The Blue Angels flew into Lincoln on Monday to kick off the official planning process for the Guardians of Freedom Airshow scheduled for Aug. 26-27 at the Lincoln Airport.
Matt Olberding
The Blue Angels flew into Lincoln on Monday to kick off the official planning process for the Guardians of Freedom Airshow scheduled for Aug. 26-27 at the Lincoln Airport.
Lt. Cmdrs. Brian Vaught and Thomas Zimmerman flew their F-18 Super Hornets to Lincoln on Monday morning to participate in a short news conference before meeting with the Nebraska Air National Guard, Offutt Air Force Base, Lincoln Airport and Lincoln Chamber of Commerce to do initial planning for the two-day event, which could bring as many as 300,000 people to the Capital City over two days.
Vaught called his and Zimmerman’s visit “really the first big step†in planning for the air show.
The Guardians of Freedom Airshow will be the Blue Angels’ first visit to Nebraska since they were last at the Lincoln Airport in 2016. The squadron had been in talks to return last year, but those plans were shelved because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President Jason Ball said local officials have been laying the groundwork for the show for more than 18 months.
“To have the Blue Angels back in Lincoln is incredibly exciting and will prove to be one of the most anticipated events of 2023,†he said.
Next year’s show will also be the first time that the 155th Air Refueling Wing of the Nebraska National Guard, based in Lincoln, and the 55th Wing, based at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, have collaborated on the show.
“Our commitment to a joint air show is an outward sign of roots that run deep between our organizations and our service members,†said Col. John Williams, commander of the 155th. “This is going to be one incredible show for Team Nebraska.â€
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It’s not clear what that will mean for scheduling of the Blue Angels at future air shows in Nebraska. Over the past couple of decades, the Lincoln Airport and Offutt have switched off, with each hosting an air show including the Navy’s demonstration team every couple of years.
The Blue Angels flew into Lincoln on Monday to kick off the official planning process for the Guardians of Freedom Airshow scheduled for Aug. 26-27 at the Lincoln Airport.
Matt Olberding
Lincoln hosted the Blue Angels in 2006, 2011 and 2016. They were at Offutt in 2009 and 2014 and had been scheduled for a 2017 show that was canceled.
Ball said a schedule for future Blue Angels appearances in Nebraska is being formulated and will be released at a later date.
Offutt has not hosted any air show since 2018, largely because of 2019 flooding that damaged the base, the pandemic and a runway reconstruction project that took more than 18 months and was just completed.
“So this is an excellent way for us to get back into the mindset of hosting an event of this magnitude,†said Col. Kristen Thompson, 55th Wing commander.
Right now, the Blue Angels appear to be the only participant in the 2023 air show that’s so far been publicly announced. There’s a website for the event, , that will be updated periodically with details.
The best of the Guardians of Freedom Airshow in Lincoln
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
The flight line behind U. S. Navy Captain Greg McWherter's Blue Angels jet erupts in flames during a pyrotechnics display in a simulated attack by an A-10 Thunderbolt during the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Air Park Sunday afternoon, September 11, 2011. Journal Star file photo
FRANCIS GARDLER / Lincoln Journa
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2016
The Blue Angels perform at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Municipal Airport on Sunday, May 8, 2016. Journal Star file photo
TED KIRK/Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2016
The Blue Angels perform at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Municipal Airport on Sunday, May 8, 2016. Journal Star file photo
TED KIRK/Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2016
The Blue Angels perform at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Municipal Airport on Sunday, May 8, 2016. Journal Star file photo
TED KIRK/Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2016
Regis Urschler acknowledges the crowd after his flight in a P-51 at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Municipal Airport on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Journal Star file photo
TED KIRK/Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2016
A P-51 does a flyby at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Municipal Airport on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Journal Star file photo
TED KIRK/Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2016
Lincoln's Doug Roth performs aerobatics during the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Municipal Airport on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Journal Star file photo
TED KIRK/Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2016
A F-22 Raptor shows the crowd where the bombs and rockets go during the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Municipal Airport on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Journal Star file photo
TED KIRK/Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2016
A B-25 (front) and a P-51 fly in formation at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Municipal Airport on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Journal Star file photo
TED KIRK/Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2016
A P-38 (bottom) and F-22 Raptor fly in formation during the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Municipal Airport on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Journal Star file photo
TED KIRK/Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2016
Blue Angel #1 starts his engines but smoke everywhere caused the cancellation of their show at Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Municipal Airport on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Journal Star file photo
TED KIRK/Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2016
A F-22 Raptor performs at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Municipal Airport on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Journal Star file photo
TED KIRK/Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2016
Lincoln's Harry Barr lands a Piper Cub on an eight-foot ramp on top of a Chevy Suburban during the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Municipal Airport on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Journal Star file photo
TED KIRK/Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2016
The American flag lands in front of the Blue Angels at Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Municipal Airport on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Journal Star file photo
TED KIRK/Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2016
The crowd starts to gather for the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Municipal Airport on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Journal Star file photo
TED KIRK/Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2016
A Nebraska Air National Guard KC-135 stratotanker refuels one of the Blue Angels on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, enroute to Lincoln. The Blue Angels will perform at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow May 7 and 8. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS/Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
The Navy’s Blue Angels fly in formation over the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at Lincoln Municipal Airport on Sunday, September 11, 2011. Journal Star file photo
TED KIRK/Lincoln Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
With dad John Bishop (left) pointing out their approach, seven-year-old Christian Bishop of Lincoln protects his ears from the deafening roar of the General Electric engines in the U. S. Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornet jets as they pass overhead at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Air Park Sunday afternoon, Sept. 11, 2011. Journal Star file photo
FRANCIS GARDLER / Lincoln Journa
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
A P-38 Lightning (top) and an A-10 Thunderbolt II do a flyby during the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Air Park Sunday afternoon, September 11, 2011. Journal Star file photo
FRANCIS GARDLER / Lincoln Journa
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
The Blue Angels in diamond formation stream smoke as they fly an upside down loop during their performance at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Air Park Sunday afternoon, September 11, 2011. Journal Star file photo
FRANCIS GARDLER / Lincoln Journa
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
David Backhus of Lincoln Fire and Rescue rings a bell in memory of Sgt. Patrick Hamburger, 30, of Grand Island, during a 9/11 memorial service at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Air Park Sunday morning, Sept. 11, 2011. Journal Star file photo
FRANCIS GARDLER / Lincoln Journa
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
"They'll make your skin goosebump," enthused Navy veteran R. A. Jones of Wilber, Neb. as he admires the A-10 and its' 30 mm gatling gun during a visit to the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at the Lincoln Airpark Sunday morning, Sept. 11, 2011. This A-10 fires 70 rounds per second and holds 1150 rounds of 30 mm cannon ammunition on board the aircraft. Journal Star file photo
FRANCIS GARDLER / Lincoln Journa
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
The Blue Angels perform at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
The Blue Angels perform at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
The Blue Angels fly in a diamond formation during their performance at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
United States Navy Captain and Blue Angels flight leader Greg McWherter salutes while taxiing into position at the start of the Blue Angels performance at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
Doug Roth, of Lincoln, performs acrobatic stunts in a S-300 Staudacher at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
Members of the Wings of Blue parachuting team from the United States Air Force Academy make a jump with colored smoke at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
Minday Anno lifts up her son Isaac, 9, to peak in the cockpit of a plane on display at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow in Lincoln on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. Journal Star file photo
ERIN DUERR/Lincoln Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
Spectators take refugee from the sun under the wings a display plane at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow in Lincoln on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. Journal Star file photo
ERIN DUERR/Lincoln Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
A member of the Wings of Blue parachute team drifts down after a jump during the Guardians of Freedom Airshow in Lincoln on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. Journal Star file photo
ERIN DUERR/Lincoln Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
Spectators take a seat to watch the Guardians of Freedom Airshow in Lincoln on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. Journal Star file photo
ERIN DUERR/Lincoln Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
Malcolm Sattler, 4, watches the show from the perch of his dad's shoulders, Scott Sattler, during the Guardians of Freedom Airshow in Lincoln on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. Journal Star file photo
ERIN DUERR/Lincoln Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
Spectators watch from the front lines of the Guardians of Freedom Airshow in Lincoln on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. Journal Star file photo
ERIN DUERR/Lincoln Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2011
A Pitts Special acrobatic aircraft performs a spin during the Guardians of Freedom Airshow in Lincoln on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. Journal Star file photo
ERIN DUERR/Lincoln Journal Star
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 1991
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform an intricate manuever at their airshow. Journal Star photo by Ian Doremus taken 9-29-1991. Journal Star file photo
IMAGE SERVICES
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2006
The Blue Angels made the finale flight at the Guardians of Freedom airshow, located at Lincoln Airport, Saturday, Sept 24, 2006. Journal Star file photo
MICHELLE LE
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2006
Peering out of a KC-135 R Stratotanker, Ty Thomas directs his kids Josh and Jake to the Red Baron in flight at the Guardians of Freedom airshow, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2006. Journal Star file photo
MICHELLE LE
Guardians of Freedom Airshow 2006
Sean D. Tucker, front, and John Klatt fly a Knife Edge formation over Nebraska's Memorial Stadium. Both Tucker and Klatt will be performing in the Guardians of Freedom Airshow. During his performance, Tucker will fly the aircraft backwards - straight down - tail first at more than 100 mph. Journal Star file photo
TED KIRK
Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com .
On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.
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