Andrews AFB -Joint Base Andrews- Air Show 2025
Story by Daniel O. Myers, photos by Howard German and Bryan T. Mangan
From September 12 to 14, 2025 the 316th Wing hosted the Joint Base Andrews (JBA) Air Show and open house Located in the National Capital Region, JBA’s 316th host Wing provides support for the nearly 12,000 active-duty, guard and reserve personnel along with units of the Air Force District and Naval Air Facility, Washington D.C. For those three mid- September days, JBA’s assets were on full display.
On Thursday September 11, three USMC HMX-1 VH-3D’s arrived as MARINE 1 and landed on the tower ramp where the President boarded AIR FORCE 1 before departing for NYC. Since 1957, the USMC HMX-1 Nighthawks based at MCAS Quantico, Va, have been the sole helicopter transport squadron for the president of the United States and consider themselves “The First and Finest.”
The president is normally air transported in one of two VC-25 aircraft, extraordinarily configured Boeing 747-200Bs. But this day it would be it would be a C-32, a unique version of the Boeing 757-200 commercial airliner usually reserved for the vice-president. Both large jets are maintained by JBA’s 89th Airlift Wing which provide global Special Air Mission for the president, vice-president, cabinet members and senior leaders. Other 89th AW aircraft were also seen flying in and out of JBA throughout the weekend.
Friday the 12th was DoD, media and military invited guests day. Attendees were treated to a flypast by two 113th FW, DC ANG F-16 “WILD” Fighting Falcons hugging a white C-40 “BOXER” along with two F-16s attached to a 459th ARW KC-135R “DECEE” Stratotanker. That display was followed by a formation flight of HS-1 MUSSEL UH-1Ns.
Opening the show there was some friendly competition between the U.S. Army Golden Knights and U.S. Naval Academy Parachute Jump Teams. Both teams were taken aloft and jumped from the Golden Knights C-147A aircraft, a modified version of the Dash-8 commuter plane. The crowd agreed it was a tie, as both teams preciously hit their ground marks.
Lots of jet noise was made when Greg Colyer flew his beautifully restored “Acemaker Aviation” T-33 Shooting Star. With smoke-on throughout his routine, Greg demonstrated the capabilities of the U.S. Air Force’s first operational jet trainer.
It was then the USN F/A-18 Rhino Demo Team turn to rock the sky. Heralding from NAS Oceana’s VFA-106 Gladiators, LT Wyatt “Donkey” Rudasill, LT Mason “Scooter McGavin” Louthan, and LCDR Michael “Longshot” Segalla demonstrate the attributes of the Super Hornet. Next, the mighty USAF C-17 East Coast Demonstration Team from Charleston, SC rumbled the ground and air above.
The Andrews show has a long reputation of having unusual and unique static aircraft, both domestic and foreign, on the show ramp. 2025 was no exception.
E-7A Wedgetail
From half-way around the world, the “Ausie” E-7A Wedgetail based at RAAF Base Williamtown, Australia visited for the weekend. Operated by No. 2 Squadron, the Australian Air Force’s six E-7A Wedgetail aircraft are built on a Boeing 737-700 platform. The E-7A Wedgetail provides Australia with advanced airspace battle management capabilities and the ability to coordinate a joint air, sea and land battle in real time. The Wedgetail airborne early warning and control platform combines long-range surveillance and secondary radars along with tactical/strategic voice and data communications systems. During a standard mission, the E-7A Wedgetail can cover more than four million square kilometers, with the capability of unlimited long-range deployment via in-flight refuelling. The E-7A has a crew compliment of a pilot, co-pilot, air-battle managers and airborne electronics analysts.
EA-37 Compass Call
For more than 40 years, the original Compass Call fleet, comprised of EC-130H aircraft, has provided the U.S. and allied forces with the capability of disrupting enemy communications, radars and navigation systems. The new EA-37 Compass Call, housed in a Gulfstream G550 business jet, was first delivered to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ in August 2024. With its wide-area electromagnetic attack weapon system, its primary mission remains the same; to deny, degrade, disrupt and suppress enemy air defenses by preventing the transmission of essential information between adversaries weapon systems and command-and-control networks. Based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ, the 55th Electronic Combat Group and its subordinate 41st and 43rd Electronic Combat Squadrons are the sole operators of Compass Call aircraft and report to the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB in NE. Compass Call is currently transitioning from the EC-130H to the new EA-37B, with ten of the fourteen older EC-130Hs airframes having already been retired.
From Truax Field at Madison, WI, two brand new 115th FW/176th FS F-35A Lightning II’s roared into the show. In 2023, the WI ANG replaced their F-16s, which they had flown since 1992, with F-35As. Wisconsin is one of four ANG units currently flying the F-35A along with Vermont, Alabama and Florida.
Joining the F-35As on the ramp were two F-15C Eagles from New Orleans, LA, a multitude of helicopters, two USAF CV-22 Osprey from Hulbert Field, FL, numerous warbirds and several of JDA’s own aircraft.
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds completed the show, keeping the crowd on their feet and thrilling the audience as they brought their display in close to the show-line with two sneak passes.
