Maj. Sean “Rambo” Loughlin has taken over the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team for the 2026 season. He made his public debut this week at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh—the world’s largest airshow. The pilot transition is an annual tradition for one of the Air Force’s most visible flight demonstration assets. Loughlin is succeeding Maj. Melanie “Mach” Kluesner, who was widely praised as the 2025 demo pilot.
AirVenture runs July 20–26 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The event draws more than 600,000 spectators and 10,000 aircraft. The F-35A is scheduled across multiple afternoon and night air show slots during the week-long event. Loughlin and his team are performing as part of the NORAD fighter intercept demonstration, which showcases the fifth-generation fighter’s capabilities in realistic air defense scenarios.
Who Is “Rambo”
Loughlin is a Massachusetts native who commissioned through ROTC in 2015. He brings eleven years of Air Force experience to the demo team. Before joining the F-35 program, he flew the A-10 Warthog—a career path that contrasts with his predecessor Kluesner, who came from the F-16 community. Loughlin was formally certified as the F-35A Demo Team commander in early 2026 after serving as a safety observer under Kluesner during the 2025 season.
His first appearances came at FIDAE 2026 in Santiago, Chile (April 7–12), followed by the Oregon International Airshow in Hillsboro (May 14–17). Earlier this season, Loughlin flew a heritage flight formation alongside a P-51 Mustang. That pairing underscores the demo team’s commitment to blending modern fifth-generation capability with classic American fighter legacy.
The Team and Aircraft
Loughlin operates the F-35A Lightning II from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, as pilot and commander of the 421st Fighter Squadron’s demonstration team. The team deploys with a compact crew of specialists: Capt. Austin McDaniel as safety observer, Senior Airman Orrin M. Hammontree as lead mechanic, Staff Sgt. Jose Flores-Velez as dedicated crew chief, and Leonard F. Buscemi as team superintendent.
The F-35A brings a distinctive envelope to AirVenture’s military lineup. Unlike the F-22 Raptor’s emphasis on sustained supersonic flight or the F-16 Viper’s turning radius, the Lightning II demonstration showcases sensor fusion, all-aspect lethality, and the aircraft’s ability to blend slow-speed precision work with explosive transonic maneuvers. The jet’s Helmet Mounted Display System projects 360-degree sensor data onto the pilot’s visor—a capability the demo team highlights during its routines.
Succeeding a Legend
The airshow community expressed warm nostalgia for Kluesner’s run, which included a high-profile appearance at the Dubai Airshow last November. Forum enthusiasts noted that she delivered “some of the best demos” they’d witnessed. Reaction to Loughlin’s appointment has been uniformly positive, with experienced observers confident in his pedigree and preparation.
“I’ll miss Mach, but I’m looking forward to seeing Rambo, and I hope his run is as good as Mach’s,” one veteran airshow attendee posted on AirshowStuff forums—a sentiment echoed across the community.
What’s Next
The F-35A Demo Team is confirmed for multiple airshows beyond Oshkosh. The team will finally appear at the Naval Air Weapons Station Miramar show in 2026—a historic first for the fifth-gen fighter at the San Diego venue. The Pistons & Props Airshow in Janesville, Wisconsin (August 28–30) also has the team on the roster.
Watch for Loughlin and the F-35A daily throughout AirVenture week. Exact timing and slot assignments are finalized day-of by the air boss, but the team is slated for multiple appearances across the show’s nine scheduled demonstrations.
Sources
- AirshowStuff Forum — F-35A Demo Team 2026 Pilot Announcement
- Hill Air Force Base Public Affairs (official announcements)
- EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 Official Schedule
- USAF Demonstration Teams Official Records
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