The power of the jet, the silence in the cockpit, the rush of inverted flight at 500 miles per hour, Major Jeff Downie lives it every time he takes to the skies as Thunderbird No. 5. During this year’s Cleveland National Air Show, Cleveland 13’s Gremi got exclusive access to the pilot behind one of the most adrenaline-fueled roles in aerial demonstration.

Before taking off, Fitzgerald met with Cleveland 13’s Gremi at the Red Bull helicopter for an exclusive pre-show look. He opened the chopper for a full tour, giving viewers a glimpse inside the aircraft engineered to perform extreme maneuvers. “It’s an incredible machine,” Gremi said after getting inside. “The way Aaron controls it in the sky is something you have to see to believe.”

For Executive Director Kim Dell, Cleveland’s premier Labor Day weekend event is not just a job, it’s a year-round mission. As the force behind the Cleveland National Air Show, Dell orchestrates one of the most complex and thrilling spectacles in the region, all while juggling planning, logistics, marketing, and coordination with the world’s top aviation talent.

Thanks to unprecedented access, Cleveland 13 was embedded with the teams, performers, organizers, and aircraft that brought Labor Day weekend to life in one of the most thrilling air shows in the country. This wasn't just a show, it was a behind-the-scenes pass into what it takes to defy gravity, command the skies, and deliver a performance packed with speed, skill, and spectacle.