Blue Angels set to headline 50th anniversary of the Dayton Air Show on Saturday

Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal
·7 min read

The Blue Angels will head to the birthplace of aviation, Ohio, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 2024 CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show on Saturday and Sunday.

The annual air show, held at the Dayton International Airport, will have more than 200 aircraft for visitors to see and even tour.

Here’s what to know before heading to the Dayton Air Show.

When is the Dayton Air Show?

Gates for the 2024 CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Performers are expected to take off around 11:15 a.m. Gates will close at 6 p.m. each day.

What to know about the Blue Angels: Headed to your first Blue Angels air show? Here's what to know about the team

How much are Dayton Air Show tickets?

Here's a look at Dayton Air Show tickets:

General admission: General admission tickets are now $42 per person. Kids ages 5 and under are free. Families can purchase a four-pack for $99.

Pavilion: Pavilion passes give guests access to pavilion seating. Tickets start at $52 for the Saturday show and $50 for Sunday.

Photo tour/early access: Photo tour and early access tickets for Saturday are now sold out. Tickets for Sunday are $99 and give you exclusive access to the show's displays before the gates open, as well as photo tours.

P-51 Club: Sold out

Flight Line Hangar: Flight Line Hangar tickets include admission to the show, an open-air tent with six umbrella tables for shade, open-air theater-style seating on the show line, free parking pass and free air-conditioned shuttle service. Saturday tickets are sold out but Sunday tickets start at $109.

You can purchase Dayton Air Show tickets here.

How much is parking at the Dayton Air Show?

General admission ticket holders will park in the general admission parking, which requires a bit of a hike. Plan to arrive early to snag a closer parking spot and wear comfortable shoes.

Chalet, Flight Line Hangar and Pavilion ticket holders will park in the P-Lot. This parking area has a free shuttle service that will take you directly to the seating area.

There is also a separate handicap parking lot for all ticket holders with a handicap plate or hand tag.

Blue Angels schedule: Blue Angels release 2025 air show schedule. Here's where the team will perform in 2024-2025

What should you bring to the Dayton Air Show?

Organizers recommend general admission ticket holders bring their own chairs and blankets.

What’s the weather forecast for the Dayton Air Show?

The forecast for Saturday is expected to be hot and sunny, with a low of 76 degrees and a high of 96 degrees, according to AccuWeather. A heat advisory is in effect until 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Sunday will be much cooler, with a high of 87 degrees and a low of 67 degrees, but a thunderstorm is expected to impact parts of the area.

Meet the team: Ever wondered how to become a Blue Angels pilot or support staff? Here's your answer.

Dayton Air Show performers

  • The Blue Angels

  • USAF F-16 Viper Demonstration Team

  • Heritage Flight: F-16 and P-51D

  • U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue demo

  • T-34 Association

  • Tora! Tora! Tora!

  • Rob Holland Ultimate Airshows

  • Titan Aerobatic Team

  • USAF C-17 Globemaster

  • U.S. Army Golden Knights

  • P-51D Swamp Fox

  • Greg Koontz

  • Maverick and Iceman

Ground displays at the Dayton Air Show

  • B-52 Stratofortress — Minot Air Force Base

  • MQ-9 Reaper — Holloman Air Force Base

  • Airbus A400M “Atlas” — German Air Force

  • F-15 Strike Eagle — Mountain Home Air Force Base

  • F-35A Lightning II — Luke Air Force Base

  • A-10C Thunderbolt II — Moody Air Force Base

  • C-5 Galaxy — Travis Air Force Base

  • C-17 Globemaster III — Wright Patt Air Force Base

  • T-38 Talon — Whiteman Air Force Base

  • T-38 Talon — Vance Air Force Base

  • T-6 Texan — Vance Air Force Base

  • KC-135 Stratotanker — Pennsylvania Air National Guard

  • KC-135 Stratotanker — Atlus Air Force Base

  • KC-10A — Travis Air Force Base

  • T-1 Jayhawk — Columbus MS Air Force Base

  • F-16 Fighting Falcon — Ohio Air National Guard

  • F-16 Fighting Falcon — New Jersey Air National Guard

  • CH-47 Chinook — 158th Aviation Regiment

  • CH-47F Chinook — Ohio Army National Guard

  • UH-60M Black Hawk — Ohio Army National Guard

  • LU-72A Lakota — Ohio Army National Guard

  • PC-12 + Exhibit — NASA Glenn Research Center

What to expect at a Blue Angels air show?

If you’re never been to a Blue Angels air show, you’re in for a treat. Plan for an all-day event, from waiting in line at the opening gates to when the show wraps up about eight hours later for most shows.

Once the gates open, depending on which show you’re attending, you’ll likely be able to meander through vendors, claim spots to watch the show, enjoy performances from civilian and other military teams and learn about some aeronautical history.

There’s typically something to keep your attention every 30 minutes to an hour, starting with civilian and other military demonstrations and ending with a demonstration from Fat Albert just before the Blue Angels take to the skies.

Blue Angels pilots 2024

Here’s a look at the Blue Angel pilots for the 2024 air show season.

  • #1 Cmdr. Alexander Armatas — Cmdr. Alexander P. Armatas is a native of Skaneateles, New York. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering.

  • #2 Lt. Cmdr. Jack Keilty — Lt. Cmdr. Jack Keilty, is a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he attended Mount Saint Mary Catholic High School, graduating in 2005. He attended the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, where he lettered in football and earned a Bachelor's Degree in history in 2010. Upon graduation he was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy and reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, for Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API)."

  • #3 Lt. Wesley Perkins — Lt. James Wesley Perkins is a native from Pordenone, Italy, grew up in Georgetown, Texas, and graduated from Hutto High School in 2009. He attended Texas A&M University graduating with a degree in ocean engineering in 2014. Perkins commissioned as an ensign through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

  • #4 Lt. Cmdr. Amanda Lee — Lt. Cmdr. Amanda Lee is a native of Mounds View, Minnesota. She graduated from Irondale High School in 2004, where she competed in soccer, ice hockey and swimming. While attending the University of Minnesota Duluth, Amanda enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an aviation electronics technician (AT) and reported to her first command, VFA-136 "Knighthawks." She was selected to commission as a pilot through the Seaman-to-Admiral (STA-21) commissioning program in 2009. The following year, Lee attended the Naval Science Institute (NSI) for officer training in Newport, Rhode Island, and simultaneously began her studies at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where she received a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry.

  • #5 Lt. Cmdr. Griffin Stangel — Lt. Cmdr. Griffin Stangel is a native of Madison, Wisconsin, and graduated from Madison West High School in 2008. He attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in air traffic control in 2012. Immediately after graduation, he reported to Newport, Rhode Island, where he received his commission as an ensign in the United States Navy after completion of Officer Candidate School.

  • #6 Cdr. Thomas Zimmerman — Cmdr. Thomas Zimmerman is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from St. Paul's School in 2004 lettering in football, wrestling and lacrosse. After graduation, he attended the United States Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island, for one year prior to attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He lettered in lacrosse at both schools and graduated from the Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in ocean engineering, earning his commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in 2009.

  • #7 Lt. Connor O'Donnell (Narrator) — Lt. Connor O’Donnell is a native of Freeport, Maine, and graduated from Yarmouth High School in 2011. Following high school, he attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in operations research."

  • #8 Lt. Cmdr. Brian Vaught — Lt. Cmdr. Brian Vaught is a native of Englewood, Colorado. He graduated from Cherry Creek High School in 2004, where he lettered in lacrosse. After high school he attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration. Upon graduation, Brian worked in professional sports marketing and promotions, eventually attending Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, where he earned his commission as an ensign in the U.S. Navy in 2011."

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels headline 50th anniversary of the Dayton Air Show Saturday