Your first airshow is a long day outside on an open airfield, with some of the loudest machines you will ever hear. A little planning turns it from tiring into great. These tips work for military open houses and civilian shows alike – but the organizer’s own rules always come first.
Before the day
- Check the date and the line-up close to the day. Teams publish their schedules months ahead, but flying slots and individual acts are often confirmed only in the last weeks. Every show on our calendar links to its official source.
- Know how you get in. Many military open houses are free to enter; civilian shows usually sell tickets, and premium seating (chalets, grandstands, flight-line clubs) often sells out. Buy from the official site linked on the show page.
- Read the bag and item rules. Military bases search bags at the gate and may ban backpacks, coolers or chairs. See what to bring.
- Plan the journey. Traffic near the gates is the biggest surprise for first-timers. Our when-to-leave planner works back from the gate time.
Arrive early – really early
Gates usually open hours before the first aircraft flies, and the queues for parking and security grow fast. Arriving early gets you a better parking spot, a shorter security line and time to walk the static displays – the parked aircraft you can see up close – before the crowd gets thick. Many shows end with the headline team in the afternoon, so pace yourself.
Where to stand
- Near show center. Pilots fly their display around a marked center point along the crowd line. The closer you are to it, the more of the display happens right in front of you.
- With the sun behind you. You will be looking up for hours – and photos come out better.
- A step back from the fence. The front row is not always the best: a few metres back you see more of the sky and can sit down.
Be ready for the noise
Fast jets are loud enough to hurt, especially for children. Ear plugs or ear defenders make the day far more comfortable, and you still hear the commentary.
- Hearing protection Fast jets are very loud, especially for children. Ear defenders or foam plugs make the day much nicer.
- Folding chair or blanket You may stand or sit for hours. Check the show rules first – some sites limit chairs near the crowd line.
- Binoculars To follow the solos and the formations far out over the display line.
On the day
- Drink water and use sun protection – airfields have very little shade, even on cloudy days.
- Agree on a meeting point with your group; mobile networks slow down in big crowds.
- Leave drones at home: the airspace around a show is normally closed to them.
- Stay for the end – or leave a little early. Traffic after the last display can take as long as the drive in.
Ready to pick a show? Find an airshow, or browse by display team.