Casual beach fans may see more than seagulls and pelicans flying around this weekend. The Cocoa Beach Air Show brings different kinds of wings to Florida’s Space Coast on Saturday and Sunday.
The US Air Force F-22 Raptor Demo team is the headline for the show for the first time since 2023, coinciding with Cocoa Beach’s centenary celebration. Aviation fans will also be able to see the E/A-18 Growler Team, 920th Rescue Wing, the KC-135 Stratotanker Demo, the C-17 Globemaster III Demo team, the Remax Parachute team and the local pilot Aerobatics.
“Many performers, both military and civilian, love performing across the ocean for beach fans, which makes it special,” said Chris Dillart, the show’s director of spokesperson. “The airshows are family friendly and they are even more and more when they can come to the beach and spend the day there and pack lunch.
The show includes a display of combat search and rescue capabilities from the 920th rescue wing, which came from Patrick Space Force Base in Melbourne.
John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel
The F-22 Raptor will perform at the 2020 Fort Lauderdale Air Show. The demo team will return to the Cocoa Beach Air Show from July 12th to 13th. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
While all the actions are certainly a great spectacle, the F-22 Raptor demo team will showcase the capabilities of the “most manipulated fighter in the world.”
“It can climb straight up and stop in the air, then reverse towards the ground, then turn your nose over with somersault at a forward speed near zero,” Dillat said. “It creates a sudden, sharp rotation, displaces the air into steam and compresses it.”
The F-22 is undoubtedly captivated widespread attention and intrigue, but Dirato said he would not sleep with the Navy’s E/A-18 Growler team.
“Growers have one of the most advanced aerial electronic attack platforms. They provide tactical jamming and electronic protection to the military and our allies around the world,” he said. “They’re raucous. They’ve done a pretty good show on their own. You always know they’re coming.”
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
The US Air Force F-22 Raptor will actually fly ahead of the 2022 Space Coast International Air Show in Titusville. The show will return to Cocoa Beach from July 12th to 13th. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
People around Miles can see and hear the aircraft when presenting performances during flight, but Dillat said ticket buyers can access toilets, food and drink vendors and listen to narration explaining each act.
General admission tickets grant access to the private beach area near Lori Wilson Park and close-up viewing, while other ticket tiers will grant perks as top options with a 10 x 12-foot private viewing area of sand or a VIP from the “Flightline Club.”
Boat viewing is another option in a limited area on the east side of the Coast Guard Safety Zone, extending 12,000 feet parallel to the performance aircraft’s flight path.
Even when people chose to watch the show, Dilat encouraged aviation enthusiasts to take part in family-friendly festivals.
“Get out and spend the day on the beach. You can see some amazing talented aviators in the sky and see how these planes are thrown on a big stage,” he said. “You can take your kids to the show and get them interested in a career in aviation or military.”
The Cocoa Beach Show represents the fifth of the eight stops on the Air Dot Show 2025 Tour. The event was previously suspended in Augusta, Georgia, Fort Lauderdale, Harrisburg, PA, and Ocean City, Maryland. Following up on upcoming stops in New York and Atlanta, the tour will return to Florida in October for the Orlando Air Show.
The Blue Angels will be confirmed at next year’s Cocoa Beach Air Show, which will return in April 2026.
As for this weekend’s show, Dillat and his team hope the weather will work together.
“We hope Mother Nature will be present at the planning meeting and the weather will cooperate on Saturday and Sunday,” he said.
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If you’re going
The Cocoa Beach Air Show will open at 9am and the Flightline Club Beach area, which will be held from July 12th to 13th, will open near 1500 N. Atlantic Avenue in Cocoa Beach and Lori Wilson Park. The aerial section of the show runs daily from 11am to 2pm. Beach fans may see performers practice on the day leading up to the show. Coolers with food and non-alcoholic drinks can be placed in shows as well as chairs and beach umbrellas, but pets are prohibited. For parking details, what you want to have and tickets, please visit air.show.
Original issue: July 9, 2025 11:00am edt
