Story and photos by Scott Jankowski
AirVenture and the EAA have always had a close relationship with our Armed Forces, which was very evident with 8 demo teams present at AirVenture 2025. The United States Air Force had the F-22, F-35, KC-46, C-17, and the United States Air Force Academy Glider team performing. The United States Navy had the F/A-18 Demo team, while the United States Marine Corps provided the F-35B Demo Team. The United States Army had the Golden Knights Parachute Team with their C-147A. These demo teams gave AirVenture a small glimpse of the formidable capabilities of our military with different teams performing on different days in the afternoon and evening airshows.
The United States Air Force had 5 demo teams present and included the F-22A Raptor Demo Team based at Joint Base Langly-Eustis Virginia and is part of the 1st Fighter Wing. This year’s demo pilot Captain Nick “Laz” Le Tourneau flew a series of maneuvers that highlighted just a small portion of the unique capabilities of the 5th Generation Fighter manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The team was down in Milwaukee the weekend before for the Milwaukee Airshow and made the short journey to Oshkosh arriving on Sunday before the show opened. Captain Le Tourneau has been in the Air Force since 2018 and has 750 flying hours in the Raytheon T-6 Texan II, the Northrop T-38C Talon, and the Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor.
Joining the F-22 in the always popular Heritage Flights once again was Bruce “Doc” Winter flying his beautifully and meticulously restored North American P-51D Mustang “Happy Jack’s Go Buggy”. The P-51D was the premier fighter of World War II just as the F-22A is the premier fighter of this era. The P-51D has a top speed of 441 miles per hour, the F-22A has a top speed of 1,500 miles per hour and can fly Supersonic without the need for afterburners. The Heritage Flight has been flown at airshows since 1997 and displays United States Air Force aircraft from different era’s flying in formation with current aircraft from the United States Air Force inventory.
The F-35A Demo Team also performed at AirVenture 2025, the 14-person team is currently commanded by Major Melanie “Mach” Klusner and is part of the 388th Fighter Wing based out of Hill Air Force Base Utah. The team was formed in 2018 and was initially based out of Luke Air Force Base Arizona, moving to Hill Air Force Base in 2019. This 5th Generation stealthy, multi-role, all weather, air to air, and surface attack fighter is powered by a single Pratt&Whitney F135-PW-100 afterburning engine. This engine generates 43,000#’s of thrust giving the F-35A a top speed of 1,200 miles per hour, the F-35A entered service in 2011 and is replacing aging F-16’s, A-10’s, AV-8B’s, and FA-18’s.
The F-35A also participated in a Heritage Flight, flying alongside the North American P-51D Mustang “Happy Jack’s Go Buggy” and a Republic P-47D Thunderbolt named “Bonnie”. This 1942 built P-47D is the only Republic built P-47D Razorback flying in the world and was restored by Air Corps Aviation. This aircraft wears the colors of Brigadier General William “Bill” Durham Commander of the 460th Fighter Squadron 348th Fighter Group based in the South Pacific. The name “Bonnie” is a tribute to his then girlfriend Bonnie Harris who would later become his wife.
The East Coast C-17A Demo Team flew in the afternoon airshows on Monday and Tuesday and was based out of Milwaukee where it also performed at the Milwaukee Airshow the weekend prior. The team is based out of Joint Base Charleston South Carolina and is part of the 437th Airlift Wing. The 437th received its first Boeing C-17A Globemaster III in June of 1993 and provides the airlift of troops, passengers, military equipment, cargo, and aeromedical airlift and to participate in operations that involve the airland or airdrop of troops, equipment, and supplies. The C-17A has a maximum payload of 170,900#’s and can operate from runways as short as 3,500 feet and as narrow as 90 feet.
The newly formed KC-46A Pegasus Demo Team also participated in AirVenture 2025 flying out of nearby Volk Air National Guard Base. The team is based out of Altus Air Force Base Oklahoma and is part of the 56th Aerial Refueling Squadron, they flew their first demo last November. The Boeing KC-46A Pegasus is based off the Boeing 767-200 airframe and entered service in 2019. The KC-46A has a 65,000# cargo payload and can carry 208,000#’s of fuel for transfer. The KC-46A is replacing another Boeing product that being the KC-135 Stratotanker. The demonstration included a high-speed pass with the flying boom extended and a low approach with the landing gear extended.
The United States Air Force Academy Glider Team also made an appearance this year. The team uses the DG Flugzeubau TG-16A, 2 seat engineless Glider and is part of the 94th Flying Training Squadron based at Davis Airfield Colorado Springs Colorado. The team demonstrated the unique capabilities of this glider as it is fully certified for aerobatics and can pull up to +7 g’s or -5 g’s.
The United States Navy FA-18F Rhino Demo Team made an appearance again this year. The team is based at Naval Air Station Oceana Virginia and is part of VFA-106 known as the Gladiators, they are the largest F/A-18 squadron in the United States Navy. The Boeing F/A-18 E/F earned its nickname of “Rhino” due to a distinctive protrusion on its nose cone that resembles a rhinoceros’ horn. The protrusion on the nose cone is an antenna for the IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) system. This also helps distinguish the Super Hornet from Legacy Hornets, this is critical as the Super Hornet requires different settings for carrier operations as it is larger and more capable. During its demonstration, the Super Hornet Aircrew will experience nearly 8 g’s, accelerate to nearly Mach 1, and will showcase the extreme maneuverability of the aircraft. VFA-106 received its first Super Hornets in 2004 and has over 90 aircraft currently assigned to the squadron.
The United States Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II Demo Team made its AirVenture debut this year. The team is based out of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort South Carolina and is part of VMFAT-501 (Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron) known as the Warlords. The Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II is the first 5th Generation short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter and is replacing the Boeing AV-8B Harrier II. The F-35B is powered by a single Pratt&Whitney F-135-PW-600 engine which produces 43,000#’s of thrust while in afterburner giving the aircraft a top speed of 1,200 miles per hour. The engine also incorporates the SDLP (Shaft-Driven Lift Fan) to allow STOVL Operations. When the engine nozzle is rotated by motors, thrust is vectored downward at the tail of the aircraft and is moved by a “fueldraulic” actuator that uses pressurized fuel as the working fluid. The F-35B’s system uses the lift fan to augment engine thrust, roll control during slow flight is achieved by diverting unheated engine bypass air through wing mounted thrust nozzles called roll posts.
VMFAT-501 was activated as VMF-451 (Marine Fighting Squadron) known as the “Blue Devils” flying the Chance-Voight F4U-1D Corsair and was initially based at Marine Corps Air Station Mojave California. The squadron would move to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro California when they transitioned to the Voight F8U-2 Crusader eventually upgrading to the all-weather Voight F8U-2N, with this transition they were redesignated VMF(AW)-451. In 1968 the unit transitioned to the McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II and was redesignated again to VMFA-451 (Marine Fighter Attack Squadron) the unit would fly the F-4J for 21 years. In 1987 the unit transitioned to the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet, they flew the F/A-18 until they were deactivated in 1997. In 2010 the unit was reactivated and redesignated VMFAT-501 to serve as the F-35B Fleet Replacement Squadron and moved to Beaufort South Carolina in 2014.
The United States Army Parachute Team known as the Golden Knights jumped at AirVenture 2025. The team was formed in 1959 and is based at Fort Bragg North Carolina, the team is comprised of over 100 active-duty Soldiers, Officers, Warrant Officers, and Department of Army civilians. The Golden Knights aerial demonstrations highlight the pinpoint precision of their ram air accuracy canopies, synchronized freefall and canopy formations, gravity defying wing suits, and high-performance landings. The team brought one of their two DeHavilland of Canada C-147A’s which is based off the civilian DHC-8-315 series airframe. The C-147A replaced the Fokker C-31A Friendship which the team operated for 34 years. The C-147A is powered by a pair of Pratt and Whitney PW123/B/E engines that generate 2,500 horsepower each giving the aircraft a top speed of 333 miles per hour. The Golden Knights also fly another De Havilland product the UV-18 which based off the civilian DHC-6 airframe, they have three of these in their fleet.
Due to AirVenture’s very close relationship with the U.S. Military they are always able to pull together as many military assets as possible. Although the fast jet teams are not always able to perform a full demo due to the size of the airshow box around Oshkosh due to safety reasons, they still perform an amazing routine of high performance and high-speed maneuvers. These teams put in a lot of time and effort into these short performances, be sure to thank these men and women when you have the opportunity for their service. Until next time, “Blue Skies To All!”
