Airshow Performers
Who will you see in the air?
New performers may be added leading up to the show, so be sure to check back here for the latest additions. Become an Airshow Insider and be the first to get updates!
Please Note: Performers are subject to change or cancellation without notice. If there are any changes, we’ll do our best to let you know. Thank you!
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
The Thunderbirds perform for crowds all over the world with the mission to display the pride, precision and professionalism of the men and women of the United States Air Force. The Thunderbirds will thrill crowds with each demonstration that combines years of training and experience and what the Thunderbirds describe as “an attitude of excellence” to showcase the Air Force.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon jets blaze through the sky, flying only a few feet apart from wingtip to wingtip. It gets loud and proud as Thunderbird solo pilots show of their skills as well as the maximum capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon – the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter jet. Get ready Sacramento!
Canadian Forces Snowbirds Air Demonstration Squadron
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Snowbirds signature 9-jet precision formation flying is conducted in CT-114 Tutor aircraft and has a very different feel from the fast and loud of US Demo Teams. The team is based out of 15 Wing Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan (it’s CRAZY cold there) and is composed of approximately 80 Canadian Armed Forces members, 24 who will travel to 30 locations across Canada and the United States for the 2021 season and will showcase the skill, professionalism and teamwork of the Canadian Armed Forces.
The Snowbirds are THRILLED to be coming back to Mather Airport to celebrate their 50th season, (their last visit was in 2018 for CCA’s 10th anniversary) they look forward to showcasing their aviation expertise (or aerial ballet as we commonly refer to it) with the Sacramento region.
F-35 Lightning II FULL Demo
The USAF F-35 Lightning Demo Team is BACK! Don’t miss this demo comprised of 14 maneuvers, showcasing its full capabilities.
On the slow end, the jet will get down to an airspeed of less than 100 miles per hour, just barely hanging there but in complete control. Then on the high end, the jet will take it up to just below the sound barrier for the high-speed pass. The jet will pull up to 9G’s, nine times the force of gravity, and carve into the air at huge angles of attack of more than 50 degrees.
Other demo teams may give you a sample of one or two of these maneuvers, but nowhere else will you see all the best maneuvers on the planet combined into one epic demo. There’s no filler in this demonstration, it’s a ‘light the afterburner and rage for 30 minutes kind of show’.
US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet TacDemo
The FA-18 E/F Super Hornet, also know as the ‘Rhino’, is highly capable across the full mission spectrum: air superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, aerial refueling, close air support, air defense suppression and day/night precision strike. Compared to the original F/A-18 A through D models, the Super Hornet has longer range, an aerial refueling capability, increased survivability/lethality and improved carrier suitability.
Air Force Heritage Flight featuring the F-35 Lightning II & P-47 Thunderbolt
CCA is excited to welcome back the iconic Air Force Heritage Flight! Watch the P-47 Thunderbolt fly side by side with the US Air Force’s most advanced and sophisticated multi-role fighter, the F-35 Lightning!
The F-35 is the U.S. Air Force’s latest fifth-generation fighter. It will eventually replace the U.S. Air Force’s F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt II’s, which have been the primary fighter aircraft for more than 20 years. It brings with it an enhanced capability to survive in the advanced threat environment in which it was designed to operate. With its aerodynamic performance and advanced integrated avionics, the F-35 provides next-generation stealth, enhanced situational awareness, and reduced vulnerability for the United States and allied nations.
The legendary World War II-era piston-engine fighter aircraft, P-47 Thunderbolt, with its distinctive twin booms and a central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament was most successful in the Pacific Theater of Operations, where it received its nickname “fork-tailed devil” by Allied propaganda.
Together, these aircraft will perform to honor the contributions of every man and woman who served in the USAF while sharing the importance of the US Air Force and its mission.
Kyle Fowler in the Long EZ
This one-of-a-kind performance features smooth aerobatic maneuvers such as loops, rolls, wingovers, and a ‘Humpty Bump’ highlighting Long-EZ’s distinctive canard design, often leaving the audience trying to figure out exactly how the airplane even flies.
Bob Carlton in a Jet-Powered Sailplane
You do not want to miss this graceful jet-powered sailplane’s aerobatics, which include lights and over 800 pyrotechnic devices. As the sun sets, Bob Carlton will own the night!
GhostWriter Airshows
Watch as pilot, Nathan Hammond, dances through the night sky in his 1956 deHavilland Chipmunk that has been specially modified for Airshow aerobatics. Nearly 3,000 man-hours, over a two-year period were spent on developing the GhostWriter into the finest example of a Super Chipmunk. It now boasts a cruising speed of 150 mph, and a range of more than 500 miles. It will climb at a rate of 2,500 feet per minute, with a ceiling of 17,500 feet.
Redline Airshows
Meet Ken Rieder and Austin Reider! This dynamic duo makes up RedLine Airshows, one of CCA’s most thrilling civilian aerobatic performers to date! Ken and Austin fly a thrilling two-ship show that includes formation, opposing and inverted maneuvers that will leave you on the edge of your seat. RedLine Airshows one of the performers featured in the Night Show! Get ready to watch this performance that lights up the skies over Mather Airport with heart-stopping aerobatics enhanced by luminescent flairs and showering pyrotechnics!
Patriot Parachute Team
These guys are the best of the best! The Patriot Parachute Team is veteran led and includes some of the most accomplished jumpers in the world! We’re talking former members of Navy SEAL Team, Navy Leap Frogs and Air Force Wings of Blue! Performing all over the country, this team not only thrills audiences with their dramatic drop from the skies, but also inspires people from all walks of life with their mission. Each team member has a proud military history and uses their time at airshows to connect with other veterans and inspire young people. Stick close to the crowd line because the Patriots Parachute Team will be looking to get up close and personal, passing out high fives and fist bumps right after they land.
Stay tuned for more performer announcements!
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