The U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform for the crowd at the 2024 Cleveland National Air Show. They will return in 2026. (Joshua Gunter via TNS)
CLEVELAND, Ohio (Tribune News Service) — Two members of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will soar into Cleveland, Ohio on Monday, offering residents an early glimpse of the elite flight team that will headline the 2026 Cleveland National Air Show on Labor Day weekend.
Ronny Hafeza of Redondo Beach, California, and Lilly Montana of Vienna, Virginia, will conduct a flyover in their F/A-18 Super Hornets before landing at Burke Lakefront Airport at about 3:25 p.m. The pilots will meet with air show organizers and supporting agencies as part of a routine pre-season visit.
“We are thrilled to host the U.S. Navy Blue Angels for their pre-season visit,” said Air Show Executive Director Kim Dell. “And we are proud to be a Salute Across America 250 signature event.”
Cleveland is one of just 32 U.S. cities selected to host the Blue Angels in 2026. The full six-pilot squadron is scheduled to perform a one-hour, choreographed aerial demonstration during the show Sept. 5 to 7. Fans can expect the iconic Diamond Formation, known for its precise and graceful aerobatics, as well as the high-energy solo maneuvers that showcase the F/A-18’s speed and agility.
The most recent appearance of the Blue Angels at the Cleveland National Air Show was in 2024. The F/A-18s visit the show every other year.
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