All eyes will be on the skies Aug. 17-18 when the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow returns. For the first time in Colorado Springs history, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will be flying in Colorado Springs. That’s a big deal. Since this is Air Force territory, it’s usually the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds providing any precision flight routines or air shows in Colorado Springs.
Hopefully you have your tickets, because the Springs has responded to the rare opportunity to see the Blue Angels. Both days of the Colorado Springs airshow are already sold out. If you’re close enough to the airport, you can probably still see the planes flying overhead. Just note that there will be road closures, including Powers Boulevard, near the airport on .
All total, there will be more than 40 planes flying and on display at the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow. The performances kick off at 11 a.m. with the U.S. Air Force Wings of Blue parachute team, followed by a Bomber Parade at 11:20 a.m. An impressive lineup of flight performances continues straight through the day, culminating in the Blue Angels performance at 2 p.m. And you can browse many more display planes and helicopters on the ground before and after the air performances.
Along with the Blue Angels, it’s all those jets and historic warbirds that are the stars of the show, so here’s an introduction to the planes you’ll see performing at this year’s Airshow in Colorado Springs, roughly in order of their appearance in the sky.
The Performing Planes of the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow 2024
B-25J Mitchell
Nearly 10,000 of these twin-engine medium bombers were built by the end of World War II. The B-25 saw action in every major theater of WWII, and they gained fame as the aircraft that struck Tokyo in the morale-boosting Doolittle Raid in early 1942. Called PBJs in the Navy, the B-25s were used in many roles besides bombers, including as submarine patrol, trainers, reconnaissance and gunships.
After the war ended, many remained in service, operating across four decades. The plane served as a medium-altitude bomber, low-level ground attack aircraft, and mast-level attack aircraft against ships.
This Mitchell bomber, “In the Mood,” was built on August 29, 1944, and served its military career as a trainer until 1958. She was a spray tanker for about three years. “In the Mood” has flown off several carriers, was in the movie Pearl Harbor and is the only B-25 to takeoff from a carrier in dry dock.
F22 Raptor
The F-22 Raptor is the world’s premier 5th generation fighter aircraft. Stationed at Joint Base Langley Eustis in Hampton, Virginia, the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team performs precision aerial maneuvers at airshows around the world to demonstrate the unique capabilities of this plane. The team also performs with the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation to showcase modern day fighter jets flying in formation with World War II, Korean and Vietnam era aircraft.
P-38 Lightning
The twin-engine P-38 Lightning was one of the superior fighters of World War II. Though it flew in Europe, the P-38 was preferred in the Pacific because its second engine provided extra safety while flying over dense jungles and ocean. The P-38 was one of the first 400-mph fighter planes in history and one of the few with a 40,000 foot ceiling.
This particular P-38 was dug out of the jungle near Finschhafen Airfield, Papua New Guinea, where it had been buried following World War II. It was restored by WestPac Restorations in 2017. It has the most significant combat history of any of the National Museum of World War II Aviation’s aircraft. It was assigned to the 39th Fighter Squadron and is the only P-38 flying in the world today with known combat history.
Franklin’s Flying Circus
Kyle Franklin (Ben Whabnoski) is a legend in the airshow world and has become known as the “King of themed air show acts.” He has been performing at airshows full time for over 25 years, performing aerial feats that include wing-walking, solo aerobatics, comedy acts, motorcycle to airplane transfers, stunt driving, arial dogfight routines and more.
C-130 MAFFS
When all other civilian air tankers are activated to fight wildfires but further assistance is needed, the U.S. Forest Service can request the aid of the C-130s of the U.S. Air Force’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS). One Air Force Reserve and three Air National Guard locations participate in the MAFFS Program. The 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs is the only Air Force Reserve unit supporting the aerial firefighting mission. A MAFFS C-130 will perform a demonstration at the Pikes Peak Air Show.
U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler (F-18)
The U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler Airshow Team will be flying its specialized version of the F/A-18F Super Hornet. The team is based at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. The team is made up of crews and aircraft from Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (VAQ-129), the “Vikings.”
The EA-18G Growler is used for Electronic Warfare (EW) and Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). It replaced the aging EA-6B Prowlers. The plane’s most distinguishable features are the special wingtips housing the Next Generation Jammer technology.
In the last 17 years, the Growler’s service has spanned the globe in support of all major military actions. This plane is solely operated by the U.S. Navy.
Brewster Corsair
The Chance Vought aerospace firm designed and initially built the F-4U Corsair, one of the best all-around Navy fighters of World War II. Because of the demand during WWII, manufacturers including Chance Vought subcontracted additional production of their planes to other companies. The Brewster Corporation was one of the companies to open a production line for Chance Vought Corsairs, but only built 735 Corsairs. The operation was taken over by the Navy because of quality and schedule issues, and it eventually went out of business. The F3A-1 (Corsair Mk. III) was the designation for the Brewster-built F4U-1. This is the only flying example of a Brewster-built Corsair in the world.
Douglas SBD Dauntless
The SBD Dauntless was borderline obsolete at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, but the plane surprisingly became a hero aircraft of the war. SBD stood for “Scout Bomber Douglas;” instead, it was often called “slow but deadly.” Nevertheless, the SBD Dauntless became the most effective U.S. dive bomber of World War II, sinking more Japanese ships than any other Allied bomber.
It was most notable at the Battle of Midway in 1942, when four Japanese aircraft carriers were sunk. The stout, sturdy Dauntless gave American pilots the ability and advantage of being able to dive at a nearly vertical 80 degrees on their bombing runs. And the Battle of Midway represented the first decisive naval victory over the forces of Imperial Japan.
In 2022, there were only four known SBDs still flying in the world.
AD-5/(A-1E)
The AD-5/(A-1E) was the U.S. Navy’s first single-seat torpedo and dive bomber. The plane was designed during World War II, and it entered service in 1946. The plane performed well in Korea and Vietnam. Both the Navy and Air Force used the AD-5/(A-1E) in Vietnam. Its primary mission was close air support for ground troops, and it was the most accurate bomber of the Vietnam War.
TBM Avenger
The Grumman Avenger torpedo bombers came into service with the original designation of TBF, but it fared badly in its first combat at Midway in June 1942. Five out of six were shot down during an unescorted attack on Japanese ships.
In late 1942, the Eastern Division of General Motors built 550 similar aircraft designated as the TBM under a wartime contract with Grumman. The GM TBM-3 variants had added armor, wing guns and radar.
The TBM-3 could carry a 2,000-pound torpedo or 2,500 pounds of bombs. Throughout World War II, Avengers played a key role in sinking many Japanese warships in the Pacific and in protecting supply convoys from German submarines in the Atlantic Ocean while serving aboard escort carriers.
PBY Catalina
This versatile aircraft was a highly effective military plane from 1937 until the 1980s. The development of the Consolidated PBY Catalina began in 1933 when the U.S. Navy contracted companies to build prototypes for a patrol flying boat. The PBY Catalina began as a water-only flying boat, but it became amphibious when hydraulic landing gear was added in watertight compartments. During World War II, the PBY was used in anti-submarine warfare, bombing missions, convoy escort duties, search-and-rescue missions and cargo transport. It could carry 4,000 pounds of bombs, depth charges and torpedoes.
F3F Flying Barrel
Military technology changed drastically between World War I and World War II. The Grumman F3F-2 was the last Navy and Marine biplane fighter. It entered service in 1936, and retired from front-line service in 1941. Its short operational life underscored the Navy’s transition from biplanes to monoplanes. A total of 147 F3Fs of three variants were delivered to the Navy and Marines with this -2 having an upgraded, 950 horsepower engine.
Grumman Wildcat
The Grumman Wildcat was the U.S. Navy’s sole carrier-based fighter at the beginning of World War II. It was a contemporary of the Japanese Zero, but its performance was inferior in many ways. Still, the Grumman F4F ‘Cat held its own because of superior armament, rugged construction and well-trained pilots.
P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was a true workhorse of the Allied victory. Nicknamed the “Jug,” the P-47 was a heavyweight warbird that packed a devastating punch. The P-47 was a big plane, wider and longer than the P-51 and significantly heavier than the P-51 Mustang and British Spitfire. It was used as both a high-altitude escort fighter and a low-altitude fighter-bomber. And it was loved for its ability to absorb heavy battle damage and keep flying. When fully armed, a P-47 Thunderbolt could deliver about half the payload of a B-17 Flying Fortress. There are approximately 14 P-47s flying in the world today.
P-51 Mustang
The Mustang was one of the best and well known American fighter planes used in World War II. The single-seat planes could fly remarkably fast at high altitudes. They entered combat in Europe during World War II in 1943, providing much needed long-range, high-altitude escorts for the U.S. bombing campaign against Germany.
Though advanced fighter jets had pushed the P-51 Mustangs to secondary status by the Korean War, the planes continued to prove themselves useful. Their longer range allowed to strike targets in Korea that the short-range jets could not reach.
The P-51D ‘Stang Evil will be flying at the Pikes Peak Air Show. The magnificent specimen is the youngest “D” model Mustang still flying today.
F7F Tigercat
This twin-engine fighter was created to fly off of the decks of US Navy Midway-class aircraft carriers, but its low-speed performance characteristics made it generally unsuitable for carrier operations. Instead, it went on to be utilized as a land-based attack fighter by the United States Marine Corps instead. The Marine Corps preferred its firepower for close air support. The Tigercat production came too late to see action in WWII, but it did see action in the Korean War. Today there are only i seven F7F Tigercats flying in the world.
Fat Albert
Consisting of eight crew members and one C-130, Fat Albert Airlines is critical to the overall mission of the Blue Angels team. The C-130 support aircraft is the opening attraction for the Blue Angels demonstration. But Fat Albert’s primary mission is to transport 35,000 pounds of cargo and roughly 60 Blue Angels team members to every show around the country.
U.S. Navy Blue Angels
The precision flying of the Blue Angels is incredible. Since 1946, the Blue Angels have represented the United States Navy and Marine Corps to audiences at home and abroad as they showcase the excitement, precision and power of naval aviation. While most of the naval forces operate around the world, the 138 world-class, active-duty Sailors and Marines of the Blue Angels represent the heritage, agility, flexibility, importance and capabilities of naval aviation to 21st-century warfighting.
Most visible are the six combat-proven F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters, which will perform their supersonic maneuvers at the Pikes Peak Air Show. You will also see the C-130J Super Hercules, the Marine Corps’ premiere logistics support aircraft — read about Fat Albert above.
The Blue Angels team is stationed at Forrest Sherman Field, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, during the air show season. The squadron spends January through March each year training at Naval Air Facility El Centro, California. Its goal is to inspire a culture of excellence and service to country and to inspire young men and women to excel in all areas of their lives, whether that includes a military career or not.
Aircraft on Display at the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow
Many other aircraft will be on display on the ground at the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow, and visitors can explore inside them. Helicopter fans will be excited to see the Boeing AH-64 Apache. The versatile V-22 Osprey will captivate crowds with its combined flight capabilities from both helicopters and airplanes. The CJ6 Dragon Lady will give a rare look at a Nanchang CJ-6 Chinese warbird. Even ground lovers can enjoy a visit with a Curtiss Fox, a rare historic tank from the Mountain Fox Tank Corps. There will be many more planes of all sizes and capabilities as well.
Proceeds from the airshow will benefit Colorado Springs local aviation museums: the National Museum of World War II Aviation, the Fort Carson 4th Infantry Division Museum and the Peterson Air and Space Museum.
Find all the details at pprairshow.org
Explore More Military Aviation History
Many of the planes flying at the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow can be found at the National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs. Read about the unique collection in Fly High at the National Museum of World War II Aviation.
