Blue Angels, Thunderbirds set for 7 appearances in 2021

The Navy Blue Angels will be making the most stops in Florida in 2021 with the Air Force Thunderbirds making only one air show stop and one flyover for the Daytona 500.

Both performance teams for the two branches of the military had previously announced their show schedules for next year, which looks to be a return to normality after many of their appearances were canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Blue Angels also announced their 2022 plans at the virtual International Council of Air Shows on Tuesday.

For 2021, though, the Thunderbirds will be the first to show up, making their annual flyby on Feb. 14 for the Daytona 500 over Daytona International Speedway.

Other than that, the Air Force will only be featured in the Cocoa Beach Air Show on April 17-18.

The Blue Angels, who have their home base in the Panhandle at NAS Pensacola, will headline six air shows across the Sunshine State next year.

They star April 10-11 at NAS Jacksonville for the NAS JAX Air Show followed by an April 17-18 appearance at the Sun N’ Fun Expo in Lakeland.

In May, they will appear at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show on May 8-9 followed by the Great Florida Air Show on May 15-16 in Melbourne.

After that, they will make their annual summer stop on July 10 at the Pensacola Beach Air Show and then end up their season like they always do with the NAS Pensacola Homecoming Air Show on Nov. 5-6.

For 2022, the Blue Angels will make their first appearance during a return to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, which was canceled this year. They will appear there on March 26-27, 2022 followed by a visit to the Vero Beach Air Show on April 30-May 1, Pensacola on July 8-10, Jacksonville on Oct. 22-23 and the Pensacola homecoming show on Nov. 11-12.

The Blue Angels’ complete schedule can be found at blueangels.navy.mil/show. The Thunderbirds schedule is listed at afthunderbirds.com/site/ show-season.

Admission to shows vary, with events at military installations traditionally free. Beachside shows like the Cocoa Beach Air Show allow for free viewing for anyone on the beach, but offer VIP viewing opportunities for a cost.

Check each air show’s website for more details.

JOE CAVARETTA /SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL One of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration team flies over Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport on Dec. 3. The plane and its two-person crew were visiting to promote the Fort Lauderdale Air Show, scheduled for May 8 and 9.