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The 2004 Cleveland National Air Show presented by Discount Drug Mart kept the Cleveland tradition alive on Labor Day Weekend celebrating its 40 th Year at Burke Lakefront Airport and the 75 th Anniversary of the 1929 National Air Races. The Air Show also hosted a new Friday Night Twilight Show. The excitement mounted as the future of the show was in jeopardy amid news from the FAA only nine days before the event that air shows cannot operate (within three nautical miles) at the same time as a regular season major league sporting event. he highlight of the 2004 Air Show was the awesome X-Team Masters of Disaster routine with Shockwave the Jet Truck along with the C-5 Galaxy display and a B-1 flyby. U.S. Air Race Inc. made Cleveland the finishing line for it’s cross-country Marion Jayne race that started in California and ended in Cleveland. Unfortunately neither military jet team scheduled the 2004 Cleveland National Air Show. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, which last performed in Cleveland in 2002, were on an international goodwill tour to Japan, Korea and Guam for most of September.

Fat Albert’s JATO demonstration) and showcased its role in Aviation’s 100 year history as host of the “Golden Age of Aviation” and a focus on the National Air Races.  This included a Laird Super Solution and a simulated Unlimited Air Race with the restored 1949 Thompson Trophy Racer F2G Super Corsair  #57, a P-51 Mustang and a Hawker Sea Fury.  Other acts included a rare P-38 along with other warbirds that was punctuated by pyrotechnics, the first Cleveland appearance of the Firebirds Delta Team, another first-time Cleveland appearance by the US Air Force Reserve Above and Beyond Jet Car, a long-awaited return of Air Show legend Debbie Gary, the US Army Golden Knights, A-10 demonstration, F-14 demonstration and the always popular RAF Nimrod MR2. Clifford W. Henderson Achievement Award Unfortunately, unrelenting rain cancelled Monday’s show before the gates even opened bringing a very soggy end to the 2003 Cleveland National Air Show presented by Discount Drug Mart.

Although Saturday’s B-1 flyby cancelled en route to Cleveland due to aircraft problems and the Golden Knights aircraft did not arrive until Monday morning, the 2002 Cleveland National Air Show featured not only the Rockets Red Glare of the USAF Thunderbirds but an international line-up including the USAF’s A-10 Warthog, USN’s F-14 Tomcat, a beautifully painted CF-18 from Canada, the RAF’s Nimrod. Curt Arnspiger made his first return to Cleveland since 1995 and the Aeroshell Aerobatics Team made their Cleveland debut.  Shockwave thrilled the crowds and Ian Groom performed in the FedEx Su-31and a TBM, Zero and Corsair joined the B-25 “Barbie III” to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Doolittle’s Raid complete with Pyrotechnics. Vintage airliner buffs got a double dose of historic airliners with a Stinson Tri-Motor and a Constellation Aircraft on display. Static display aircraft includes NC6496 SN 207, a 1928 Stearman Mailplane that was owned by Continental Airlines in 1928.  It was based in Cleveland, Ohio and involved in a minor accident in Akron, Ohio on September 19, 1929. 2002 was the last presentation of the Clifford W. Henderson Achievement Award that personally presented by Henderson’s widow, Mrs. Marian Marsh Henderson as failing health has kept her from traveling to Cleveland from her home in Palm Desert.

Gorgeous weather greeted Air Show fans each day.  The featured line-up included the US Navy Blue Angels and Army’s Golden Knights.  2001 marked the Cleveland debut of the Swift Magic Aerobatics Team, Dan Buchanan’s hang-gliding act, Jim “Bulldog” Leroy, and the L-39 Albatross.  A MiG-15/F-86 dogfight commemorated the 10th Anniversary of the 1991 MiG-29 Friendship Tour and the sky roared throughout the day with a B-1 Lancer flyby, a demonstration of the Canadian CF-18 Hornet, the USAF A-10 Warthog complete with simulated bombing runs, and the USAF C-17’s first visit to the Cleveland. The Cleveland National Air Show turned back the clock and featured a rare formation flight of the restored 1949 Thompson Trophy Racer F2G Super Corsair  #57 along with a final appearance of Delmar Benjamin’s Gee-Bee R2 Replica.

Dense fog on Saturday and a wet, cold Monday spoil a terrific air show line-up featuring a W.W.II Bomber Parade led the by world’s only flying B-29 (“Fifi”) along with B-24, B-25 and B-17. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform in their sleek F-16s along with a flying demonstration of the RAF’s Nimrod. The US Army Golden Knights make a rare 2-team performance during Sunday’s show with both the Gold and Black teams. Air Racing fans are treated to a flying display of the F2G-1 Super Corsair that won 3rd place in the 1949 Thompson Trophy Race and a static display of the vintage “Pete” racer. Air Racing legends Cook Cleland and Dick Becker attend Sunday’s show. CASPA’s 2000 Challenge Series concluded with Sean D. Tucker’s repeat Cleveland and Series victory along with a seven-ship fly-over at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The Thunder…The Roar…The Challenge offers something for everyone.  The “thunder” of the Blue Angels headlined a full list of flying events including the “roar” of a P-51/F-16 “Heritage Flight” and Cleveland’s own Walt Linscott in his YAK-55. The “challenge” was intended for the aerobatics competition but it was better applied to the unusual amount of bird activity during the weekend.  The F-16 suffered a bird strike at the start of its performance on Sunday and Blue Angel #2 digested a bird upon departure Monday evening. In both incidences, the aircraft landed safely. As to the intended “challenge” Sean D. Tucker held off a fierce aerobatics battle against Rocky Hill, Matt Chapman, Mike Goulian, Ian Groom, and Gene Soucy in Labatt Blue Cup — the finale event of the CASPA‘s 1999 Challenge Series.

The Air Show returns as “Cleveland’s Labor Day Tradition” with the first Cleveland appearance of the USAF Thunderbirds since 1992.  The show also features demonstrations of the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the F-14 Tomcat.  Rocky Hill appears in Cleveland for the first time. CASPA aerobatics competitions make Cleveland debut when Sean D. Tucker edges out Patty Wagstaff, Gene Soucy and Ian Groom for the EGC/GBSA Challenge Cup.

Air Show moves off Labor Day Weekend in order to accommodate the appearance of the US Navy Blue Angels.  Show also features an F-104 Starfighter. Cleveland National Air Show Foundation completes and official dedicates Marjorie Rosenbaum Plaza at Burke Lakefront Airport.

Blue Angels perform their 50th show of their 50th Anniversary Season during the Cleveland National Air Show. Air Show celebrates Cleveland’s Bicentennial with appearance of Delmar Benjamin’s Gee Bee R-2 replica and a special salute to women in aviation with the Cincinnati-to-Cleveland 1996 Bicentennial Women’s Air Derby. Cleveland National Air Show goes Above and Beyond with rare “Flight of the Twin Engine Cats” F-14/F-74 demonstration. Cleveland National Air Show Foundation installs two F-4 aircraft, one each in Thunderbird and Blue Angel colors, at the entrance to Burke Lakefront Airport.

Return of USMC Harrier demonstration, final Cleveland performance of the legendary Eagle Aerobatics Team and fly-by of B-2 Stealth Bomber.  Matt Chapman makes first appearance at the Cleveland National Air Show. Commemoration of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Grand Opening with “Rocks the Sky” theme and Skydiving Elvises.   Music industry executives and icons of the music world, such as Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp, pass through Burke Lakefront Airport as part of the comings and goings of the Rock Hall opening festivities. The crew of STS-70 (Space Transportation System aka Space Shuttle) serve as Grand Marshal of the show.  STS-70 was a milestone in Ohio aviation history because four of the five crew members were from Ohio.  Representing the STS-70 crew at the who were Woodville native Commander Terrence “Tom” Hendricks, Troy native Major Nancy Currie, as well as Cleveland native and CWRU graduate Dr. Donald Thomas. Gene Soucy receives the Clifford W. Henderson Achievement Award and thus each of the three members of the Eagles Aerobatics Team, individually, have earned the recognition.