The U.S. Navy Blue Angels delivered speed, power and plenty of noise to the skies over Rancho Cordova during the sold-out California Capital Airshow on Saturday at Mather Airport.
They concluded four hours of aerial performances that began with the U.S. Air Force’s U-2 Dragonfly spy plane and also included the F-16 Viper demonstration team and the U.S. Marine’s F-35B Lightning II. Vintage aircraft from World War II also made appearances.
The program repeats Sunday.
A Cal Fire Firehawk flies past the crowd at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
Pyrotechnics are detonated as aircraft fly overhead at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
A P-51 Mustang and the F-16 Viper demonstration aircraft fly side-by-side in an Air Force heritage flight at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
Eric Tucker lands his 1941 J3 Cub on the top of an ambulance driving down the runway at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
A World War II North American B-25 Mitchell flies through smoke from pyrotechnics at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
A boy plays with a Blue Angels F/A-18 during the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
A World War II Grumman F4F Wildcat flies past the tower on a low pass at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II prepares to demonstrate its short takeoff capability at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
Emmanuel Santos, left, his grandson Ian and son Evan watch the U.S. Marine Corps F-35B demonstration at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
The U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II conducts aerial demonstration maneuvers during the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lighting II pilot Craig “Chuckles” Turner signals to his crew after performing at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
U.S. Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornets fly in close formation at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
A U.S. Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornet performs at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
U.S. Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornets fly in close formation at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
Spectators watch the U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
Two U.S. Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornets fly past each other at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
Two U.S. Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornets fly past each other at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform at the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport on Saturday, March 22, 2025. NATHANIEL LEVINE nlevine@sacbee.com
This story was originally published March 23, 2025 at 10:22 AM.
Bee visuals editor Nathaniel Levine joined the staff in 2003. His work has received awards from the Society of News Design, the Best of the West journalism competition and the California News Publishers Association, among others. A native Californian, Levine grew up in Grass Valley and attended UC Davis.
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