What's New Archives

Appearance of Royal Air Force’s Nimrod.  Blue Angels perform in A-4 Skyhawks.

Thunderbirds return to CNAS now flying F-16 Fighting Falcons.  Golden Knights are featured at the show along with the first solo appearance of BD-5J Micro jet at CNAS.

Blue Angels perform in A-4 Skyhawks. Seven time U.S. National Aerobatics Champion Leo Loudenslager’s first CNAS appearance. The Royal Falcons, from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, appear at CNAS as part of their first North American Tour. Cleveland Mayor George Voinovich and members of the legendary Surfer-group the Beach Boys (performing in Cleveland Stadium over the weekend) attend the event. Pictured: Mayor Voinovich meets the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team.

Thunderbirds perform in T-38s.(An incident, unrelated to the event, in which a bird is sucked into the aircraft’s engine occurs during Tuesday morning’s departure causing the crash of the #1 T-bird aircraft.   D.L. Smith perishes in the accident.).  It is the last year they stage from Burke Lakefront Airport, future aircraft requirements will force them to stage from Hopkins Int’l Airport. There is a B-52 flyby and the Goodyear Blimp on display at CNAS.

Blue Angels headline show in A-4 Skyhawks, Bob Hoover performs and Gossamer Albatross (first human powered aircraft to cross the English Channel) is displayed at CNAS. RAF demonstrate both the Vulcan and Nimrod aircrafts.  Legendary golfer Arnold Palmer and Senator John Glenn attend the show along with National Air Race founder Cliff Henderson (his last visit to Cleveland).

50th Anniversary of the 1929 National Air Races. B-52 bomber fly-by and Thunderbirds perform in T-38s. “Thunderchicken” the world’s only sky-diving clown appears at CNAS.   Other acts include the USMC Harrier, the legendary Art Scholl, the Red Devils (later known as the Eagles), F-14 Tomcat Demonstration and a static display of the C-5A Galaxy.  Mudry Aviation demonstrates their CAP aircraft with a duo of pilots that would be dubbed “The French Connection” by CNAS publicists. There is a genuine wedding ceremony at Show Center. Pictured: Cover for the 1979 Cleveland National Air Show program, acknowledging the kinship between the original Cleveland National Air Races, and the air show that started up in 1964.

Blue Angels perform in A-4s. Formula One Championships were held at CNAS. Bill Falck, long-time Formula One Champion, perished when his plane, Rivets, crashed into the lake. Arnold Palmer serves as Grand Marshal.

Parker Hannifin sponsored a business jet race from the midwest to Burke Lakefront Airport and the event features an aviation industry Trade Show. Senator John Glenn serves as Grand Marshal. T-birds perform in T-38s, Formula One racing, CNAS debut of A-10 Thunderbolt. Burke Lakefront Airport celebrates 30th Anniversary.

Flying display included a restored 1925 Swallow biplane and a 1929 Ford Trimotor. Performances by the Eagles, then still called the Red Devils, the Blue Angels and Bob Hoover. Pictured: The Red Devils, from left, Charlie Hillard, Gene Soucy and Tom Poberezny.

T-Birds are scheduled to perform in T-38 Talons but three days of torrential downpour cancels show.