The Blue Angels' mission is to enhance Navy and Marine Corps recruiting efforts and to represent the naval service to the United States, its elected leadership and foreign nations. The Blue Angels serve as positive role models and goodwill ambassadors for the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps. A Blue Angels flight demonstration exhibits choreographed refinements of skills possessed by all naval aviators. It includes the graceful aerobatic maneuvers of the four-plane Diamond Formation, in concert with the fast-paced, high-performance maneuvers of its two Solo Pilots. Finally, the team illustrates the pinnacle of precision flying, performing maneuvers locked as a unit in the renowned, six-jet Delta Formation. Since its inception in 1946, the Blue Angels have performed for more than 427 million fans.

http://www.blueangels.navy.mil

Gene Soucy is one of the most well-respected and proficient airshow pilots in American aviation. He is a former member of the record-setting Eagles Aerobatic Flight Team, he has been a member of two World Champion U.S. Aerobatic Teams, and he has won more awards than any other active airshow pilot. Innovation and versatility are Gene Soucy’s style. It is no wonder as to why he has rightfully been nicknamed “Mr. Airshow.”

http://www.genesoucy.com

Bob began flying in 1979 at the age of 19. He has since logged over 2000 hours in a wide variety of aircraft and holds a commercial pilot certificate. Bob has flown hang gliders, airplanes, helicopters, and sailplanes from hundreds of sites in the US, Canada, Mexico and Australia. Bob has flown air shows professionally since 1993. Bob is one of the most versatile air show performers in North America. He began flying air shows in his Salto sailplane, and over the years has continued to add innovative performances such as barnstormin' biplane aerobatics, helicopter sailplane tow, night aerobatics with strobes & pyrotechnics and the world's only twin jet sailplane. The tradition of innovation continues with the recent addition of the Super Salto jet sailplane, with more power, more speed and more aerobatic capability than any other sailplane on the planet! When he is not performing at air shows, Bob is a rocket scientist for a major national laboratory.

http://www.vertigoairshows.com

Bill excites the crowd with the roar of the radial engine, the flash of the sun off the polished aluminum surface and the volume of smoke coming off the engine as he does precision aerobatics, staying show center all the time. Like no other WarBird act, Bill keeps it close in and non-stop. It all starts with the roar of the Pratt and Whitney engine as Bill lifts off the runway and does a roll on take-off. Thirteen minutes of low-level aerobatics follow including barrel rolls, inverted flight, loops, four point rolls, and Cuban 8s. Bill explores the airspeed envelope of the T-6 from over 200 MPH to as slow as 60 MPH, thrilling both the novice and enthusiast alike. After the sun sets, the Starfire Night Skyshow is 15 minutes of spectacular night aerobatics with special computer-controlled lighting and firework effects on the plane.

http://www.billleffairshows.com

The World Famous GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team is a flight squadron of six vintage WWII airplanes performing precision flight maneuvers at select airshows across the United States. The diverse flying expertise of the team members aligns perfectly with the unique components of their overall performance. The six vintage SNJ-2’s demonstrate low level precision flying and deliver aerial messages, known as Skytyping. These messages are 10,000 feet up in the air, as tall as the Empire State Building, and eight miles wide. The letters can be seen for 15 miles in any direction or nearly 400 square miles. Each plane weights 5500 pounds and utilizes a 600hp Pratt and Whitney R-1340-AN-1, 9 cylinder radial engine.

http://www.geicoskytypers.com

The 1944 FM-2, officially called the ‘Wildcat’, was named the “Best Fighter Below 10,000 Feet” compared to the F6F, F4U, P-47, and P-51. The FM-2 was the most built and most powerful version of the Wildcats, often referred to as the “Wilder” Wildcat. Wildcats were the main Navy and Marine Corps fighter at the start of World War II and fought in all the major battles, including Wake Island, Guadalcanal, and Midway, until the Hellcat came along in 1943. The Wildcat is best known for its contribution to the Battle of Midway during World War II.  Butch O’Hare shot down five Japanese Bombers that were attacking the USS Lexington, becoming the first US Navy Ace of WWII.  Eight Medal of Honor recipients were Wildcat pilots, which is more than any other fighter aircraft of WWII.  Greg’s Wildcat flew at NAS Alameda and San Diego in VJ9 and VJ12 utility squadron’s most likely towing targets.  After that, it was passed around from owner to owner and was on display in the Lone Star Flight Museum for 15 years until coming home to Greg’s hangar.

http://www.gregsheltonairshows.com/

Owner John O’Connor is proud to bring you his F8F-2 Bearcat painted in original Blue Angel colors from 1946, the first year the Blue Angels performed.  The Grumman F8F Bearcat (affectionately called "Bear") was an American single-engine naval fighter aircraft of the 1940s. It went on to serve into the mid-20th century in the United States Navy and other air forces, and would be the company's final piston engined fighter aircraft. Modified versions have broken speed records for propeller-driven aircraft. Pilot Fred Cabanas will put the Bearcat through its paces to demonstrate the awesome capabilities of this historic U.S. Navy Fighter Aircraft.

Fly Back – to the Birth of Naval Aviation in 1911. Follow the only flying replica of Eugene B Ely’s 1911 Curtiss Pusher on its 2011 journey across America, celebrating the Centennial of Naval Aviation. On November 14, 1910, as the first take-off from a ship, Eugene Ely, a civilian pilot, took off in a 50-hp Curtiss plane from a wooden platform built on the bow of the USS Birmingham (CL 2), a converted collier. The ship was at anchor in Hampton Roads, Virginia, and Ely landed safely on Willoughby Spit.  A few months later, on Jan 18, 1911, Ely becomes the first person to ever land an aircraft on board a ship, flying a Curtiss pusher onto a makeshift wooden platform constructed on the armored cruiser Pennsylvania in San Francisco Bay. You won’t want to miss the only flying replica of the actual earliest beginnings of Naval Aviation!

http://elycurtisspusher.com

 

The NAS Oceana Air Show is proud to partner with the Military Aviation Museum of Virginia Beach to bring you some of the finest United States Navy Warbirds available in North America. The Military Aviation Museum was born from its owner’s passion for WWII era warplanes. It has evolved from what began as a simple interest to what is now today one of the world’s largest collections of flying WWII military aircraft. From a collection of salvaged wrecks which any other person might sell for scrap, Military Aviation engineers & experts embarked on skillfully restoring these flying machines to what is now the heart of the museum. The Museum began as a small private grass airfield in Pungo, Virginia Beach, Virginia and has grown into a 65,000 sq ft museum with five additional new buildings currently in progress. Mr. Gerald Yagen is proud to bring you flying versions of the FG-1D Corsair, AD-4 Skyraider, TBM Avenger, SNJ-4 Texan, Navy N3N and a Navy Stearman.

http://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org

The Shockwave Jet Truck, driven by Les and his son Kent Shockley, runs over 300 mph racing airplanes at air shows. Shockwave holds the world record in a quarter mile for trucks at 256 mph in just 6.36 seconds and holds the world record for full size trucks at 376 mph as recorded by Guinness Book of World Records. At 36,000 horsepower, the Shockwave Jet Truck has enough power to accelerate at 3 Gs vertically, a force equal to that felt by astronauts during the launch of the Space Shuttle!

http://www.shockwavejets.com

The Red Devils were formed in 1964 and became the official British Army parachute display team in 1979. All team members are serving soldiers in the Parachute Regiment, of which there are three regular Battalions. Team members must have a minimum of two hundred jumps before being qualified to participate in public displays. Within each team is a dedicated cameraman whose task it is to capture each display on film and also to produce still photography such as seen on this web site. There is also a rigger within each team; he is responsible for the care and maintenance of the teams parachute equipment. The team enjoys high profile media coverage including many television and magazine appearances. In addition they are seen throughout the year at a variety of sporting and other public venues.

http://www.reddevilsonline.com

Rich Gibson has added an "explosive" dimension to modern military and World War II simulated attacks at air shows throughout the United States and in fact the world. This husband and wife team, along with their very experienced crew, create the "booms" and "fireballs" you will see, hear, and even feel at air shows and special events. Utilizing hundreds of gallons of fuel and countless explosive charges, Rich and his crew provide the smoke and noise that are such an important part of the Oceana air show.
  
http://www.richsincrediblepyro.com

Rob Reider has announced some of the greatest aerial events in North America and loves to share the joy and freedom of flight with all who attend these shows. Rob is a multi-talented air show entertainer, pilot, Midwest television personality, singer, performer, writer, and winner of 5 Emmy awards. All of his experience makes Rob one of the best known announcers in the air show industry. "Narrating a show is a wonderful opportunity to try to put an audience into the cockpit," says Rob "Besides, when I’m announcing, I have the best seat in the house!"

http://www.robreider.com

Since 1988, Mach 1 Productions has provided support for North American Air Show and other special events. Their specially designed sound system provides crisp, clear sound for up to a mile of crowd line. Take your spectators into the cockpit of the aircraft with the air-to-ground interface that allows the performers to talk to the crowd and be heard as though they were listening on the intercom in the back seat.

http://www.danmclaren.com

Mr. Steve Myott will perform during Saturday and Sundays shows and entertain children and adults alike as he mixes and mingles with the crowd. Steve has appeared in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington D.C, NFL pre-game shows and countless festivals as Uncle Sam on Stilts. As a drama teacher, actor and director he incorporates all his unique talents into theatrical mentoring for young people. Make sure you wave and say hello to this remarkable performer.

The Super Hornet Tactical Demonstration, or “Tacdemo” is rapidly becoming world renowned as an awesome display of thrilling high-speed, high “G” maneuvers coupled with heart-stopping slow-speed performance. The crew from the VFA-106 Gladiators will fly this two-seat Strike Fighter as close to the "edge of the envelope" as safely possible while amazing even the most experienced aviators. The Tacdemo highlights the incredible power and grace of the Super Hornet, affectionately known as the “Rhino”.

The F/A-18C Hornet has been a mainstay of the Navy’s tactical striking power since the mid-80’s. The Hornet Tacdemo combines eye-watering quickness and agility with remarkable slow-speed handling performance in an aerial demonstration that will thrill and amaze you. This single-seat Strike Fighter was one of the first true multi-use weapons platforms in the Navy and was designed to replace the F-4 Phantom fighter and the A-7 Corsair II strike aircraft. It is now the standard fighter in the Navy and Marine Corps, and is also flown by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team.

The E-2C Hawkeye is the U.S. Navy's all-weather, carrier-based tactical airborne warning and control system platform. It provides all-weather airborne early warning and command and control functions for the carrier battle group. Additional missions include surface surveillance coordination, strike and interceptor control, search and rescue guidance and communications relay. An integral component of the carrier air wing, the E-2C carries three primary sensors: radar, Identify Friend or Foe (IFF), and a passive detection system.

Watch as Oceana-based Strike Fighter aircraft demonstrate the maneuvers and tactics used to deliver air-to-ground weapons in real-world combat operations. F/A-18C Hornets and F/A-18E/F Super Hornets will fill the skies and crisscross in front of the crowd and they aggressively maneuver for simulated weapons delivery solutions. Twisting and turning to get “pipper on”, these intrepid aviators will prove they’ve got “the right stuff” to deliver diplomacy, 500 pounds at a time!

Make sure you have your cameras ready for this signature Oceana Air Show event! The sky will darken when this “aluminum overcast” passes over the crowd as locally based squadrons show their colors. The number and type of aircraft that participate is different every year, so you’ll just have to wait and see how loud the “sound of freedom” will be!

The Tailhook Legacy Flight is a dynamic flight demonstration program designed to keep Naval Aviation's ties to its proud heritage alive and viable. Under this program, vintage warbirds from Naval Aviation's past are flown alongside the high-tech weaponry representative of present day Navy carrier aviation. It is through these unique formation flight demonstrations that the Navy hopes to provide inspiration for the men and women who currently serve, while attracting the best and brightest of our next generation of young Americans to join the future ranks of Naval Aviation.

The AV-8B Harrier is a single-seat, light attack aircraft that provides offensive air support to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). By virtue of its Vertical/Short Take-Off or Landing (V/STOL) capability, the AV-8B can operate from a variety of amphibious ships, rapidly constructed expeditionary airfields, forward sites (e.g., roads), and damaged conventional airfields. This makes the aircraft particularly well-suited for providing dedicated close air support. The mission of the VMA STOVL squadron is to attack and destroy surface and air targets, to escort helicopters, and to conduct other such air operations as may be directed.

Did you know that Coast Guard pilots wear the coveted Wings of Gold? In fact, on March 30th, 1916 Second Lieutenant Charles Sugden and Third Lieutenant Elmer F Stone became the first two Coast Guard aviators assigned to flight instruction. Today, the Coast Guard defends the shores of our Nation and aides those in need on the water. Pilots from US Coast Guard Station Atlantic City will demonstrate their capabilities during a daring Search and Rescue or “SAR” mission.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon, more commonly known to military pilots as the Viper, is a compact, extremely maneuverable multi-role fighter aircraft. The F-16 has proven itself in air-to-air combat as well as air-to-surface attack. It provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the air forces of the United States and other allied nations.