April 9, 2026, 12:13 p.m. ET
- Air Dot Show Cocoa Beach might be headlined by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels on April 10 and 11.
- Tens of 1000’s of spectators are anticipated to watch the free occasion alongside Cocoa Beach’s shoreline.
- The air present lineup additionally features a B-52 bomber, an F-16 Viper and a rescue demonstration by the 920th Rescue Wing.
Back when he 10 years outdated, Connor O’Donnell was awestruck by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels in Brunswick, Maine. He remembers sitting on prime of his mother and father’ inexperienced Chevrolet Suburban watching that air present — “and it was the loudest thing I’d ever heard in my life.”
“And I would have done anything to fly one,” O’Donnell recalled.
Today, he flies as Blue Angel 5, the staff’s lead solo pilot. A Navy lieutenant commander with greater than 200 aircraft-carrier landings underneath his belt, he’ll showcase his piloting abilities during the Air Dot Show Cocoa Beach on Saturday, April 10, and Sunday, April 11.
“We’re pumped. There’s something about a beach show that is extra exciting, just because of the numbers of people that can go out and watch. So it’s always fun to see the folks having a good time down there,” O’Donnell mentioned.
The Blue Angels flew from Pensacola to Florida’s Space Coast on Thursday, April 9, touchdown at Patrick Space Force Base simply earlier than 10 a.m. amid wet, soggy climate. The squadron will headline this weekend’s lineup of army and civilian aerobatic performers — which contains a colossal B-52 Stratofortress bomber and the U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team.
Beachgoers and different spectators round State Road A1A can watch freed from cost, and Cocoa Beach Fire Chief Justin Grimes expects tens of 1000’s of individuals to descend on town and surrounding shoreline.
In explicit, Grimes predicted 5,000 to 10,000 spectators will converge on the air present’s “show center” headquarters space at Lori Wilson Park on State Road A1A. Stretching northward and southward from the park, the occasion’s two-mile prime viewing zone will lengthen between Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier and Minutemen Causeway.
The Cocoa Beach air present may also characteristic a fight search-and-rescue demonstration by the U.S. Air Force Reserve 920th Rescue Wing, which is predicated at Patrick. The wing phased out its old Pave Hawk helicopters final 12 months in favor of next-generation HH-60W Jolly Green II “Whiskey” helicopters. The demo may also characteristic HC-130J Combat King II plane.
Backstreet Boys star Howie D flew aboard Blue Angel No. 7 — pulling 7½ Gs and zooming up to 90% of the pace of sound — throughout an pre-show celeb flight Wednesday, April 8.
His pilot was U.S. Navy Lt. Ronny Hafeza, who will function narrator, advance pilot and VIP Pilot through the Blue Angels’ 2026 present season.
Cocoa Beach air present performer lineup
Opening ceremonies kick off at 11 a.m. each days, that includes the nationwide anthem and a U.S. flag leap by the RE/MAX Parachute Team. For extra info, go to the Air Dot Show web site at https://air.show.
Following is the scheduled sequence of aerobatic performers, which is topic to change and may final till about 2 p.m.:
- U.S. Special Operations Command Parachute Team.
- B-52 Stratofortress bomber “The Buff.”
- 920th Rescue Wing fight search-and-rescue demonstration.
- B-25J Mitchell bomber.
- P-51 Mustang “QuickSilver.”
- Super Decathlon piloted by John Black of Cocoa Beach.
- U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team.
- Air Force heritage flight.
- U.S. Navy Blue Angels.
In a press launch, Cocoa Beach police warned of heavy visitors congestion between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. each days — and once more instantly after the air present wraps up each afternoons.
“Families attending the event are encouraged to establish a plan in case a child becomes separated. Parents may consider taking a photo of their child prior to arrival and identifying a meeting point. Children should be instructed to seek assistance from a lifeguard, law enforcement officer, beach ranger, or event staff member if they become lost,” the press launch mentioned.
“Attendees are reminded to stay hydrated and remain aware of their surroundings. Boaters operating in the Banana River should expect increased marine traffic and are advised to operate with caution and follow all navigation rules,” the press launch mentioned.
Fire chief warns of harmful ocean circumstances
In the wake of this week’s heavy rainfall, flood watch and wind advisory throughout Brevard County, the National Weather Service forecasts principally sunny skies Saturday with a excessive close to 76 levels. Sunday’s sun-splashed temperature also needs to strategy 76, and easterly winds gusting up to 20 mph ought to persist this weekend.
NWS meteorologists warn of a excessive rip present threat in Brevard County surf zones by way of late Sunday night time.
“We’re anticipating lovely climate. So all the things’s actually lining up for an important present. But the one factor is, now we have actually tough surf circumstances,” Grimes said.
“There’s an enormous swell on the market proper now. There’s going to be heavy onshore winds. And there’s going to be a variety of rip currents,” he said.
“Everything goes to be actually inviting to come to the seaside — however the seaside goes to be extraordinarily harmful,” he said.
Grimes said air show spectators who enter the surf should stay alert and “have their head on a swivel,” avoid venturing deeper than waist-high water, and swim near a lifeguard. He said Cocoa Beach’s fire and police departments will increase staffing during the air show, but tens of thousands of people should pack the beach.
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Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY, the place he has coated information since 2004. Contact Neale atRneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
