Airshows are a common ground to see the passion we all have for flying being represented. You don’t even have to be an enthusiast to stand in awe and marvel at the flying skills displayed by pilots and the amazing capabilities showcased by aircrafts that take to the airs and delight spectators. Airshows started drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees since their early beginnings just a few short years after the Wright brothers first took to the skies. Airshows are often held as business and trade events where services, aircrafts or avionics are showed to potential customers, but also as wonderful places for families to gather and behold hits impressive machines. The military often organizes them for the public to participate in charities, promote military enlistment and to raise the profile of the organization. The United States normally enjoys of an air show season running from March to November while other countries may see shorter seasons.
The 2016 season of air shows in North America lists more than 300 events to enjoy all around the country; here we have some of the best ones for you to visit this season.
Florida International Air Show
Late March – Punta Gorda, Florida
Named one of the “10 Best Air Shows Around the World” by USAToday.com, the Florida International Air Show seeks to focus on wholesome family entertainment, educating the public on matters of aviation and showing special performances of civilian and military aircrafts alike. The organization is a Florida “not for profit” corporation, so all income from gate receipts, sponsors and other events goes to putting on the Air Show every year.
http://floridaairshow.com/
Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In and Expo
End of March or April – Lakeland, Florida
Every year since 1974 the skies over Lakeland are filled with planes from around the world, watched by thousands of attendees that have made this show a yearly tradition. This celebration has grown into the second largest event of its kind in the world and is Florida’s largest annual convention. The event offers: jet teams, aerospace related exhibits; educational forums, aircraft static displays, professional gatherings of aviation and economic development groups and of course daily and evening airshows that include amazing aerobatics.
http://www.sun-n-fun.org
Dayton Air Show
June – Dayton, Ohio
The history of this flight exhibition dates back to 1910 and the Wright Company. Being held at Dayton has a great significance amongst enthusiast as this place is the hometown of the Wright Brothers and is where Orville and Wilbur built their first powered plane. Vectren mainly sponsors the show and it is considered to be one of the country’s greatest aviation events.
http://www.daytonairshow.com
MacDill Air Fest
April – Tampa, Central West Florida
One of the largest air shows in the United States, the MacDill Air Fest attracts more than 750,000 enthusiasts every year. The show mostly focuses on the military and the United States Air Force mission.
http://www.macdill.af.mil
Reno Air Races
September – Reno, Nevada
Bill Stead organized an air race near Reno, Nevada in 1964, thus giving birth to the Reno National Championship Air Races. This particular event carries on the tradition of the Cleveland Air Races of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. The desert north of Reno becomes home to hundreds of aircraft, their pilots and crews for one week every year. In the last decade, the event has attracted more than 150,000 fans of aviation and generated more than $66.5 million every year for the region’s economy.
http://airrace.org/
Joint Base Andrews Air Show
September – Camp Springs, Maryland
Just east of Washington, DC, this air show displays just about every single flying piece of equipment that the US military has in operation, with a few oldies included as well. The Joint Base Andrews Air Show is the culmination of the weeklong activities in the National Capital Region, which includes the Air Force’s Birthday Week celebration in the second week of September.
http://www.andrews.af.mil
Oshkosh EAA AirVenture Show
July – Oshkosh, Wisconsin
For one week each summer, 500,000 of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) members and aviation enthusiasts totaling more than 500,000 coming from more than 60 countries attend EAA AirVenture at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Here they tell stories, remember old friendships and celebrate the past, present, and future in the world of flight. The EAA AirVenture has evolved from a small congregation of aircraft and aviators into a striking, weeklong celebration considered The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.
http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure
Miramar Air Show
September, early October – San Diego, California
This air show takes place where the famous Hollywood movie “Top Gun” was filmed. The Miramar Air Show is the largest military air show in the United States and it displays some of the most amazing and modern US arsenal available. Every year, spectators are treated by a performance of the Blue Angels, the United States Navy’s flight demonstration squadron.
http://miramarairshow.com
Shahram Shirkhani 