CLEVELAND — The 2023 Cleveland National Air Show is wrapping up with one final day -- Labor Day Monday -- at Burke Lakefront Airport.
“The 2023 Air Show features an unprecedented line-up of jets,” organizers said in a press release. “The show will feature U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds celebrating their 70th year of performing. Clevelanders will also witness jet demonstrations by the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier, U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, Air National Guard F-15 Eagle plus a mini jet that tops out at 300 mph.”
What’s new? How can you buy tickets? We answer all those questions and more in our guide to the 2023 Cleveland National Air Show below…
SCHEDULE
Gates open at 9 a.m. and close at 3 p.m. all three days of the event. There’s no entry or re-entry after 3 p.m.
TICKETS
Note: Tickets and on-site parking are only available in advance HERE. There are no ticket sales at the gate.
General admission
- $35 for adults
- $20 for children ages 6-11
- Free for children ages 5 and younger
General admission tickets are considered “lawn seats,” organizers explain, while suggesting guests to bring a lawn chair or blanket.
Box seats
- $46 for all ages
This ticket includes admission to the Air Show, a chair and access to a private concession area.
You can buy box seats HERE.
STAR OF THE SHOW: AIR FORCE THUNDERBIRDS
Headlining the 2023 Cleveland National Air Show are the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
“Each show day, the six select Thunderbird demonstration pilots will put their distinct red, white and blue F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighters through a choreographed 50 minute performance at speeds up to 500 mph and as close as three feet from each other,” organizers explain.
This marks the 70th year the Thunderbirds have been performing. They made their first Cleveland appearance back in 1965.
WHAT'S NEW?
F-15 fly-by: “The F-15 Eagle will perform a fly-by each day of the Air Show and is coming from the Louisiana Air National Guard 159th Fighter Wing, nicknamed ‘The Bayou Militia,’ officials explain. “The Eagle's air superiority is achieved through a mixture of unprecedented maneuverability, acceleration, range and avionics.”
Gas station in the sky: “The KC-135 Stratotanker will be performing a refueling demonstration at the 2023 Air Show,” according to the event’s site. “The aircraft appearing in Cleveland is part of the 97th Air Refueling Squadron, located at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, which is an Air Mobility Command air refueling squadron fueling America's global reach. The KC-135 Stratotanker is the core aerial refueling aircraft for the United States Air Force and has excelled in this role for more than 60 years.”
U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet: Calling all Top Gun: Maverick fans! This plane will perform a tactical demonstration each show day. “Fans inside the gates will witness it scream down the runway and take off from Burke Lakefront Airport.”
Explore more highlights at this year’s Air Show HERE.
AIRCRAFT LINEUP
The Air Show will also host a variety of display aircraft with visitors getting the chance to go inside the planes, meet the pilots and explore aviation up close.
Unique planes include:
- WWII B-25
- U.S. Marine Corps Harrier
- U.S. Air Force C-5M Super Galaxy, the largest plane in the Air Force topping out at 65’ tall
Commercial planes on the ground will range from a small Cessna used by flight schools to a United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX.
“The Air Show will offer spectators the opportunity to explore interactive and STEM based educational displays as well,” organizers said. “The Tuskegee Airman display highlights the first African-American military airmen in WWII and NASA will be on hand to share how it’s creating sustainable aviation.”
Want more? Here's what you can see in the air and on the ground.
EVENT HISTORY
“The Cleveland National Air Show has been Northeast Ohio’s Labor Day Weekend Tradition since 1964, attracting 60,000 to 100,000 visitors to Burke Lakefront Airport and making it one of the region’s largest annual events,” organizers say.
The Air Show has an annual economic impact of $7.1 million+ within the city of Cleveland.
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