U.S. Demonstration Teams to Stage Remotely for Airshow London

The F-16 Viper Demo Team’s “Venom” jet sits in a hangar at Selfridge Air National Guard Base beside Thunderbird 8 ahead of Airshow London. Photo courtesy of Staff Sergeant Robert “Bobby” Harper.

A plethora of U.S. military jet demonstration teams have been asked to stage remotely this weekend for their only Canadian air show appearance of the year, Airshow London. Airshow London is hosting Canada’s first socially responsible and physically distant air show this weekend at the London International Airport in London, Ontario. The air show will operate under a drive-in format, and has already sold out for both Saturday and Sunday thanks in part to an all-star performer lineup.

The United States Air Force Thunderbirds are headlining the 2020 show, and are joined by the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team, the U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II Demonstration Team, the U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, the U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt Demonstration Team, the U.S. Air Force West Coast C-17 Globemaster Demonstration Team, and more. While there will be a large presence of the U.S. military in the skies above Canada, there will be very little on the ground thanks to federal COVID-19 quarantine regulations.

Initially, all of the U.S. pilots and support crew were planning to be hosted in London for the weekend, and were expected to be exempt from the two-week mandatory quarantine that is required for anyone coming into Canada from the United States. However, the Royal Canadian Air Force decided to go with an alternate plan in the best interest of the safety of the community. Now, the U.S. military demonstration teams will be based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Mount Clemens, Michigan for the big air show weekend.

The plan is to host all aircraft and a majority of the support crew in the United States, with a very small amount of critical personnel being allowed on Canadian soil to ensure safe execution of each demonstration. The jets will fly the 80 nautical mile trip from Selfridge Air National Guard Base to the London International Airport each day, something they often do at remote show sites. They’ll then fly back to Michigan after the conclusion of each demonstration, meaning no jets will ever touch down on Canadian soil.

This year’s Airshow London will also mark the first time ever that all four of the U.S. Air Force’s single-ship demonstration teams have performed at the same show together. Each of the demonstration teams have performed at various shows over the last few months, trying to salvage what is left of the shortened 2020 show season.

For the latest updates regarding this weekend’s Airshow London, and for updates regarding the remainder of the 2020 air show season, be sure to stay tuned to our website, social media, and mobile app. For more details on Airshow London, visit their website at www.airshowlondon.com.

The F-16 Viper Demo Team’s “Venom” jet sits in a hangar at Selfridge Air National Guard Base ahead of Airshow London. Photo courtesy of Staff Sergeant Robert “Bobby” Harper.