The 2020 Fort Lauderdale Air Show is officially flying back into South Florida this weekend, and city officials are telling residents to expect some delays and road closures.
Originally set for May 2-3, the air show will now take flight over Fort Lauderdale Beach November 21-22 after being canceled earlier in the year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As COVID-19 cases surge across the country, including in South Florida, air show officials said they will be implementing a series of “Stay Safe and Separate Initiatives” to ensure social distancing among beachgoers and spectators.
“The stage for the Fort Lauderdale Air Show is two miles wide and 500 feet high,” said city manager Chris Lagerbloom. “Spectators can watch from their backyard, balcony, boat or the beach, making it the ideal event for our community to host in the era of social distancing.”
Due to the event, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department says the northbound and southbound lanes of State Road A1A will be closed between Sunrise Boulevard and Northeast 16th Street from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Residents will have to provide proof of residency if they plan on entering the area.
Extending the air show season by one week, the U.S. Air Force has scheduled all four of its fighter jet demonstration teams to perform at the Fort Lauderdale show, including the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lighting II, F-16 Viper, and A-10 Thunderbolt II.
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“The 2020 air show season ends November 15,” Lagerbloom said. “Extending the schedule for all these teams by an additional week really shows how much the Air Force values our world class destination as a performance venue.”
"It’s a great opportunity for people to come out, spend time with their families at the beach," said Chris Thomas, a No. 2 pilot for GEICO's Skytypers.
Thomas says their group will be demonstrating the air tactics and maneuvers used during the second World War and the Korean War. This weekend's event is the Skytypers' last airshow of the year. They will fly at 1:30 p.m. both days.
Though the aircraft is almost 80 years old, it has the latest technology in the cockpit and a 600-horsepower supersized engine.
For schedule and ticket information, click here.
