The 2012 Air Show featured the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and commemorated the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. Cleveland experienced heavy rains Saturday night into Sunday morning which forced the closing of the air show parking lot due to muddy conditions. The Blues flew Sunday but folks were invited back on Monday to view the show as General Admission patrons.
The Bicentennial of the War of 1812 brought some unique features to the 2013 Air Show including a rare appearane of the U.S. Navy SEALS Leap Frogs Parachute Team on Saturday plus a “Pass-in-Review” of U.S. and Canadian Ships on Sunday. Cleveland was also one of 20 cities selected to host a Navy Week leading up to the Air Show which included ships in port.
History was also made when the Canadian CF-18 performed in two countries on the same day…at the Cleveland National Air Show and the Toronto Air Show. This may sound easy for a supersonic jet, but the idea posed a myraid of logistical issues: weather, timing, and coordination among numerious government agencies. Not to mention the biggest issue: how fuel the hornet. That’s where a CC-130 tanker came into play. After the CF-18 performed its demo in Cleveland…it refueled mid-air en route to Canada…then perfomered for fans at the Toronto Air Show.