The Thunderbirds perform the Calypso Pass during the Airshow and Warrior Expo at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Aug, 27, 2016. (Christopher Boitz/U.S. Air Force)
(Tribune News Service) — The Joint Base Lewis-McChord Airshow & Warrior Expo is back this month with over a dozen performances.
The air show returns after a seven-year hiatus that partly was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“After not having an air show for seven years, we felt it was very important to bring the air show back in 2023,” the JBLM Public Affairs Department said in an email to The News Tribune. “The JBLM Airshow & Warrior Expo is a great way to thank the Puget Sound community for their support of Service members and military families. “
The air show will be held on Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the JBLM McChord Field. Flying will begin at 11:30 a.m.
The event will feature aerial acts from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Army helicopters, a B-17 Flying Fortress as well as a live historical reenactment of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. There will be more than 60 Air Force, Army and civilian aircraft and ground vehicles on static display.
The air show will celebrate “50 years of women in modern military aviation and 30 years of women in combat aviation,” according to the JBLM Airshow and Warrior Expo website.
Female service members will be flying many of the aircraft in the show, and they will be present at many of the static displays to talk about the military equipment on display.
Unlike past shows, this year’s event will have a vintage car display, a kid’s zone and the U.S. Army Corps Band.
Seating upgrades
Entrance to the air show is free, but upgrades to the Air Show Network VIP experience are available for purchase.
The premium box seats are $50 each and include seating directly on the flight line, dedicated portable toilets and concessions.
Premium box seats will not be under shade, but shade tents will be available at the back of the seating area.
The Flight Line Club seats are $300 for a reserved table for two people and $600 for a reserved table for four people. Tickets include front-line seating in an exclusive viewing area, catered lunch, unlimited refreshments and private restrooms.
Gates will close at 2:30 p.m. for inbound traffic into the JBLM McChord Field. Anyone 16 and older will need a valid photo ID to enter the event.
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