U.S. Navy Blue Angels Demonstration Team
Headlining this year’s event:
The Blue Angels are the United States Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, with aviators from the Navy and Marines. The Blue Angels’ six demonstration pilots currently fly the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, typically in more than 60 shows at 30 locations throughout the United States and Canada each year, where they still employ many of the same practices and techniques used in their aerial displays in their inaugural 1946 season.
An estimated 11 million spectators view the squadron during air shows from March through November each year. Members of the Blue Angels team also visit more than 50,000 people in schools, hospitals, and community functions at air show cities. Since 1946, the Blue Angels have flown for more than 505 million spectators.
USAF F-16 Viper Demo
www.shaw.af.mil/Viper-Demo-Team/
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-seat, multi-mission fighter with the ability to switch from an air-to-ground to air-to-air role at the touch of a button. With its lightweight airframe and powerful General Electric engine generating 31,000 pounds of thrust, the F-16 can fly at speeds in excess of Mach 2. F-16 Factsheet
C-17 Globemaster III
The massive Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is the newest and one of the largest aircrafts in the Air Force inventory. Weighing in at a maximum takeoff weight of 585,000 pounds and flying as fast as 590 mph the 200-foot-long C-17 will show off its impressive aerial capability. The C-17’s primary mission is to transport equipment, supplies and troops around the world. The 62nd Airlift Wing is the active duty wing on McChord Field. The 62nd Airlift Wing is joined by its Reserve partner the 446th Airlift Wing. Together, the two wings fly 50 C-17 Globemaster IIIs to provide combat airlift for America.
U.S. Navy Leap Frogs
The U.S. Navy Parachute Team began in 1969 when Navy SEALs and Underwater Demolition Team members volunteered to perform at weekend air shows. The team was officially commissioned “The Leap Frogs” in 1974 by the Chief of Naval Operations with the mission to demonstrate Navy excellence throughout the United States. Each team member has conducted real-world operations before volunteering to join this elite unit known as the Leap Frogs. Following a three-year commitment with the Navy Parachute Team, they will return to their operational units.
The United States Navy Parachute Team “The Leap Frogs” is the official parachute demonstration team of the United States Navy. Part of the United States Naval Special Warfare Command. The Leap Frogs Navy Parachute Team is made up of active-duty Navy SEALs, Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) and support personnel. The team is sanctioned by the Department of Defense and recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration.
RE/MAX Skydive Team
www.facebook.com/Skydiveremax/
The Official Open to Wings Over Houston 2022!
The RE/MAX Skydiving Team is delivering it’s show-stopping performance to thousands of Texans this fall at some of our region’s grandest outdoor event venues. This year, the team will officially open the 2022 Wings Over Houston Airshow, October 29 & 30, with a skydive choreographed to the National Anthem.
According to RE/MAX of Texas, between the four jumpers, they have more than 100 years of jump experience and more than 15,000 jumps. These experienced jumpers will leap from a plane at 4,500 feet and experience a 120mph free fall. You can easily find these jumpers in the air by looking for Texan and American flags flying down with them.
Extreme Flight with Patrick McAlee
Extreme Flight is a highly-skilled professional airshow team that mixes its intensity, passion, and personality to produce a unique and entertaining airshow for ALL! Patrick McAlee is a professional airshow pilot who executes his maneuvers to a choreographed music playlist all while practicing precision, professionalism, and safety. This airshow pilot mixes his intense personality with his hardcore passion. McAlee flies the Pitts S1-S lovingly nicknamed the “Blue Demon”. At 235 horsepower, and an airshow speed of 210+, this performance is sure to impress.
US Coast Guard Air Station — Houston
www.facebook.com/USCoastGuardAirStaHouston
Air Station Houston will demonstrate the team work it takes to provide rescue services. Providing an all-weather 24/7 Search and Rescue (SAR) capability to the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast since 1963. With three MH-65D “Dolphin” helicopters, AIRSTA Houston’s AOR extends from the Colorado River to White Lake, Louisiana.
US Air Force Heritage Flight-P51 and F-16 Viper
www.airforceheritageflight.org
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force (USAF), the Heritage Flight program was founded in 1997. Heritage Flight performances of current fighter/attack aircraft flying with World War II, Korea and Vietnam era fighters dramatically display USAF air power history and honor the brave men and women who have served, or are currently serving, in the USAF. In 2010, the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was formed to keep this popular program flying.
138th Fighter Wing — Tulsa Air National Guard
The 138th Fighter Wing based at Ellington will open the show with a full afterburner take off as they depart on a training exercise.
Their mission statement: Maintain combat forces ready for mobilization, deployment and employment as needed to support national security objectives.
TORA! TORA! TORA!
TORA! TORA! TORA!
A Living History Museum.
Americas oldest civilian air show performance. 50th year anniversary!
Many people have the opportunity to travel to visit a museum but rarely does the museum come to visit you. Attending an air show where “Tora Tora Tora” is performing is like having a 3-D museum come to visit you. “Tora Tora Tora” is the Commemorative Air Force’s recreation of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that signaled the beginning of the American involvement in World War II. Designed as a living history lesson, “Tora Tora Tora” is intended as a memorial to all the soldiers on both sides who gave their lives for their countries.
Wings Over Houston is proud to be considered it’s home air show.
Commemorative Air Force
Air Power Demonstration
Featuring famous battle reenactments with pyrotechnics simulating a near real experience.
Aircraft from Commemorative Air Force, Houston Wing-CAF, Tora! Tora! Tora!-CAF, Gulf Coast Wing-CAF, Vietnam War Flight Museum
Debby Rihn-Harvey
Debby Rihn-Harvey is a member of the Wings over Houston airshow board of directors and the winner of multiple world aerobatic championships. She is one of the highest ranked aerobatics competitors in the United States. In 2011, she won the Betty Skelton “First Lady of Aerobatics” Trophy with performances that made her the highest scoring female competitor for the thirteenth time.
Rihn-Harvey is also the longest standing member of the U.S. Unlimited Aerobatics Team, qualifying to represent the U.S. fifteen times in World Aerobatic Championships in North America and Europe. In world competition, Rihn-Harvey has been a Gold Medalist as well as holding many regional titles.
In recognition of her many accomplishments, she was inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame in 2003, the EAA Sport Aviation Hall of Fame in 2007, received the Lloyd P. Nolen Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010, and, in 2012, the International Ninety Nines Award of Achievement for Contributions to Aviation.
John and Shane McGillis
Father and son duo, John and Shane McGillis, will take to the skies for the very first time ever at the Wings Over Houston Airshow. No stranger to this show, John and Shane live in Houston. In fact, they are tenants of Ellington Airport! They will be flying a pair of Extra 330 lx aircraft. Both men have thousands of hours flying many different airplanes and helicopters, and are very excited to be fulfilling a lifelong dream of performing aerobatics together. John passed his love of aviation down to Shane, who is also sharing that bond with his young son.
