It doesn’t bring in Masters level money, but the impact of the upcoming Augusta Air Show is slated to pack an economic punch of more than $500,000. Commercial and corporate jets that flew in for the season’s first major golf tournament of the year are being replaced by fighter jets and helicopters.
The Augusta Air Show is returning for its third year. It will be April 26 and 27 with the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels as this year’s headliner.
“The advance pilot for the Blue Angels will be coming in on Wednesday to get everything in order and to meet with all the officials for the show and the city and the airport,” Chris Dirato, Director of Public Relations, explained for ABD. “Then the rest of the Blue Angels will be in on Thursday, as well as other performers.”
The Blue Angels fly the F-18 Super Hornet with six jets making up the team. The demonstration will include formation displays, such as the four-jet diamond, and individual maneuvers.
Joining the show this year will be the A-10 Thunderbolt II CAS Demo team, a restored P-51D Mustang, and an Attack Helicopter Demo by the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation.
“They’ll be putting on a display or demo that features a Cobra and showing the capability of the attack helicopter that was used famously in the Vietnam era,” Dirato said, adding, “Then we’ll have other opportunities. The Georgia State Patrol will be putting on their demo with their helicopter.”
Among the non-military performers will be the return of stunt pilot Buck Roetman from Luthersville, Ga. He will put his Pitts Special biplane through loops, rolls, and impossible stunts.
In addition to aerial acrobatics, there will be displays set up on the ground, including the A-10 Warthog with its iconic shark-tooth nose art. Attendees will have the chance to meet the pilots and take photographs.
Prior to the air show, students will have the chance to visit the airport and meet with performers.
“There will be an educational program that’s for the kids, that typically we do that on Friday,” Dirato said. “The Blue Angels will come over and meet with the kids and discuss STEM opportunities as they go forward in their educational careers.”
Dirato anticipates having the Blue Angels as this year’s headline demonstration will draw more people to attend.
“People come from all around the area, or the region, to come to the show. And we think it certainly infuses money into the economy,” he said. “Certainly not Masters week level, but we think we’re able to infuse some money into the economy and help the city, and help the airport, and create some visibility for that area beyond that.”
The air show’s economic impact has grown each year.
Prior to the 2023 event, Destination Augusta had anticipated more than 25,000 would attend with an estimated economic impact of $172,000 on Richmond County hotels and businesses. The actual impact was more than $244,000 for lodging and other businesses in Richmond County. In 2024, that grew to $546,951.
Ticket prices range from general admission at $33.50 for adults and $25 for children, to the Flight Line Club VIP tickets starting at $199.00.
Tickets can be purchased at: https://air.show/ag-purchase-tickets/
