The Blue Angels touched down at Vero Beach Regional Airport on Wednesday, May 13. Lt. Ronny Hafeza — the team’s No. 7 narrator pilot — and Crew Chief Cody Farrell made the advance arrival ahead of the 2026 Vero Beach Air Show, and the sight of an F/A-18 Super Hornet rolling onto the tarmac marked the unofficial start of what organizers are calling the seventh edition of the show and the fifth time the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron has performed over the Treasure Coast.
The event opens Friday, May 15, with a dedicated evening session from 6–9:30 p.m. The Blue Angels won’t fly that night. Their demonstrations are slotted for Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17 — both days running 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Presented by Piper Aircraft, the show is held at Vero Beach Regional Airport, 3400 Cherokee Drive.
The Team — Who’s Flying and What
Hafeza, a Redondo Beach, California native currently assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122, serves as the team’s advance pilot and in-show narrator. His Wednesday arrival gave the public its first look at the iconic blue-and-yellow livery before the weekend performances begin.
Leading the Diamond formation on Saturday and Sunday is Commanding Officer and Flight Leader Cdr. Adam Bryan — a Canton, Connecticut native who has logged more than 3,200 flight hours and 625 carrier arrested landings. Bryan previously commanded the “Kestrels” of VFA-137 and deployed aboard USS Carl Vinson in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.
The 2026 team flies the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, six jets divided between the four-ship Diamond formation (Blues 1 through 4) and the opposing solos. The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules rounds out the fleet this season, piloted by CAPT Olivia Bair, USMC. It’s also the Blue Angels’ 80th anniversary year — one that coincides with the United States’ 250th birthday, themes Cdr. Bryan has leaned into publicly.
“Whether this is your first Blue Angels demonstration or your eightieth, we hope the sight and sound of our aircraft leave you inspired.” — Cdr. Adam Bryan, Commanding Officer, U.S. Navy Blue Angels
The Full Performer Lineup
The Blue Angels share the bill with a substantial civilian card. The NextGen Eagles — the world’s only Christen Eagle aerobatic formation team, flown by Leland Kracher and Tom Braymer — headline that group. Also confirmed: Vampire Airshows, Tony Remundo, Mini Jet Airshows, Aarron Deliu, Franklin’s Flying Circus, Continental Airshow Productions, and Explosive Touch Enterprises. Friday night’s session gives those civilian acts their own spotlight before the Navy’s jets take over for the weekend.
Why Vero Beach Keeps Landing This Team
Hundreds of cities submit requests to host the Blue Angels each year. Fewer than 30 make the cut. Vero Beach has now done it five times — 2014, 2018, 2022, 2024, and 2026 — and that track record earned the show the Blue Angels’ “Civilian Air Show of the Year” award at the International Council of Air Shows Convention in Las Vegas in December 2024.
“Just some of the reasons they like Vero Beach and why we won the award include the timely and accurate completion of administrative and logistical requirements, preparedness by the board of directors, and community friendliness and support.” — Jeff Devlin, Blue Angels Show Liaison, Vero Beach Air Show
The nonprofit show has contributed more than $250,000 to local charities across its history and generates an estimated $6 million in regional economic impact — numbers that carry real weight for Indian River County. The entire operation runs on volunteer labor, with more than 1,000 community volunteers trained and deployed across the three-day event.
Saturday Night — Free Admission Food Festival
Once the Saturday afternoon show wraps, the airport grounds shift gears. A free-admission evening food festival takes over, featuring a live concert by Three O’Clock Storm. Blue Angels pilots and civilian performers are expected to be on hand — a rare chance for attendees to meet the teams away from the flight line.
What’s Next
The 2026 Vero Beach Air Show runs May 15–17 at Vero Beach Regional Airport. The Blue Angels’ next stop after Vero Beach had not been publicly announced on their site at time of publication. Tickets and updated performer information are available at veroairshow.com.
Sources
- Yahoo News / TCPalm — Blue Angels No. 7 arrives at Vero Beach Regional Airport (May 13, 2026)
- Vero Beach Air Show — Official Site: Performer Lineup, Schedule, and Ticket Information
- Piper Aircraft — 2026 Events Calendar (Presenting Sponsor Confirmation)
- U.S. Navy Blue Angels — 2026 Team Bios and Show Schedule
- Space Coast Daily — 2026 Vero Beach Air Show Ticket Announcement (April 14, 2026)
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