FORMATION JET TEAMS OF AIRVENTURE 2024
Story and photos by Scott Jankowski
In another AirVenture first, 2024 featured appearances by 4 formation jet teams, the United States Navy Blue Angels, The United States Air Force Thunderbirds, the Italian Aerobatic Team the Freece Tricolori, and the Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds. It is an extremely rare occurrence that a Civilian Airshow has 2 formation jet teams present let alone 4, a job well done by AirVenture Organizers, and Planners.
The United States Navy Blue Angels, flying the Boeing FA-18 E/F Super Hornet made a single pass over Oshkosh to open the airshow on 7/24, the team was on its way to an airshow in Fargo North Dakota. The “Blues” were formed in 1946 and are based out of NAS (Naval Air Station) Pensacola Florida. The team is the second oldest formal aerobatic team in the world and typically flies approximately 60 shows a year. The Blue Angels have flown the Super Hornet since 2020 and after flying the F/A-18 A, B, C, D Legacy Hornets for 34 years.
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds passed through AirVenture twice, on 7/24 and 7/25 on their way to Milwaukee Wisconsin for an airshow. Thunderbird Number 8, the two seat Lockheed Martin F-16D Fighting Falcon flown by the Narrator, made several passes on 7/24 during the afternoon airshow. The remainder of the team flying the single seat Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon would make a few passes on 7/25 to open the afternoon airshow. The team is based out of Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas Nevada and was formed in 1953, the F-16 has been used as the team aircraft since 1983.
Embarking on their first North American Tour since 1986, the Italian Aerobatic Team, (better known as the Freece Tricolori) flying the Aermacchi MB-339A/Pan 2 seat trainer stopped at AirVenture on 7/23. Freece Tricolori translated to English means Tricolor Arrows and is officially known as the 313th Aerobatic Training Group, National Aerobatic Team (PAN) Freece Tricolori and is based at Rivolto Air Base province of Udine Italy. The team was formed on March 1st 1961 and features 10 aircraft, 9 formation and 1 soloist they fly approximately 20 different aerobatic maneuvers in its 30-minute performance. The team has operated the MB-339A since 1982 and is scheduled to transition to the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master as their new aircraft with the transition scheduled for a few years from now. The team spent the day at Oshkosh on its way to Milwaukee for an airshow and departed to close the afternoon airshow.
The Royal Canadian Air Force turned 100 years old and to honor its centenary the Snowbirds flew their Aerobatic Routine on 7/26-28. The team is comprised as of 11 two seat Canadair CT-114 Tutors, 9 for the actual performance of which 2 aircraft fly solo maneuvers and 2 spare aircraft. The team was formed in 1971 and is officially known as 431 Sir Demonstration Squadron based at 15 Wing Moose Jaw Saskatchewan Canada. The CT-114 first flew in 1960 and was retired from active duty in 2000 and was used as the Primary Trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force. The Snowbirds fly formation maneuvers that include the Arrowhead, Big Delta, Vulcan, and the Inverted Split. AirVenture was one of only 4 U.S. appearances this year. The Snowbirds were joined by the CF-18 Hornet from the Hornet Demo Team for several passed on 7-26.
AirVenture and EAA pulled off what few airshows could by scheduling 4 formation jet demo teams to make appearances at the same show. While all 4 teams have appeared at AirVenture before, it is highly unlikely we will see all 4 appear in the same year again, these are definitely “Only at Oshkosh” moments. Until next time “Blue Skies to All!”