Which jet is that? These are the military aircraft you are most likely to see flying at an American airshow, with their main figures from the official U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy fact sheets and the teams that fly them.
| Aircraft | Seen with | Top speed | Engines and thrust |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-16 Fighting Falcon | Thunderbirds, F-16 Viper Demo Team | Mach 2 | 1 engine, 27,000 lb |
| F/A-18E/F Super Hornet | Blue Angels, Navy tactical demos | Mach 1.8+ | 2 engines, about 22,000 lb each |
| C-130J Super Hercules | Fat Albert (Blue Angels) | 417 mph cruise | 4 turboprops, 4,700 hp each |
| F-22 Raptor | F-22 Raptor Demo Team | Mach 2 class | 2 engines, 35,000 lb class each |
| F-35A Lightning II | F-35A Demo Team | Mach 1.6 | 1 engine, 43,000 lb |
Each page has the full figures, how the show jets differ from standard ones, and where to see them in 2027. We add more aircraft as we check their fact sheets.
Planning a day out? See first airshow tips and the airshow calendar.
Specifications from the official fact sheets linked below, which are U.S. government works. Researched from those pages, not measured by us. Checked November 9, 2026.
See them fly: our aerobatics video gallery has free clips of the Blue Angels, the F-16 Viper Demo Team and the F-22 Raptor Demo Team.
Worth bringing
- Hearing protection Fast jets are very loud, especially for children. Ear defenders or foam plugs make the day much nicer.
- Sun protection Airfields have little shade: hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, even on cloudy days.
- Folding chair or blanket You may stand or sit for hours. Check the show rules first – some sites limit chairs near the crowd line.
Check each show’s own rules for allowed items. Full list: what to bring to an airshow.