The flight line at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni is hosting something genuinely rare today, May 3, 2026. Both the U.S. Marine Corps F-35B and U.S. Navy F-35C demonstration teams are on the same program — their only international stop of the entire 2026 show season — at the 47th annual JMSDF/MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day.
Gates opened at 7:00 a.m. The show runs until 5:00 p.m. at MCAS Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, where attendance is expected to surpass 150,000. That number pales against the 2009 peak of 275,000 visitors, still the record for what is already the largest single-day air show in the Asia-Pacific region. Fans have come from across Japan and the wider Indo-Pacific military community, and by most accounts this is one of the most anticipated editions in years.
Two F-35 Variants, One Stage
Getting the F-35B and F-35C demo teams onto the same ramp is unusual. The B team, operating out of MCAS Miramar, California, is built around the Lightning II’s short takeoff and vertical landing capability — the STOVL characteristic that defines Marine Corps expeditionary aviation. The vertical landing sequence alone is worth watching. It remains one of the most visually striking maneuvers on the modern demo circuit.
The F-35C team comes from Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, and brings different aerodynamic priorities. The C-variant’s larger wing and reinforced landing gear — engineered specifically for carrier arrested landings — produce a distinct handling profile. The Lemoore team’s routine centers on the low-speed agility and precise energy management that carrier operations demand. It’s a different kind of precision than the B’s vertical drama, but no less demanding to execute.
MCAS Iwakuni itself hosts two F-35B squadrons and one F-35C squadron, making it the only overseas installation currently operating both variants. That gives today’s demo flights a particular weight. This is the aircraft’s home turf in the Western Pacific.
Col. Kenneth Rossman, commander of MCAS Iwakuni, confirmed both teams during an April 14 joint press conference at Iwakuni City Hall — held alongside Rear Adm. Katsushi Okubo of Japan’s Fleet Air Wing 31.
“We wanted to make sure that we had an F-35 demonstration, so we’re very excited that, for right now, they said that they’re going to come.” — Col. Kenneth Rossman, MCAS Iwakuni Commander
“The 47th iteration will showcase Japanese and U.S. aircraft through both static displays and aerial demonstrations.” — Col. Kenneth Rossman
The Full Lineup
The Japanese performers hold their own. The JASDF’s Blue Impulse aerobatic team — flying the Kawasaki T-4 — is one of the most polished precision demo teams anywhere in the world. They’re joined by the JMSDF’s White Arrows, flying the Fuji T-5 in a four-ship aerobatic sequence, whose participation Col. Rossman confirmed directly. The program is explicitly bilateral in its design, and it shows. Ground show attractions include a Wall of Fire, static aircraft displays, and commemorative photo opportunities with U.S. and Japanese military personnel.
There’s added symbolism in 2026. The show coincides with America’s 250th anniversary, with U.S. State Department support and U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass expected on site.
Logistics and Entry
General admission is free. Entry this year runs through the installation’s main gate — a departure from the west gate used in 2025, driven by heightened security protocols. Col. Rossman cited tensions related to Iran when explaining the shift. Premium and covered seating tiers were available, with tickets having gone on sale February 26.
Photographers should note the lens restrictions. The Special Bleacher and Covered areas prohibit telephoto lenses longer than six inches when extended. The Special Photo Area and Box Seats carry no such restriction.
What’s Next for the F-35B Demo Team
After Iwakuni, the USMC F-35B team returns to its domestic schedule. Upcoming stops include the MCAS Cherry Point Air Show in Havelock, NC (May 9–10), the Hillsboro International Air Show in Oregon (May 15–17), and the Fort Lauderdale Air Show in Fort Lauderdale (May 23–24). For anyone looking to chase the next appearance, Havelock is the nearest opportunity on the calendar.
Post-show coverage, crowd figures, and full photo galleries from today’s event are expected this week at airshowspectacle.com.
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