JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds touched down at Naval Air Station Jacksonville Thursday.<\/p>\n
NAS JAX will host one of the military\u2019s most unique aviation events, featuring both the Thunderbirds and the Navy\u2019s Blue Angels performing at the same show.<\/p>\n
The joint air show, set for October 17-18, 2026, will mark the Thunderbirds\u2019 first-ever performance at NAS Jacksonville, though the team previously performed at Jacksonville Beach in 1969, according to a statement from NAS JAX.<\/p>\n
The visit carried extra significance for one of the pilots. Lt. Col. Tyler Keener, the team\u2019s operations officer, found himself flying over familiar territory. As a graduate of The Bolles School, Keener grew up watching planes cross Jacksonville\u2019s skies.<\/p>\n
\u201cMan, this is an incredible homecoming. Never thought I would be able to do this in a jet,\u201d he said shortly after landing. \u201cTalking to Jacksonville approach and then the tower and flying over the airfield that I grew up looking at from across the river is a special moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lt. Col. Tyler Keener, a Bolles grad, lands at NAS Jax with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. (News4JAX)<\/p>\n
Keener moved to Jacksonville when he was five years old after his father, an Air Force pilot, was stationed in the River City.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really special. It\u2019s how I ended up here as a kid. My dad moved here on a Navy exchange as an Air Force pilot and then retired out of the Florida Air National Guard,\u201d Keener said.<\/p>\n
The visit also provided a family reunion. Keener hadn\u2019t seen his wife and children in a month due to the team\u2019s intensive winter training schedule in preparation for their upcoming show season.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat goes from March to November and is very busy,\u201d Keener said. \u201cSo to find a moment where I could rejoin with my wife and kids was special especially back home.\u201d<\/p>\n
His kids, each 6 and younger, jumped into his arms as he got out of the jet.<\/p>\n
The Thunderbirds are in town to complete a site survey ahead of their October show.<\/p>\n
Thunderbirds fly in NAS Jax for site survey ahead of October show. (News4JAX)<\/p>\n
Following their Jacksonville visit, the Thunderbirds will head to Daytona, where they\u2019re scheduled to perform a flyover at the Daytona 500.<\/p>\n