue Angels soar toward the heavens in person? Take a look at this schedule to find their amazing flight shows near you! Check each event's website for admission policies, extended schedules and more info.