Spirit of St. Louis Airshow Features the Blue Angels and Latest Military Jets

By Carmelo Turdo

The roar of military jets could be heard for miles during the Spirit of St. Louis Airshow & Stem Expo held June 8-9.at Spirit of St. Louis Airport. Most of the military aircraft flown during the airshow and on static display were products of the Boeing Company, the show's main sponsor. Among them were the Super Hornets flown by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, EA-18G Growler Airshow Team and Legacy Flight, F-15EX Eagle II and F-15 Advanced Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, C-17 Globemaster III, P-8A Poseidon, KC-135R tanker and 757. Lockheed Martin was also well represented with their F-22 Raptor, F-35C Lightning II and MC-130J Commando II. Other crowd favorites were the A-10C Show of Force Demonstration, P-47 Thunderbolt and Skip Stewart's unforgettable performance in the Pitts S-2S, Prometheus. 

The Aero Experience attended the June 7 "dress rehearsal" featuring most of the performers seen during the weekend airshow. This pictorial presentation provides an overview of the main attractions.

DC-3 STEM student flight arrival and static displays:

The Chuters opened the show, jumping from Matt Younkin's Beech 18:

Military Heavyweights - C-17 Globemaster III, MC-130J Commando II and P-8A Poseidon: 

USN EA-18G Growler Airshow Team and Legacy Flight with Corsair:

USAF Reserve A-10C Show of Force Demo:

Boeing F-15 Advanced Eagle and F-15EX Demos:

USAF F-22 Demo Team:

USN F-35C Lightning II Demo Team:

P-47D Bonnie, Dakota Territory Museum:

Skip Stewart Airshows, Pitts S-2S Prometheus:

Blue Angels U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron: