Eye-popping planes star in air shows around the US and Canada
An estimated 10-12 million people attend air shows in the US and Canada every year, according to the International Council of Air Shows, raking in about $110 million for organizers. Air shows offer a chance to see all kinds of planes in action -- civilian and military -- like this C-17 Globemaster III airlifter.
USAF/File
A C-17 is scheduled to perform September 15-16 at the New York Air Show in Orange County, north of New York City.
USAF
Stealthy Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighter jets are scheduled to perform at several air shows this summer and fall, including Wings Over North Georgia, near Rome, Georgia, on October 13-14.
Department of Defense
F-22 Raptors (center) have been performing this year along with another type of combat jet -- the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II. Nicknamed the "Warthog," the A-10 entered service in the 1970s. Warthogs are known for their ability to destroy tanks.
Tech. Sgt. Ryan Crane/USAF
The US Air Force is showing off a Lockheed U-2 "Dragon Lady" spy jet this fall at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show, September 28-30 north of San Diego, California. The U-2 became iconic for its ability to climb to ultra-high altitudes above 70,000 feet. That's more than 13 miles up.
The B version of the F-35 Lightning can land and take off vertically. A door on top of the plane opens, while a huge fan forces air downward through the plane's midsection, creating thrust. Air ducts under each wing blow downward to keep the jet from rolling. At the rear of the jet, the engine's swiveling exhaust nozzle also directs thrust downward. All this allows the F-35B to amazingly hover in mid-air.
US Navy
Aerobatic pilot Sean D. Tucker thrills air show crowds in his custom Oracle Challenger III. Tucker is among the industry's best-knownaerobatic pilots. "Really, every single day should be an adventure," Tucker told CNN in 2015. Tucker is scheduled to appear at the Chicago Air and Water Show August 18-19, Thunder Over Michigan in Ypsilanti on August 25-26, and Wings Over Houston on October 20-21.
Ron Sellers
The Commemorative Air Force tours a fleet of vintage warbirds at air shows nationwide, like this Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress named Sentimental Journey. This bomber is scheduled to appear in Victoria/Sidney, British Columbia, August 13-19, Minden, Nevada, August 27-September 2, and Salinas, California, September 24-30.
Commemorative Air Force
The North American B-25 Mitchell won a place in history when it was used in the daring 1942 Doolittle Raid on Japan during World War II. See this one -- a "J" model named Show Me at the Spirit of St. Louis Air Show, October 13-14.
Angelo Aldrighetti
Show Me is owned and operated by the Commemorative Air Force. It was delivered in 1945 and served as a training aircraft.
Thom Patterson/CNN
Ashley Shelton walks on wings at air shows across America. She and pilot Greg Shelton perform with a 1943 Boeing 450 Super Stearman. They're scheduled to tour through this summer, with their final appearance of the season on October 27-28 at Florida's Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
Greg Shelton Airshows
This World War II-era B-29 bomber named FIFI is one of only two that are still flying. You can see this historic plane on October 26-28 in Texas at the Wings Over Dallas WWII Airshow.
Thom Patterson/CNN
The best seat on FIFI is the bombardier position at the front of the aircraft which includes a sighting device that bombardiers used for targeting.
Thom Patterson/CNN
Canadian Forces Snowbirds 431 Air Demonstration Squadron is touring air shows this year. Shown here executing a Big Diamond formation, the Snowbirds fly demonstrations with nine planes instead of the typical six. The design of their Canadair CT-114 Tutor jets dates back to the 1960s.
Canadian Armed Forces
The US Air Force Thunderbirds flight performance team is scheduled for Maryland Fleet Week and Air Show in Baltimore on October 6-7.
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
The Thunderbirds fly General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons, one of the most successful US fighter jets. Production began in the 1970s and continues today.
U.S. Air Force
Planning on being in the Florida Panhandle area on November 2 or 3? See some of the best precision flying in the world at the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show at Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Courtesy Hassan Abdallah
Pilots of these amazing F/A-18 Hornets will be closing out their season in front of a hometown crowd.
