EAA AirVenture 2018: Night Airshow Magic

The sights and performances of this year's night airshow.

A long exposure captures the drama of the aerial display.
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The AirVenture Night Airshow was a magical, tightly choreographed event featuring about a dozen planes outfitted with lights and fireworks, accompanied by music.
  • Key spectacles included a dramatic "wall of fire," a patriotic parachuting flag display, and an aerial ballet performance by Gene Soucy.
  • A major highlight was the innovative drone swarm display, where intricately programmed drones formed shapes like hearts, flags, and the "EAA" logo.
  • Patriotism was a central theme of the airshow, notably expressed through the red, white, and blue parachuting display and drone-rendered American flag.
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Jim Koepnick captures the magic of Thursday’s Night Airshow at AirVenture. It was just as magical as it looked and included, drumroll please, a drone swarm display of light and sound.

A long exposure captures the drama of the aerial display.

A long exposure captures the drama of the aerial display. The night airshow features about a dozen planes outfitted with lights and fireworks that are launched as part of a brilliant light show of color and accompanied by music and sound effect! and more.

Photo by Jim Koepnick

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