Thunderbirds Cancel Fort Lauderdale Performance

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — The legendary Air Force Thunderbirds canceled their upcoming performance at the 2018 Fort Lauderdale Air Show following the April 4 death of Maj. Stephen Del Bagno, who was killed when his #4 jet crashed. Show organizers announced the cancellation on Thursday. The Thunderbirds were scheduled to headline the event.

The U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet will now perform and headline the Fort Lauderdale event, which is being presented by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“While we’re disappointed the Thunderbirds will not be performing, we totally respect their decision given the situation,” said Bryan Lilley, president of the event. “We wish them the best as they recover from their loss and are happy to see Maj. Nick Krajicek returning to the team.

This year's event is sponsored by Ford as it was last year. It is scheduled to take place on May 5 and May 6 just off the beach around Sunrise Boulevard.

Known as the “Rhino,” the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet is a twin-engine fighter aircraft based on the original McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet also called the “Legacy Hornet.”

"We're excited the U.S. Navy has confirmed the Super Hornet and that Fort Lauderdale will be one of only four shows announced to date where it will perform," according to Lilley.

The Super Hornet is a larger and more advanced version of the “Legacy Hornet.” The Super Hornet has an internal 20 mm rotary cannon and can carry air-to-air missiles and air-to-surface weapons. The Super Hornet entered service with the U.S. Navy in 1999, replacing the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, which was retired in 2006.

In addition to the U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet, other confirmed military performers include the New York Air National Guard C-17 GlobeMaster III demo and the U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue demo. Other military aircraft flyovers are planned.

This year’s show will also feature the return of action on the water.

"The Lucas Oil Offshore Racing Team will initially show everyone on the beach what it’s like to 'fly' on the water and then it will take on the Lucas Oil Pitts in a high speed boat versus plane race," according to organizers.

This is the first time since the return of the air show in 2012 that the event has featured a water component, which will kick off the show each day.

For more information about the 2018 Ford Lauderdale Air Show, click here or via Facebook.

Photos from 2017 event by Paul Scicchitano