'Top Gun' in real life at free First State Airshow at Dover Air Force Base

Ben Mace, Delaware News Journal
·4 min read

Elite pilots will fly acrobatic maneuvers while more than 20 military planes and vehicles will be on display ― all for free in Dover on Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19.

Dover Air Force Base will host the free First State Airshow headlined by the U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II demonstration team and the U.S. Army parachute team, the Golden Knights.

Gates open at 9 a.m., with performances starting at 11:30 a.m. each day.

“I’m incredibly excited to open our doors to the community during the 2024 First State Airshow and open house as a way of saying ‘thank you’ for their tremendous support,” said Col. Chris McDonald, 436th Airlift Wing commander.

Along with the featured groups, other performers will include:

Airplanes and military vehicles on display

On the ground, visitors can see aircraft and military vehicles up close, including:

  • C-5M Super Galaxy

  • C-17 Globemaster III

  • C-130 Hercules

  • B-29 Superfortress "Doc"

  • F-15 Eagle

  • F-16 Fighting Falcon

  • F-22 Raptor

  • T-38 Talon

  • T-6 Texan II

  • P-8 Poseidon

  • OA-1 Bird Dog

  • L-17 Navion

  • DHC-1 Chipmunk

  • DHC-82 Tiger Moth

  • T-28 Trojan

  • T-6 Texan

  • UH-1 Iroquois

  • UH-60L Black Hawk

  • U-28A Draco

  • B-52 Stratofortress

  • U.S. Army M1A1 Abrams tank

More on Dover Air Base events: Delaware's first Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day for students interested in military

Where to enter air base

Enter the base at either the north gate or main gate.

The north gate is at the intersection of Bay Road, from the north, and Route 10, from the west.

The main gate is accessible from Route 1 north or south, at exit 93.

Drivers will be directed to free parking areas.

For a GPS system address for the main gate, enter "331 Main Gateway, Dover, DE" which is the address for the visitors center at the main gate.

What can you bring?

Items allowed into the air show site include cameras, camera bags, binoculars, diaper bags, strollers, purses, small umbrellas, sunscreen, bug spray, hearing protection, chairs and stools.

The only food or drinks that can be brought in are infant food, infant formula or milk for infants. For adults, only one sealed bottle of water up to 100 milliliters (less than 3.4 ounces) per person is allowed, similar to airport TSA guidelines; however, an empty water bottle can be brought and filled at water stations at the site.

Food and drinks will be on sale at the show.

What’s not allowed? It's a long list

As mentioned, most food and drinks aren't allowed to be brought in with the exception of items for infants.

Pets aren't allowed at the air show with an exception for service dogs.

All weapons are prohibited, including but not limited to firearms, knives, multi-tools, mace/pepper spray and explosives.

Other prohibited items include fireworks, poles, sticks, missile-shaped objects, motorized scooters unless medically necessary, skateboards, drones, laser pointers, large umbrellas, large bags, coolers, beach balls, balloons, inflatable devices, bottles other than water bottles, cans, thermoses, aerosol cans, cups and beverage containers, and offensive or obscene clothing, banners and signs.

Alcohol can’t be brought in, but alcoholic beverages are available from air show vendors.

Illegal drugs, Illegal substances and all forms of marijuana are prohibited.

Smoking and vaping aren't allowed in the airshow display area, spectator experience area or onboard any aircraft.

More on Dover: This Delaware city is on the list of 25 'cities on the rise' in Southern Living magazine

What if it rains?

Show delays or cancellations because of weather will be posted on the Dover Air Force Facebook and Instagram pages.

Decisions to delay or cancel events will depend on the amount and duration of rain and at what point in the day it occurs, according to the Dover Air Force Base chief of command information.

For more information, see the First State Airshow website.

Reporter Ben Mace mainly covers real estate, development and business news along occasional feature stories on events in Kent County. Reach him at rmace@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: First State Airshow at Dover Air Force Base will be free