Breitling Jet Team To Fly At The Thunder Over Michigan Air Show

As a kid our house was located under the path that the jets performing at the annual Thunder Over Michigan Air Show at Ypsilanti's historic Willow Run Airport would fly their practice routines leading up to the event.  I used to run outside when hearing the jets approach and gaze up at them in fascination as they passed over.  My dad would also routinely take me to go see the show at Willow Run, which was the site of the world's largest bomber manufacturing plant built by Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh during WWII, which was always a lot of fun.  It's been awhile since I've been to this airshow but with the Breitling Jet Team headlining this year's event taking place on August 20 - 21 it seems like a good time to go again.

Supported by Breitling, the independent Swiss watch company, the Breitling Jet Team is the largest professional civilian jet team in the world, flying seven L-39C Albatros Jets within just a few feet of each other at speeds up to 565mph in precision routines.  This is the team's first ever performance in Michigan and they will be heading back to Europe at the end of the year as they wrap up a two year tour of the United States and Canada.  So if you want to see these highly skilled fast flying aerial acrobats first hand you'll want to catch one of their final tour performances which also includes a September appearance at the Canadian International Air Show in Toronto and an appearance at San Francisco's Fleet Week in California during October.

The Breitling Jet Team promises to amaze the crowds at the Thunder Over Michigan Air Show with stunning acrobatic maneuvers including Apache Rolls, Barrel Rolls, Loops, and their awe inspiring Vertical Split.  Imitating the precision of a Breitling Chronometer, the flight team's rapid succession of aerobatic maneuvers and gravity defying moves strives to provide audiences with a seamlessly performed ballet in the sky.

In addition to the Breitling Jet Team, the Thunder Over Michigan Air Show will also include appearances and demonstrations by the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, U.S. Navy's F/A-18 Hornet, a Russian MiG-23, a Russian Mi-24 Hind "flying tank" helicopter gunship, and a U.S. Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin search & rescue helicopter, among other aircraft.  Also the Batcopter from the 1960s era Batman television shows that starred Adam West and Burt Ward will be on display at the airshow alongside a replica of the Batmobile from the TV show as well.

For more information about the Thunder Over Michigan 2016 Air Show taking place on Saturday, August 20th and Sunday, August 21st please visit yankeeairmuseum.org/airshow. Kids 15 years old and under are FREE!  Tickets purchased in advance of the show online for adults start at $35.