2024 Wings Over Houston Performers
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/
Celebrating 50 years of the F-16! 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.
USAF KC-46A Pegasus
www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104537/
The KC-46A delivers more fuel at all ranges and from shorter runways than the KC-135 aircraft it’s replacing — while utilizing less ramp space than competing tankers — ensuring mission reach from forward and austere airfields.
Unlike many existing tankers, the KC-46A can also receive fuel, which significantly extends the range and flexibility of global mobility and power projection maneuvers.
The combat-readiness and agile-combat-capable design of the KC-46A enables more booms in the air throughout the operational theater, making it the ideal aircraft for refueling missions.
F-100 Super Sabre
www.collingsfoundation.org/aircrafts/north-american-f-100f-super-sabre/
Flying with 4 other aircraft in a “Tribute to Vietnam”
“The Collings Foundation‘s North American F-100F Super Sabre, USAF #56-3844 (N26AZ) is one of the only two flying examples of its kind in the world, the other being Dean Cutshall’s beautiful F-100F. She took to the skies again this past Sunday in the capable hands of Vietnam War Flight Museum’s Curator and experienced warbird pilot Rick Sharpe. This was the first time the jet had flown since the end of 2019.” – Vintage Aviation News
B-25 Mitchell "Doolittle Raiders" edition from Lone Star Flight Museum
lonestarflight.org/fly/north-american-b-25-mitchell/
The LSFM B-25 remained stateside during World War II and was converted into a trainer after the war for the USAF where it flew until the late 1950s. Acquired by the CIA, it flew covert missions during the Bay of Pigs invasion from Central America. Later, it would pass through several owners and was eventually restored in the late 1970s. LSFM founder Robert L. Waltrip purchased the B-25 in 1984 as the first of his collection that would serve as the basis for the Lone Star Flight Museum. Known as Special Delivery for many years, the LSFM repainted the airplane in 2007 in the colors of the Doolittle Raiders. It is the only flying B-25 painted in the colors of the Raiders and is the only civilian aircraft to feature the Doolittle Raider emblem. It is the official B-25 of the Doolittle Raider Association.
TBM-3E Avenger
lonestarflight.org/fly/general-motors-tbm-3e-avenger/
The Avenger was the largest single engine aircraft of WWII. Avengers first saw combat during the Battle of Midway in June 1942 and quickly equipped every U.S. Navy carrier operating in World War II, as well as many carriers of the British Royal Navy. Because Grumman was being pushed to produce F6F Hellcat fighters, production of the Avenger was turned over to General Motors’ Eastern Aircraft Division which built 7,546 aircraft under the designation TBM. These aircraft would go on to drop more tonnage in bombs and torpedoes than any other naval aircraft and would sink dozens of enemy ships including the Japanese super-battleships Yamato and Musashi. TBMs also accounted for 30 German and Japanese submarines as well as 98 enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat.
The key to the Avenger’s success was its versatility. In addition to its role as a torpedo bomber, TBMs were used for dive bombing, level bombing, night attack, photo reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, radar surveillance and light transport duties. Nicknamed the “turkey” for their slow lumbering movement and large ungainly appearance while coming in to land, the Avenger served into the mid-1950s and were supplied to allied nations such as Canada, France, England, Brazil, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Uruguay.
Info: Lone Star Flight Museum
T-6 Texan – Lone Star Flight Museum
lonestarflight.org/fly/north-american-t-6-texan/
The North American T-6 Texan was known as “the pilot maker” because of its important role in preparing pilots for combat. The T-6 was the classroom for most of the Allied pilots who flew in World War II. The T-6 trained several hundred thousand pilots from the United States and many other countries for over three decades. A total of 15,495 of the planes were made. Although not as fast as a fighter, it was very maneuverable and challenging enough to fly making it a great transition aircraft for the powerful and sophisticated fighters that would follow. The AT-6 was easy to maintain and repair and allowed pilots to train in all types of tactics, from ground strafing to bombardment and aerial dogfighting.
RE/MAX Skydive Team
www.facebook.com/Skydiveremax/
The Official Open to Wings Over Houston 2024!
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 2024 Wings Over Houston Airshow, October 26 & 27, 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.
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
The Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was formed on December 6, 2010 with the primary charitable mission of providing Heritage Flights to the public. These performances feature modern fighter and attack aircraft flying alongside World War II, Korea and Vietnam-era planes in a dramatic display of our nation’s air power history. Our formations serve as a living memorial to the men and women who have served – or are currently serving – in the U.S. Air Force, and we proudly fly in support of Air Force recruiting and retention efforts.
The Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation celebrates U.S. air power history by providing 50-70 annual Heritage Flight demonstrations around the world. Heritage Flights are flown at events ranging from open houses and air shows to sporting events, parades and funerals. Since its inception in 1997, the Heritage Flight program has supported hundreds of events and touched millions of people. The team currently consists of 10 civilian pilots qualified to fly vintage warbirds in formation with modern Air Force single-ship demonstration teams. In 2022, those civilian airmen are flying historic aircraft alongside the Air Force’s A-10, F-16, F-22 and F-35 pilots.
TORA! TORA! TORA!
TORA! TORA! TORA!
A Living History Museum.
Americas oldest civilian air show performance. 52 years and counting!
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
John and Shane McGillis
Father and son duo, John and Shane McGillis, will take to the skies for their third time 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.