Media release from BBIG Marketing:
Not all the activity at an air show is in the air. There’s plenty to see on the ground, too. And this year the Wings Over North Georgia (WONG) Air Show will include a multi-faceted educational tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II.
WONG always supplements the aerial performances with static displays so aviation enthusiasts can see vintage and unique aircraft up close and personal. Early arrivals to the air show get a richer experience visiting with volunteers who restore and preserve significant examples of American aviation history.
The 2026 version of Wings Over North Georgia is scheduled for April 3-4 at the Richard B. Russell Regional Airport. It will feature the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the “Thunderbirds”, along with a full lineup of military and civilian performances.
On the tarmac, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Rise Above Squadron celebrates the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, also known as the “Red Tails” because of the recognizable paint scheme of their signature P-51 Mustang aircraft during WWII.
The traveling Rise Above exhibit, part of the Commemorative Air Force, is dedicated to the first African American pilots, who were based in Tuskegee, AL. They were instrumental in securing the skies over Europe. The exhibit includes a fully restored P-51C Mustang in Red Tail livery, a 53-foot mobile theater, and educational materials for students and teachers.
The 30-seat theater shows the original panoramic film “Rise Above”. The film documents the success of both the Tuskegee Airmen and their equally groundbreaking female counterparts, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs).
Another ground attraction of the WONG Air Show is the Friends of Army Aviation, a non-profit organization from Ozark, AL. It restores and operates Vietnam-era Bell UH-1H “Huey” helicopters to honor veterans and educate the public with brief flight experiences. Helicopter rides with veteran pilots cost $90 for a 12-minute, open-door jaunt over the North Georgia countryside.
The U.S. Air Force Performance Lab will be on site. It is an interactive mobile experience full of challenges and self-discovery, all wrapped in innovative technology. Each part of the experience focuses on different skills and interests that correlate to various Air Force careers. The lab is packed with activities to challenge attendees both mentally and physically.
Static display aircraft flying into Rome this year include the C-17 Globemaster, Douglas C-47 Dakota, Douglas DC-3 “Flagship Detroit,” P-51 Mustang “Old Crow,” Beech AT-11 Kansan, Douglas SBD Dauntless, Bee P-63A King Cobra, Beechcraft T-34 Mentor Demo Team, Fairchild PT-19A, and the Stearman PT-17 biplane.
This year, the Thunderbirds will be onsite at the Rome airport for the first time. Crew members and the jet pilots will participate in local events and visit with locals for almost a week thanks to a recent runway extension at Russell Regional Airport. Following their Friday and Saturday air show performances, the pilots will head to the crowd line to sign autographs for a brief period.
The Thunderbirds have flown from Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta during prior WONG performances because the Russell Regional Airport was too short for takeoffs and landings. But the Russell Regional Airport now has a fully functional 7,010 foot runway thanks to a $5.7 million improvement project.
Joining the Thunderbirds on Easter weekend will be the first-time WONG performances by Ghostwriter AirShows performing in a modified 1956 deHaviland Super Chipmunk and the Bayou Militia, a four-ship F-15C Eagle Demonstration Team from the Louisiana National Guard.
GhostWriter Airshows, with pilot Nathan K. Hammond, bills itself as a “three-act” performance team, demonstrating aerobatic prowess, a night flight featuring LED lights and pyrotechnics, as well as skywriting words or images up to 10 miles across.
Also on board for the April 2026 iteration of WONG are; the Fox Jet Sailplane, Kyle Fowler’s Long EZ experimental aircraft, Buck Roetman’s Yak, Artur Kielak Airshows, Jive Kerby’s T-28, the Chuters Parachute Team, the Smoke N Thunder jet car and jet truck, the L-39 Outlaw Jet Team, the Georgia State Patrol SWAT Team, and the vintage “Class of ‘45” — Scott Yoak’s P-51D Mustang and Jim Tobul’s F4U Corsair.
Friday evening’s twilight and night shows will include evening aviation performances, a drone show and fireworks.
Tickets for the WONG Air Show will be available at https://www.wingsovernorthgeorgia.com/guest-information/ticket-options. Tickets must be purchased online and in advance as no tickets will be sold on the day of the air show performances.
For additional show information, follow the air show’s Facebook page or visit the Wings Over North Georgia website at https://www.WingsOverNorthGeorgia.com.
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