Blue Angels, Warbirds And More: Why Thousands Are Expected At The NAS Patuxent River Air Show

LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — As thousands prepare to descend on Naval Air Station Patuxent River for the 2026 NAS Patuxent River Air Show, organizers say the event offers much more than high-speed aerial demonstrations and crowd-favorite performances from the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

According to NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs Officer Patrick Gordon, the air show serves as a rare opportunity for the public to step inside one of the nation’s premier aviation research, testing and evaluation centers while enjoying a weekend filled with military aircraft, historic warbirds, aerobatic performances and family activities.

“It’s hard to describe in one word, but if I did, it’d have to be breathtaking,” Gordon said in an interview with The BayNet. “One of the things we really try to do with events like this is bring the public on board to a place they might not have regular access to and show them all the things that we do here at Pax for our very unique research, test, development and evaluation mission.”

Gordon said the installation’s mission partners spend every day evaluating some of the newest technologies in naval aviation, making the air show an important opportunity to showcase how taxpayer-funded programs contribute to national defense.

“To be able to bring the public on board, show them how their tax dollars are spent and show them the things that they can see up in the air throughout the day up close and personal is something that’s really important for us,” Gordon said.

In addition to the Blue Angels, this year’s lineup features a diverse collection of military and civilian performers, including the French Air and Space Force’s demonstration team, Patrouille de France, which Gordon described as a particularly fitting addition during America’s 250th anniversary year.

“We have such a long history in the U.S. military working with the French military all the way back to 1776,” Gordon said. “I can’t think of a better act to come here for the nation’s 250th birthday than that French aerial demonstration team.”

Other featured performers include the U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, the U.S. Naval Academy’s SkyGoats parachute demonstration team and several world-class aerobatic performers.

For aviation enthusiasts, Gordon said one of the most unique aspects of the air show is the opportunity to view static aircraft displays and interact directly with the pilots, maintainers and crews who operate them.

“We have a lot of static displays that will be on the grounds of the event space,” Gordon said. “The squadron aircraft that we use here every day at Pax are on the ground with the people that fly and maintain them there to answer questions from the public and really get a feel for the variety of missions that we test for here.”

Families can also enjoy children’s activities, Military Morale, Welfare and Recreation attractions and educational opportunities designed to inspire future generations of aviators, engineers and military professionals.

Among the returning favorites is Larry Kelly’s B-25 Mitchell bomber, Panchito, a restored World War II aircraft that Gordon said plays a role beyond air show demonstrations.

“He actually works with the Naval Test Pilot School here to help train the test pilots in the curriculum at the test pilot school by letting them fly his B-25 as a way to get them out of their comfort zone while they’re learning to be flight test pilots and engineers,” Gordon said, referring to Larry Kelly’s B-25 Mitchell bomber, Panchito.

The aircraft’s appearance alongside modern military jets offers visitors a unique perspective on aviation history and technological advancement.

“I love to see these historic aircraft alongside the latest and greatest in naval aviation technology because it really gives the audience a chance to see how far we’ve come in just 80 years of aviation technology,” Gordon said.

For Gordon, the air show ultimately represents an opportunity to strengthen the connection between NAS Patuxent River and the Southern Maryland community that supports it.

“We’re here for the public,” Gordon said. “To be able to bring them on board and show them what we work on is really special for us.”

The NAS Patuxent River Air Show is scheduled for June 20-21 aboard NAS Patuxent River and will feature military demonstrations, civilian aerobatic performances, static aircraft displays, family activities and appearances by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

For admissions, pricing, accessibility and additional details about the event, visit: https://www.paxriverairshow.com

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