Dayton Air Show 2026!

 Saturday June 13th brought a welcome break in the rainy weather for the opening day of the 52nd annual Dayton Air Show.  Skies were clear at first but an approaching cold front brought a high overcast by the time the Blue Angels performed, which at least kept the temperature down.

The show opened with flag drops by the US Army Golden Knights parachute demonstration team.

A flyby by their jump plane was followed by a teaser performance by Australian aerobatic champion Aarron Deliu.

Next up was a CareFlight helicopter

An eleven plane formation by the T-34 Association.

Three MiG-17s.  While this definitely isn't the highest perfoming jet on display, it gets the prize for most impressive afterburner flame!

The USAF F-22 performed twice, very unusual for one airshow.

No, the plane isn't growing a beard.  It's just condensation from the pressure changes since he's just under the speed of sound in this high speed pass.

F-22 and a WWII P-38 formed up as a Heritage Flight.

Beautiful T-33 in Korean War colors as the "Ace Maker".

Kyle Fowler performing an aerobatic routine in his Long-EZ.  Not really aerobatic, so he kept it smooth and graceful.

"Tora, Tora, Tora!" reenacts the Dec 7, 1941 air raid on Pearl Harbor.

Flyby of the painstakingly restored American Airlines flagship DC-3.

P-51C "By Request" commemorates the Tuskegee Airmen with an aerobatic routine.

Jim Tobul in his F4U Corsair, which actually saw service in the Korean War.

F-22 pulling a maximum performance turn in its second performance, the "Low Show".

Most of the other aerobatic performances were sedate and graceful, but Aarron Deliu's was not.  He made the Extra 330 talk!

The show was closed out by the headline act, the US Navy Blue Angels - here showing their 36 inch wingtip to canopy separation in the diamond formation.

Several other formations were demonstrated

Opposing solo passes...

Bomb bursts...

...and rejoins.

A great day at the show!