The need for increased security at U.S. military installations linked to the war with Iran has impacted the air show season, particularly performances by the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels.
Blue Angels air shows are often held at military bases. The heightened security measures coupled with what they called “heightened security measures and changing force protection requirements” prompted them to cancel at least two events this season.
The Navy Aviators’ first show is scheduled for March 14 in El Centro, California. But on March 4, the Naval Air Station (NAS) El Centro Flying Festival announced in a Facebook post that it was canceling the event.
Organizers of the show scheduled for March 21 and 22 at NAS Lemoore have followed suit.
The Blue Angels 2026 air show schedule remains posted on its webpage, but dates are subject to change as the Navy reallocates resources.
As of Thursday afternoon, shows were scheduled for April 11-12 in Cocoa Beach, Florida, April 18-19 at NAS Kingsville, Texas, and April 25-26 in Vidalia, Georgia.
Several events are scheduled for the remainder of the show year, which usually ends in November.
There is no “Fat Albert”
There was one notable absence from the Blue Angels’ demonstrations this year. The Blue Angels’ C-130J Super Hercules “Fat Albert” will not fly the mission as the aircraft undergoes long-term maintenance in the UK.
The Lockheed Martin C-130 has been part of the Blue Angels air show since 1970.
In November, the C-130J aircraft entered a maintenance phase to replace its one-piece center wing box, which will extend the aircraft’s service life by decades.
The C-130J was purchased from the Royal Air Force in 2019 and designated C5 ZH885. The aircraft was refurbished and repainted at Marshall Aerospace before being sent stateside to perform with the Blue Angels starting in 2020.
Fat Albert was often the opening act. The behemoth performed a 15-minute demonstration of high-speed, low-altitude flight, steep climbs and turns, ending with a combat landing, leaving the audience enthusiastic. The aircraft is a fan favorite and many come specifically to see it perform.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the creation of the Naval Precision Flying Team.
The Blue Angels were founded in 1946 and their pilots fly Grumman F6F-5s. The first military display was held in June at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, as a means of boosting morale after World War II. The first public performance was held in Omaha, Nebraska, in July.
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