Cleveland Reporter Goes Airborne to Bring Viewers Inside the Action at the 2025 Cleveland Air Show

CLEVELAND, Ohio — While the crowd watched in amazement from the ground, Cleveland 13’s news team was in the sky, on the tarmac, and inside the machines that made this year’s Cleveland National Air Show one of the most powerful and personal experiences the city has ever seen.

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.

It all starts with one woman, and that woman is Executive Director Kim Dell, the mastermind behind the air show’s precision. “I’m like Santa Claus, working 365 days a year,” she said, as she navigated the show grounds and coordinated final details. Dell, this year’s recipient of the prestigious Katharine Wright Trophy, is responsible for bringing together the aircraft, pilots, crews, vendors, and tens of thousands of spectators into a seamless, high-impact weekend. Her round-the-clock leadership is what elevates the Cleveland National Air Show into a nationally ranked production.

Cleveland 13 spent time with Dell during the show’s opening and later caught up with Red Bull helicopter pilot Aaron Fitzgerald. Before taking off in the Red Bull BO-105 for a gravity-defying performance, Fitzgerald invited Cleveland 13 inside the aircraft to show viewers what it takes to fly like few others can. Moments later, he flipped, spun, and looped the helicopter through the Cleveland skies in one of the most physically demanding demonstrations of the day.

Fitzgerald, a military veteran and 9,000-hour pilot who also flies Blackhawks in wildfire zones, made his Cleveland debut flying alongside Kirby Chambliss and the Red Bull Skydivers. His double-back flip stunt stunned the crowd, marking a highlight of the air show that won’t soon be forgotten.

Stepping that action up a notch, Cleveland 13’s Nikkie Brown ascended to 12,500 feet with the U.S. Army Golden Knights. As each parachutist jumped from the aircraft, Brown remained with the pilots, camera crew, and a retired general, witnessing the skydive team perform their breathtaking maneuvers from above. The elite team, which has shattered more than 348 world records, delivered a freefall performance that captivated both ground-level audiences and viewers following Cleveland 13’s exclusive aerial coverage.

Gremi also connected with Jeff Downie, the pilot flying inverted in jet NO. 5 during the show’s tightly choreographed formation flights. Downie shared how training, timing, and precision are non-negotiable when flying inches apart at speeds exceeding 500 miles per hour.

These stories, together, reveal what makes the Cleveland National Air Show unlike anything else. It’s not just what happens in the air. It’s the people on the ground, in the aircraft, and behind the planning table who make it soar.

If you haven’t secured your spot yet, the time to act is now. All admission and parking for the Cleveland National Air Show must be purchased online and in advance. Tickets are not available at the gate, so plan ahead and make this Labor Day spectacular. Whether you’re coming for the jets, the parachutes, the helicopters, or the once-a-year energy that electrifies Burke Lakefront Airport, this is your moment to be part of the thrill.

You can see more of Cleveland 13’s exclusive coverage from the show, including full stories with the Golden Knights, Red Bull pilot Aaron Fitzgerald, Executive Director Kim Dell, and jet pilot Jeff Downie, right here on Cleveland 13 News.

#ClevelandAirshow2025

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