The U.S. Navy Blue Angels arrived at Republic Airport in East Farmingdale on Wednesday before Jones Beach Air Show 2026. The team landed ahead of the FourLeaf Air Show at Jones Beach, beginning a holiday-weekend run that draws fans to both airports and the shoreline.
The FourLeaf Air Show is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday and Monday, and the Blue Angels will headline it for the 11th time. The Royal Canadian Air Force's Snow Birds are also scheduled to perform, along with numerous stunt and precision pilots.
Republic Airport on Wednesday
Cody Farrell, a Blue Angels crew chief from Mastic Beach, called the return an “absolute honor and privilege.” His mother, Kathleen Farrell, told Newsday, “It's an incredible situation” and added, “because it means a great deal, to from thinking about, 'oh, do I really want to be part of the Navy,' and then to become part of this.”
Kimberly Rinyu of West Babylon said she would be at the airport all weekend. “I’ll be here all weekend,” she said, adding, “I avoid the beach,” and, “I’d rather be here. I want to be up close and personal. I like to watch them take off and land.”
Jones Beach on Sunday and Monday
Gabrielle Maccarino of Massapequa brought her children to Republic Airport’s main terminal to watch the landing. “I’ve never been to anything like this.... It’s like really cool to like see it so up close, and they look so small in the sky, but they're really huge,” she said.
Navy Lt. Chris Houben said arriving at Republic Airport always feels like home. The show’s move to the July Fourth weekend makes this year different from the Memorial Day timing long associated with the event’s unofficial kickoff of summer, and the change was made as a tribute to the nation's semiquincentennial.
