Six U.S. Air Force Thunderbird F-16s will fly over Wichita on Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25. The jets headline the free Frontiers in Flight Open House and Air Show at McConnell Air Force Base.

scheduled to begin their performance at 3 p.m, with aerial performances running from 1 to 4:30 p.m., according to the Derby Informer. General admission is free and open to the public.

Gate times vary by source. The official Frontiers in Flight website lists gates opening at 9 a.m., while McConnell officials told the Derby Informer gates open at 10:30 a.m. Attendees should check the event website before heading out.

The show marks one of the Thunderbirds' final stops of 2026. The team has just two show weekends remaining on its calendar after Wichita, the Derby Informer reported.

Behind the jets

Capt. Janilie Vecchio, call sign "Disco," serves as Thunderbird 10, the team's executive officer. She coordinates the behind-the-scenes work that keeps a 130-person unit running across more than 30 career fields.

Vecchio said there is no room for ego on the team. "Every day that we fly, you have to fess up to your mistakes," she told the Derby Informer.

She grew up in Las Vegas, where watching the Thunderbirds fly over the U.S. Air Force Academy's graduation ceremony inspired her to attend the academy. She graduated in 2017 as a force support officer and later joined the Thunderbirds after a competitive application process.

What else to see

The U.S. Air Force Academy Wings of Blue parachute team opens the aerial program, marking the first time McConnell has hosted parachutists since 2022. Solo performers include Scott Francis in an MXS aircraft, Matt Younkin in a vintage Beech 18, Tom Larkin in a SubSonex Mini Jet and Brian Correll in a Pitts S-2S.

On the ground, static displays include a B-29 Superfortress "Doc," an F-35 Lightning II, a C-17 Globemaster III and an A-10 Thunderbolt II, among others. A STEM hangar, flight simulators, a family zone and ground vehicles round out the attractions.

The show is expected to offer the final chance to see McConnell’s KC-135 Stratotankers fly at the base’s air show. The base is transitioning to the KC-46A Pegasus, with the shift to an all-KC-46 fleet expected by summer 2027, according to Visit Wichita. A dual KC-135 and KC-46 flyover is on the schedule.

If you go

Location: McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita

Aerial performances: 1–4:30 p.m.; Thunderbirds at 3 p.m.

Admission: Free general admission. Premium seating, a beer garden and a Premier Club are available for purchase.

For those who prefer to watch from off-base, the Kansas Aviation Museum is hosting an Airshow Watch Party both days. Gates open at 11 a.m. and the party runs through 4 p.m. Admission is $30 per vehicle or $20 for museum members.