Blue Angels Headline Air Dot Show in Fort Lauderdale This Weekend

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The U.S. Navy Blue Angels are set to headline the Air Dot Show this weekend in Fort Lauderdale. The highly anticipated event will feature a variety of aircraft performances on May 3 and 4, with the show beginning at 11:45 a.m. and ending around 3 p.m. both days.

Lieutenant Commander Natalia Luchetti expressed excitement about the event, stating, “We are looking forward to inspiring millions of people that may come out.” The Blue Angels last performed in Fort Lauderdale in 2023 and are eager to present their first over-water show of the year.

The top-tier performance will include the Blue Angels flying their F/A-18 Super Hornets and the well-known Fat Albert aircraft. Attendees can expect a breathtaking display of over 20 different maneuvers, reaching speeds of up to 400 miles per hour.

Commander Jack Keilty of the Blue Angels noted, “Our reception here has been absolutely fantastic and warm and kind. We are so fired up to send this weekend here.”

In addition to the Blue Angels, the Air Dot Show will feature the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor Demo Team, Florida ANG F-15 Eagles, SOCOM Para-Commandos, and a U.S. Coast Guard search-and-rescue demonstration.

This year’s show comes with some changes, including a reduced lineup from 13 to 7 elite performers, a decision attributed to scheduling conflicts, according to festival spokesperson Chris Dirato. “It’s an aberration, frankly,” Dirato said. “Some teams couldn’t slot Fort Lauderdale into their schedule, but it won’t be the norm going forward.”

Traffic may be affected around the show center at Birch State Park, with State Road A1A closing from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both event days. Organizers advise attendees to arrive early and use alternate routes.

For those planning to watch the show, several free public locations are available along the beachfront north and south of Birch State Park. However, spectators are not allowed to set up chairs on closed sections of A1A.

Tickets for preferred viewing areas, such as the Drop Zone, cost between $26 and $599. The Drop Zone allows for chair and umbrella placements while providing access to portable restrooms.

As the Air Dot Show approaches, excitement builds for this thrilling weekend of aerial displays on the beautiful Fort Lauderdale coastline.