Military Lineup

The US Air Force F-16 Viper Demo Team is based out of Shaw AFB in South Carolina. Major Taylor “FEMA” Hiester is the Team Commander and Pilot.

The F-16C Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself in more than 30 years of operations including air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. The F-16C can locate targets in all weather conditions and detect low flying aircraft in radar ground clutter. In an air-to-surface role, the F-16 can fly more than 500 miles, deliver its weapons with superior accuracy, defend itself against enemy aircraft, and return to its starting point.

The current red white and blue paint scheme is a celebration of the legacy of the F-16, paying tribute to the livery of the first YF-16 (test aircraft) which took flight in 1974.

The West Coast Rhino Demo Team comes to us from VFA-122, based out of NAS Lemoore, CA. They fly the F/A-18 Super Hornet – one of the Navy’s premiere carrier-based strike fighter aircraft. They deliver a thunderous demonstration which showcases the formidable capabilities of the Hornet. They will perform a series of dynamic maneuvers, to include a high-speed pass near 700 mph, a minimum radius turn – where the aircrew pull between 7 and 12 G’s, and a high angle of attack (AOA) ‘slow flight’ pass. The pilots/aircrew in the 2-seat F/A-18 are instructors and train our next generation of newly-winged Naval Aviators to fly the Super Hornet. Fly Navy!

Photo credit to Erik Haire

The Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk, from our US Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, is one of the most capable and versatile search-and-rescue platforms in the world. With a cruising speed of more than 160 mph, a range of over 700 miles, and advanced avionics that allow crews to operate day or night in some of the harshest conditions imaginable, the Jayhawk is the backbone of Coast Guard rescue operations across the Great Lakes. Its powerful rescue hoist, precision navigation systems, weather radar, and night-vision capability enable crews to locate and recover mariners, boaters, and aviators in distress when every second counts. The highly trained crews of Air Station Traverse City stand ready 24 hours a day to conduct search and rescue, law enforcement, environmental response, and homeland security missions throughout the Great Lakes region. Whether battling winter storms, dense fog, or towering waves, these men and women routinely perform missions that showcase extraordinary skill, courage, and dedication.

Our participating C-130J Super Hercules is from The Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123^rd Airlift Wing. The C130J Super Hercules is the newest generation of the C-130 Hercules family which performs the tactical portion of the airlift mission. The aircraft is capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the primary transport for air dropping troops and equipment into hostile areas. Using its aft loading ramp and door the C-130J can accommodate a wide variety of oversized cargo, to include utility helicopters and six-wheeled armored vehicles, in addition to palletized cargo and military personnel. It has a max payload of 42,000 pounds. The C-130J has an advanced two-pilot flight station with fully integrated digital avionics, heads-up displays, and state of the art navigation system. The 123^rd Airlift Wing is equipped with eight C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and is based in Louisville KY.

Get ready to see one of the most advanced maritime patrol aircraft in the world as VP-30, the U.S. Navy’s “Pro’s Nest,” brings the powerful P-8A Poseidon back to this year’s Air Show.

Based out of NAS Jacksonville FL, VP-30 is the Navy’s Fleet Replacement Squadron responsible for training the next generation of pilots, Naval Flight Officers, aircrew, and maintainers who will operate the P-8A around the globe. Using advanced radar, electro-optical and infrared cameras, electronic support systems, and sonobuoys, the P-8A can detect and track submarines and surface vessels across vast distances. The aircraft can also carry torpedoes, anti-ship weapons, and mines, giving it the ability to not only find threats but neutralize them. Don’t miss your chance to see the Navy’s premier submarine hunter and maritime guardian.

Photo credit to Mark Kolanowski

The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift helicopter used by our Michigan Army National Guard, based out of Selfridge MI. The helicopter has a long, low profile shape to meet the Army's requirement for transporting aboard a C-130 Hercules (with some disassembly). It can carry 11 troops with equipment, lift 2600# of cargo internally or 9000# of cargo externally by sling. The Black Hawk performs a wide array of missions, including the tactical transport of troops, electronic warfare, and aeromedical evacuation.

The primary mission of the MH-65E Dolphin is Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement, Rotary Wing Air Intercept (RWAI), and mission support for over two hundred local, state and federal agencies. The Air Station covers the southern portion of Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. During the summer months, CGAS Detroit operates air facilities in Muskegon MI and Waukegan IL, covering the southwest portion of Lake Michigan. Their Area of Responsibility encompasses more than 1,100 miles of shoreline from Saginaw Bay MI to the St Lawrence Seaway. In the last 2 years, their fleet has been upgraded to the MH-65E which provides enhanced search and rescue capabilities to include modern “glass cockpit” technology that increases pilot and aircrew situational awareness. The Dolphin upgrades also include reliability and capability improvements in the automatic flight control system, enhanced digital weather and surface radar, and multifunctional displays with more accurate fuel calculations.