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Kansas City Air Show keeps eyes to the sky as Thunderbirds, Blue Angels wow crowd Sunday

By Kansas City Star Staff

For the second day in a row, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds performed for the first time at the same civilian air show in the Kansas City metro.

Because of a “last-minute schedule change” the Thunderbirds were able to join the acrobatic show, and the two branches of the military both flew high in the sky at the 2021 Kansas City Air Show at New Century AirCenter near Gardner in southwest Johnson County.

The U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team and the U.S. Marines AV-8Bs were also part of the show, presented by Garmin.

Last year’s show was canceled because of COVID-19.

But take a look at photos KC Star photographerJill Toyoshiba captured from the second day of the airshow.

After the Navy parachute team Leap Frogs performed, “Fat Albert,” the pilot of the C-130 plane that carried them, made a pass and waved at spectators on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021.
After the Navy parachute team Leap Frogs performed, “Fat Albert,” the pilot of the C-130 plane that carried them, made a pass and waved at spectators on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Thousands turned out on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. The 2020 show was cancelled.
Thousands turned out on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. The 2020 show was cancelled. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Skip Stewart turns his plane Prometheus like to become a “knife’s edge” in order to cut a ribbon just 10 feet of the ground on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, Sunday, July 4, 2021.
Skip Stewart turns his plane Prometheus like to become a “knife’s edge” in order to cut a ribbon just 10 feet of the ground on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, Sunday, July 4, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com

Blue Angels

Two pilots from the United States Navy Blue Angels fly very close to make a mirror image on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, Sunday, July 4, 2021.
Two pilots from the United States Navy Blue Angels fly very close to make a mirror image on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, Sunday, July 4, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Spectators watch the United States Navy Blue Angels on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, Sunday, July 4, 2021.
Spectators watch the United States Navy Blue Angels on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, Sunday, July 4, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
The United States Navy Blue Angels fly in formation on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, Sunday, July 4, 2021.
The United States Navy Blue Angels fly in formation on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, Sunday, July 4, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Two pilots from the United States Navy Blue Angels fly inverted as two others fly in a tight formation with them on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, Sunday, July 4, 2021.
Two pilots from the United States Navy Blue Angels fly inverted as two others fly in a tight formation with them on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, Sunday, July 4, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com

KC Flight

Members of KC Flight, a local group who makes their own planes, flew in formation on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021.
Members of KC Flight, a local group who makes their own planes, flew in formation on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Members of KC Flight, a local group who makes their own planes, flew in formation on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021.
Members of KC Flight, a local group who makes their own planes, flew in formation on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Members of KC Flight, a local group who makes their own planes, flew in formation on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021.
Members of KC Flight, a local group who makes their own planes, flew in formation on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Members of KC Flight, a local group who makes their own planes, flew in formation on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021.
Members of KC Flight, a local group who makes their own planes, flew in formation on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com

Air Force Thunderbirds

The United States Air Force Thunderbirds flew in a tight formation as they passed the Blue Angels support C-130 plane on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. This year, the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels performed at the same show, which is rare.
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds flew in a tight formation as they passed the Blue Angels support C-130 plane on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. This year, the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels performed at the same show, which is rare. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds flew in a tight formation on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. This year, the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels performed at the same show, which is rare.
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds flew in a tight formation on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. This year, the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels performed at the same show, which is rare. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds plane passed near the Blue Angels support C-130 plane on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. This year, the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels performed at the same show, which is rare.
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds plane passed near the Blue Angels support C-130 plane on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. This year, the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels performed at the same show, which is rare. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds flew in formation as on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. This year, the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels performed at the same show, which is rare.
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds flew in formation as on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. This year, the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels performed at the same show, which is rare. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds flew in formation as on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, on the Fourth of July 2021. This year, the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels performed at the same show, which is rare.
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds flew in formation as on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, on the Fourth of July 2021. This year, the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels performed at the same show, which is rare. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com

Navy parachute team

Spectators watch from the cockpit of a F-18 Hornet as a member of the Navy parachute team Leap Frogs arrives with an American flag during the national anthem on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021.
Spectators watch from the cockpit of a F-18 Hornet as a member of the Navy parachute team Leap Frogs arrives with an American flag during the national anthem on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
After the Navy parachute team Leap Frogs performed, “Fat Albert,” the C-130 plane that carried them, flew over Blue Angels and Thunderbirds as it prepared to land on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021.
After the Navy parachute team Leap Frogs performed, “Fat Albert,” the C-130 plane that carried them, flew over Blue Angels and Thunderbirds as it prepared to land on the second and final day of the 2021 Kansas City Airshow at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas, July 4, 2021. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com

Photos of yesterday’s aerial feats can be found here.

This story was originally published July 4, 2021 at 12:28 PM.

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