Oshkosh To See F-35, V-22, Growler Demo Teams

Air show season is on its way, following December’s International Council of Air Shows convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Traditionally, the event marks the best time of the year to  book upcoming acts for the 2022 season, and the AirVenture staff has secured early commitments from a few demonstration teams that aren't the most common around. The list is just the start, with the world's foremost civilian performers planning to fill out 9 air shows over the weeklong Oshkosh bash. For now, the EAA has begun teasing a few of the favorites so die-hard aviation enthusiasts have even more to look forward to. 

The U.S. Navy Growler Legacy Flight operates the EA-18G version of the Super Hornet, the successor to the EA-6B Growler's electronic warfare role. The team is a new addition to the air show scene, joining the circuit in 2020 from the VAQ-129 Vikings. They're a fresh change to the landscape, flying a mini-demo in conjunction with other Navy aircraft. Air show aficionados stand a good chance of seeing a Growler demo for the first time, this year, with the majority of the EA-18G's being a relatively recent addition to the Navy's Fleet.

The F-35 demo team will make its appearance for the 75th anniversary of the Air Force, showing off the latest and greatest the service has to offer. The Lightning II is an audience favorite in flight, with a distinctive silhouette and signature stealth coloration. The F35 Demo Team has been led by Major Kristin Wolfe since March of 2020. 

The Marine Corps' MV-22 Osprey Demonstrators have made the list, too, making a rare appearance for the 2022 season. They'll be coming in to show off their tiltrotor flying skills as well as the Osprey's impressive capacity for fixed and rotary wing flight. AirVenture is a must for audiences who haven't had the chance to see the demonstrators at work: the event is one of only a handful of showings on the team's calendar for the year. 

EAA AirVenture will run from July 25-31, 2022. Advance tickets are available and recommended for certain limited-space activities. Camping credentials, RV and aircraft parking, and early bird passes are available through the EAA website. 

FMI: www.eaa.org