Cleveland National Airshow Celebrates 60th Anniversary Showcasing Past and Present in the Skies

CLEVELAND – The Cleveland National Airshow is set to take off this Labor Day weekend, marking its 60th anniversary with a spectacular lineup of aerial performances and a celebration of the city’s rich aviation history. Since its inception in 1964, the airshow has become a staple of Cleveland’s cultural calendar, drawing crowds to Burke Lakefront Airport to witness the best in aviation.

Cleveland 13 prepared for the big event with Gremi, host of 'Cleve-It To Us,' exploring the action at Burke Lakefront Airport. Gremi met with key figures responsible for organizing the airshow each year, as well as members of the air teams that will be thrilling audiences this weekend.

The airshow officially begins on Saturday, August 31, and runs through Labor Day, with the schedule remaining consistent each year to ensure that “Labor Day weekend in Cleveland is Airshow Weekend,” as Gremi put it.

While Gremi covered the preparations at Burke Lakefront, Nikkie Brown, host of Cleveland 13’s new segment 'Hit The Town w/ Nikkie Brown,' visited the Crawford Auto and Aviation Museum at the Cleveland History Center. There, she met with John Lutsch, the museum's curator, who provided insights into the history that preceded the Cleveland National Airshow. Lutsch explained that the Cleveland Air Races, which began in 1929, took place at Cleveland Hopkins National Airport when it was the largest in the country. At that time, Hopkins’ open space allowed more than a dozen planes to take off simultaneously, as runways were not yet standard.

“The National Air Races stopped in Cleveland in 1949 after a tragic event and made their new home in Reno, Nevada, where they’ve been ever since for safety reasons,” Lutsch said. He also mentioned that the organization is currently looking for a new city to host the races. This history highlights Cleveland’s longstanding connection to aviation, from the early days of flight to today’s cutting-edge technology.

Nikkie and John also discussed the significant contributions of women to aviation, focusing on the barriers they faced in the early 20th century. “Aviation schools would not allow women to participate,” Lutsch noted. “But in 1929, that all changed, and Cleveland was a big part of it.” Nikkie learned that aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart once flew in Cleveland, and today, the city is home to extensive collections dedicated to women in aviation at both the Crawford Museum and the International Women’s Air & Space Museum, located at Burke Lakefront Airport.

At Burke Lakefront, Gremi had the chance to meet some of the Blue Angels crew members. Hanging out by Blue Angel Number 3, he spoke with Lieutenant Junior Grade Mara Mason, a Dayton, Ohio, native and the Blue Angels' Supply Chain Officer. “We take care of acquisitioning all of the parts to make sure that the aircraft are safe, and then everything they need to fly as far as gear, what we wear, everything they use in the aircraft, and make sure everyone is safe to fly,” Mason explained.

Gremi also met Andres Widhalm, a Blue Angels mechanic from Medellin, Colombia. Widhalm shared his excitement about being part of the Blue Angels team. “I joined the Navy to be a structural mechanic, so being in the Blue Angels is that job times one hundred...my job here is a Crew Chief, so I make sure that the airplane is good to go for the pilot, before the demonstrations and before we transit home,” Widhalm said.

Nikkie and John Lutsch also delved into the history of the Wright Brothers, noting that while their first flight didn’t take place in Cleveland, the first airplane was built here. Gremi explored this history further during a tour of the International Women’s Air & Space Museum, where he learned about Katharine Wright Haskell, the sister of Wilbur and Orville Wright. Katharine played a crucial role in her brothers' journey to human flight and was the only Wright sibling to earn a college degree, graduating in 1898. “Katharine was intellectually curious and determined to become financially independent,” Gremi explained.

At the airstrip, Gremi met with Kim Dell, the first-ever female Executive Director of the Cleveland National Airshow, who has been in the role for over 30 years. Dell highlighted some of this year’s key attractions, including the last chance to see the U.S. Air Force A-10 tactical demonstration. “The Air Force is phasing that out, so this event is the last time for Clevelanders to see that,” Dell said. She also mentioned the debut of the U.S. Marine Corps F-35 Demonstration, an aircraft known for its unique ability to take off and land vertically as well as conventionally. “It’s a really, really interesting aircraft,” Dell added.

Gremi also had the privilege of meeting with Paul Niedermeyer, a Naval Aviation Historian who has dedicated over 9,000 hours and 30 years to creating a meticulous collection of Blue Angels models and memorabilia. “All of the aircraft you see here have the proper pilot name, proper BuNo (or Bureau Number) for that particular era,” Niedermeyer explained. He cited a quote from former Blue Angel Doug Thompson, saying, “I’m just an average guy trying to do an above-average job.” Niedermeyer added, “The thing that I cherish about this display is my ability to inspire the youth.”

The Cleveland National Airshow will feature performances by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, the C-130 “Fat Albert,” the U.S. Air Force A-10C Tac Demo, the F-15 Eagle Fly-By, the Golden Knights Parachute Team, and more. The weekend will also include a special appearance by Top Gun impressionists portraying Maverick and Iceman.

Tickets for the airshow must be purchased in advance, as there will be no sales at the gate. To secure your spot at this high-flying celebration, visit www.ClevelandAirshow.com.

For an inside look at the preparations and history behind this year’s event, viewers are encouraged to watch the video segment of 'Cleve-It To Us,' where Gremi and Nikkie Brown bring the excitement of the Cleveland National Airshow to life.

Additional news coverage on this, from other local networks, can be found at the following sources:

1. Fox 8 Cleveland, "Watch: Blue Angels take to sky ahead of Cleveland National Air Show," published on August 29, 2024. Available online.

2. WKYC 3, "Blue Angels headline 2024 Cleveland National Air Show's return to Burke Lakefront Airport this Labor Day weekend," published on August 28, 2024. Available online.

3. Fox 8 Cleveland, "Kenny's got his eye on the sky previewing the 2024 Cleveland National Air Show," published on August 29, 2024. Available online.

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