What a well organized, interesting, informative event!! I've never been to an air show before, but I think I've been spoiled by this amazing event we attended the first weekend of August... Not sure how future shows will measure up (and with my everything flight-related SUPER FAN husband, there's bound to be more!!) From the super organized parking, to the loooooong but very smoothly run entry and security lines, the clear, easy to follow schedule of events, food area that was well-set up (so-so food, but wasn't expecting gourmet deluxe!!), to the awesome exhibits and planes, this was definitely a well planned and set up event from start to finish. My only "ding" would be that it was HOT and there were nowhere near enough shaded areas, but is what it is out on an airfield... We went specifically because the Mr.'s a HUGE fan of the Corsair airplanes, which were showcased at this event. His head nearly exploded several times over the course of the day, first just seeing all those fine pieces of machinery in one place, then at the end of the day when they all started up, unfolded their wings (real unique plane!!) and took off (then landed/refolded their wings) in unison. Well worth the cost of admission, especially the discounted "early bird special" he got, which was a great deal w/a year's membership for us to the Yankee Air Museum (and reciprocated with MANY other similar museums). This festival attracted us from "next door" in Ohioooo, but we also came across other attendees from around the country. Don't miss it, if you're an aviation fan. We'll be back!! read more

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Pathetic. Parking: awful. ....food: 3 trucks. Wait in line for an hour for a hot dog. Show: ....worst I've seen. No gen 5 fighters or static displays. No Gen 4 or top tier headliner. Poorly run.... schedule for rides is a mess. More empty Tarmac area than airplanes. Very old and dirty bathroom accommodations and not enough for the crowd. For these prices????. WHO IS RUNNING THIS?. Fail. I've been in the aviation business since 1990. Was at the Rickenbacker airshow in OH Last month.... what a contrast. Shame on Michigan and the organizers of this for this sorry event. You like airplanes? Save 1000$ and take the kids to the airforce museum in OH. it's impressive.... as far as airshows go. By far worst I've been to. read more

First time visit to an air show. My brother who visits these shows regularly in the UK came over especially to visit The Thunder Over Michigan Air Show he came to see the MiG and the B29 Superfortress. Its amazing to see all of the various planes and the skill and dedication these pilots and flyers , my favorite was the F-22 Raptor a really awesome sight seeing what these planes can do. read more

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I have been to the air show several times and to me it is one of my favorites. It seems to be well run and focussed on safety while giving visortors opportunities to get up close to the aricraft and the action. This show is really great if you enjoy seeing vintage warbirds in action without a lot of "filler" stuffed in just so they can call it a show. I was there in 2023 and with regard to the safety this airshow is extremely safe. The majority if not all of the acrobatic flying is done over the flight line not out and over residential areas. Once the planes leave the show box they are complying with all FAA flight safety regulations and offer no more danger to anyone than any other aircraft. Great show fellas please keep it going. read more

Thunder Over Michigan - Local Flavor Near Me - Belleville, Michigan

I had heard of this show, but never been, even growing up in Toledo. When I heard about the gathering of Corsairs, I had to come, since it's my favorite WW2 plane. I got advance tickets and parking. Prices are indeed high, so buy ahead of time. Was it worth it? Yes. To someone like me, anyway. I've been to Oshkosh dozens of times, and many other shows. This is a smaller one, and more geared to historic aircraft. Plenty of signage and a good website to guide you in. Plenty of parking, reasonably close. Rough field though. The museum was open, for free, and was a welcome respite with shade and bathrooms. They sell rides in an assortment of aircraft (out on the flightline) and prices are actually competitive. Expensive, and I passed but was tempted. But go anywhere else and they are about the same. A good number of ground displays, including some oddities like a Luftwaffe A400, an L-5 ambulance, and a static EC-121. Many of the bigger planes were open for tours. There was a morning show and an afternoon one, with warbird displays, reenactors in a mock battle, aerobatics, an F-16 display in the afternoon, and of course mass flights of the Corsairs. I was grinning often. There were a decent amount of food choices, and lines weren't too long. Expensive, yes, but again, competitive for airshows. I recommend bringing your own water and snacks, and only getting a cold drink or two here. Also: hat, sunscreen, good shoes, maybe a light folding chair, battery stick for your phone/camera. I'd come back. It's a haul for me, but if they had something interesting like the Corsairs, it would be worth it. We visited friends while we were here, so it made for a good trip. If Baby K were a few years older, I would have brought her for a half day (kids under 15 are free!) read more

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Kind of disappointed today. Show did not last 2 hours in the AM nor 2 hours in the PM. There were no 4 jet teams. So glad I did not spend hundreds of dollars to watch it. read more

Prior to attending I definitely winced when I heard the price of admission. But the sheer joy on my airplane-obsessed husband's face when we watched all the incredible stunts and planes go through was worth every penny. It's just such a blast and I can't believe we've never been before this year. There are aircrafts on display on the grounds for folks to explore and get up and close and personal with. Great photo ops from planes as far back as WW2. Throughout the weekend several impressive aircrafts fly over Willow Run and the surrounding areas, culminating with an impressive show by the Blue Angels. You can certainly see a lot of the show around Willow Run (lots of cars parked up and down Michigan Avenue, and we event saw a lot of the show the day before we went from my mom's backyard in Canton) but there's nothing like being right there in the thick of it, watching those jets pass right in front of you. It's amazing! Protips: Bring sunscreen, there's not much by way of tents or protection from the sun. The grounds are pretty much just an open field/parking lot. I believe there may be some VIP tents but we didn't spring for those so I didn't pay super close attention to the availability. Food and drink is also onsite but we didn't take advantage of any of that either, so I can't comment on pricing/quality, but if you're interested in snacks or sips they do have them. read more

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I felt my life was in danger do to a plane crash that happened at the waverly on the lake where I was staying. Air shows of this caliper should not be happening over residential areas in general due to their risks to innocent lives. The stints that are performed are dangerous and unnecessary especially over people who don't even know an air show is happening. I did not sign up nor agree to having an unmanned plane hit a tree 150 feet from the building I was inside and still I was subjected to it. The noise the plane made when crashed and the image of the crashed plane will forever be in my memory and I will never stop speaking of the dangerous of air shows as planes that are not proven completely safe should not be flown. read more

Thunder Over Michigan - Where the plane landed after hitting a tree. Without hitting the tree the plane would've gone into the building and killed everyone inside. - Local Flavor Near Me - Belleville, Michigan

Prior to attending Thunder Over Michigan two years ago we had been to only one other Air show: Oshkosh in 1984! And I don't remember much about it except crowds, parking challenges, lots of aircraft, and lots of noise...and hot weather. Fast forward to 2015 and we somehow learned about Thunder Over Michigan featuring the US Navy & Marines own Blue Angels! We read about it, studied the details, and decided to sign up for it. In the process I learned that there are several pieces to deal with that are purchased separately: Parking, Admission, and extras. Parking and admission are the minimum requirements here because you need a place to park (unless you are riding together with someone else) and admission to get onto the grounds where you can see the aircraft on display and have a decent view of the Air show itself. Then there are the extras! For additional cost you can add access to a number of tents that offer an escape from the general crowds and various levels and types of refreshments, snacks, and even hot food for corresponding levels of cost. We chose one of the add ons that also included chairs and had excellent viewing throughout the show. For 2017 the Blue Angels are back for the air show that will be held over the Labor Day weekend. You can check it out and buy tickets on line though the Yankee Air Museum. read more

I would have been disappointed even if this was FREE!! (Let alone $45!) Our family called this the "ground show" rather than "air show". read more

We were at the show on Saturday August 3rd and I can honestly say it was the worst air show I've ever attended. Besides the f-16 demonstration it was completely boring and an utter waste of time and money. Speaking of money, this place is extremely expensive, $45 to get in and the main focus of the promoters was take a ride on one of our overpriced planes or helicopters, the food was disgusting, expensive and no organization at all. I could overlook those things if the show would have been good, however most of the time we were there, there were no planes in the air. Also they should list what planes are on static display and what planes will fly, our group off 22 people would have never driven 3 hours to basically see an air museum. Horrible experience and would strongly recommend not attending unless they make some drastic changes. read more

A pretty nice airshow overall. Parking and walking wasn't bad. There were a few aircraft on display and a few more aircraft were put in display after they flew. The blue angles are always pretty impressive. I dropped a star for the parking location of the angles. They were off to the side of the ramp and another performer parked in front of them. We were not able to see the synchronized walk out and engine startup because of their location. read more

I've been to many airshows across the country and this one in 2019 was one of the worst. It was very expensive: $15 for parking, $40 for ticket, $9 for a cold hamburger, $10 cover charge just so you can go in and buy a $6 can of beer. More expensive if you don't buy online before the show. Also be prepared to walk ALOT! I tried to see everything and ending up walking a total of 6.6 miles! Waiting for the flying is painful. The show was in 2 parts: 10 - 1130 and part 2 not until 130 - 430. So you had to find something to do for 2 hours like walk some more. Also if you upgrade to the "Cadet Club" for $15 you get a fenced in area with chairs in the sun. It turns out though that the pub with a tent is right next door for $10 and kids are free! I left early because I was overheated and the final disaster was the parking lot. Many people looking for their cars and couldn't find them. There were no signs or markers, I looked for mine for 30 minutes. Never heard so many car alarms going off! It would be nice also to have some signs to show where the exit is and how to get back to the freeway! Safe to say I will not be attending this show again.... read more

Wow. Great time. Great airshow. They really did a great job on this event. Highly recommend.

We attended Thunder Over Michigan at the Willow Run Airport yesterday. Seeing the planes and the Blue Angels was amazing!! It is worth going, however, your ability to park, leave and try to get home is another matter. I feel like screaming out warning, warning!! We came down I-275 to Ecorse Road and over to Beck Road to the East side of Willow Run Airport. We could immediately see parking areas, even though they were on grassy fields that looked like where we were going to park. But guess again, a Van Buren Twp. police car was blocking the gate of the main entrance there for us to park. They waived us on into a long line of traffic where we sat and waited in a long line proceeding down to Tyler Road, making a right that finally led us to an entrance into a field where we had to drive in the field all the way back to where we could have gone into but were blocked by the police car. The parking crew said the decision to block that entrance was not there's but Willow Run Airport's decision. Now if that wasn't enough leaving the show became even more ridiculous!! We started out trying to pull out of the field toward the driveway we initially could not pull into. However, the field has a drop off up to the driveway and our car was questionable as to traversing it. We managed to go straight and find our way back onto Beck Road. We made our way to the light at Beck and Ecorse only to find the police had barricaded Ecorse off going East to I-275. They shut Ecorse down and we could not turn right, only left. A long line of cars piled up down Ecorse going West. We wondered where we were going to make a right and try to head back going East. To our surprise the police had closed off two roads heading north off of Ecorse, forcing us to head straight into Ypsilanti!!! We were frustrated, eventually found Ford Blvd. that took us over to Michigan Avenue and back to I-275. The BIG question is why are they doing this?? Why impede the traffic trying to park going in and then again do not them allow them to use the roads they came in on to go home???? We are a fan of supporting this air show and the Yankee Air Museum, however, policies need to be reviewed. Just based on getting in and trying to get home, people may choose not to go next year. Logic needs to come into play!! read more

I agree with Carol S. from Northville. I too went to this Air Show last weekend and the parking and getting out IS ATROCIOUS! Carol S. of Northville covered it perfectly. On top of that I am handicapped and the designated handicap parking was not where the directions said it would be and it also didn't afford any closer parking. Apparently handicapped aren't wanted. I also paid extra for my wife and I to get into one of the reserved chalets (as they call them) at $75.00 a person. It was suppose to supply a lunch buffet (food I wouldn't ask a dog to eat, dried out chicken and rice? What if you don't like chicken? It was the only choice.) They did supply drinks all day as well as private portable bathrooms (that is 2 bathrooms for 500 people) By the way I left the tent and bought 2 hot dogs and fries from a vendor for $15.00. So I spent $150.00 for drinks and long bathroom lines, what was I thinking. I'll never go back again. I can see The Blue Angels and The Thunderbirds on alternate years for free in Traverse City, Michigan at their Cherry Festival. And there's tons of variety from food venders. THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN is a JOKE!!! read more