Thunder & Snow -- in July!

What's better than a military jet aerobatic team?  How about two!

The Columbus Air Show June 20 at Rickenbacker Airport featured both the US Air Force Thunderbirds and the Canadian Forces Snowbirds.  This was probably the last chance to see the Snowbirds in Ohio for some time, since their circa 1960's Tutor jets are scheduled for replacement.

The show kicked off at 3:30 PM.  US Army Golden Knights presented the Canadian flag and anthem, followed by the US.  Next up were the Thunderbirds:

Skip Stewart followed with a hair raising performance in Prometheus, a heavily modified Pitts S2-S:

Next three acts were more sedate.  US Coast Guard Dauphin helicopter:

KC Formation flight team (RV homebuilts):

Brett Hunter's RV-6 aerobatic display:

Carol Pilon of Third Strike Wingwalking with her Super Stearman, from Canada:

A race between Kyle Fowler's Long-EZ and the Smoke-N-Thunder jet truck.

And now the Snowbirds:

The formation above is called the "Tornado"

Now the clock shifted back 80 years, with a WWII battle reenactment followed by a P-51, P-40 and P-38

Back to modern times for the F-35A demonstration.  That big single engine is loud!

The P-38 Lightning and F-35 Lightning II teamed up as Heritage Flight:

Finally, a daylight fireworks display to celebrate America's 250th birthday:

What a great day at the show!  Hope readers enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them.