08/16/2026
Public Service Announcement Regarding U.S. Military Aircraft Participation
We have recently received several questions regarding the military aircraft participating in this year's air show and why certain aircraft or demonstration teams are not appearing. We appreciate the community's enthusiasm and would like to provide some insight into how the selection process works.
Contrary to popular belief, air show organizers cannot simply request a specific aircraft or demonstration team and expect it to attend. Every air show seeking U.S. Air Force support must submit a formal request through the U.S. Air Force's air show support application process. This application requires organizers to provide detailed information about the event, including the type of military support being requested, the show's ability to safely accommodate the aircraft or team, and how the event supports the U.S. Air Force's public outreach and recruiting objectives.
Once submitted, applications from air shows across the country are reviewed collectively by the United States Air Force. Final decisions regarding the assignment of demonstration teams and aircraft are made by Air Combat Command based on a variety of factors, including aircraft availability, operational commitments, scheduling, budget, and the overall benefit to the Air Force.
In recent years, the U.S. Air Force maintained four tactical demonstration teams: the A-10 Thunderbolt II (commonly known as the Warthog), the F-16 Viper, the F-22 Raptor, and the F-35 Lightning II. With the retirement of the A-10 Demonstration Team, there is now one fewer tactical demonstration team available to support air shows nationwide. As a result, many events that may have previously received military flight demonstrations are now competing for fewer available assets.
While we submit requests for a variety of military aircraft each year, the final assignment is not determined by our organization. We are grateful for whatever support we receive and remain committed to delivering a safe, exciting, and educational event for our community.
We sincerely appreciate your continued enthusiasm and support. We share your excitement for military aviation and will always pursue every opportunity to bring the best possible lineup to our air show. Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to welcoming you to another outstanding event.
Thank you,
TCWF Board of Directors
