Experience Aeronautic Acrobatics As Thunder Over Michigan Returns

If you love historical and modern airplanes coming together for an awesome event, Thunder Over Michigan returns this August!

Personally, I fell in love with air shows when my boyfriend took me out to St. Louis, Missouri with his family in 2016 to attend the Spirit of St. Louis Air Show and STEM Expo that our friends Phil and Laura organize.

It was honestly, truly, a life changing experience. Not only were the Blue Angels there but also the Royal Canadian Air Force's Snowbirds were there and got to party with us at the hotel where we actually found a great friend in one of the solo pilots, "Nacho".

That's when Nacho actually hooked us up with tickets to attend an all-Canadian air show at Willow Run in Ypsilanti, the same airport that hosts Thunder Over Michigan.

What's Thunder Over Michigan?

Well, it is an air show where flight teams come and show off their planes' skills and people can check out other historical planes as well as some bada** modern ones!

According to MLive it is put on by the Yankee Air Museum and has proven to be the biggest fundraiser for the museum.

Unfortunately, last year COVID made it so the air show could not happen but this year, the airplane antics are back and it looks like it will be getting the celebration it deserves.

Thunder Over Michigan 2021 - Who, When & Where

MLive reports this year's showing at Ypsilanti's Willow Run Airport will take place August 7th through the 8th.

Not only will the "world's largest gathering of Mitchell B25 Bombers" be there, but MLive also reports that each morning show will feature the U.S. Air Force F35 Demo Team. For the morning shows that run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., the grounds will open up at 7:30 a.m.

Then, each afternoon, the show features the bombers and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will be flying their team of F-16 Fighting Falcons! The show for that, according to MLive, runs from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. with grounds opening at noon.

Tickets go on sale Monday, May 10th (MLive says separate parking passes must be purchased for each show) and are available on the Yankee Air Museum website.

Thunder Over Michigan COVID-19 Protocols

"We have reinvented the show in an innovative, spacious, responsible and family friendly format,” Executive Director Kevin Walsh told MLive. “With two shows each day, our fans can choose the show they would like to see and enjoy the show in their own space."

This will be a drive-in event; however spectators can still view the show outside their vehicles, though MLive reports it has to be done on the passenger side only. If you choose to stay inside your vehicle, Willow Run will be broadcasting the audio to a local radio station!

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As far as personal (not COVID-related) air show tips go, bring a jacket, bring sunscreen and definitely sunglasses so you're not looking up to the sky and being more blinded by the sun than the sheer awesomeness taking place.

Also, even if you don't think you will need earplugs, just wear them! Your ear drums will thank you.