Virginia Beach locals are accustomed to hearing U.S. Navy jets buzz across the sky, and as NATO celebrates its 75th Anniversary, aircraft from the U.S. and Italy, both founding members of the Alliance took to the skies on Aug. 21. This was the first-ever Joint-Power Demonstration in Hampton Roads. It was organized by the National Air, Sea and Space Foundation, with the help of Air.Show.
The Italian Air Force Frecce Tricolori headlined the demonstration with their signature green, white and red smoke trailing across the sky. Known as the “Tricolour Arrows” in English, the team is touring North America for the first time in more than 30 years.
Other demonstration participants included: U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets, a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, the Virginia Beach Military Aviation Supermarine Spitfire, and their North American P-51 Mustang, Douglas A-1 Skyraider, T-38 Talons, and T-6 Texan IIs from Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, home of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training.
Hampton Roads hosts over 80 thousand active duty military personnel from the United States Armed Forces, as well as from NATO member and partner nations serving with Allied Command Transformation, Joint Force Command, Norfolk, and the NATO-accredited Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Centre of Excellence, which makes Norfolk NATO’s home in North America.
