Syracuse Hancock International Airport to host air show again in 2016

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse International Airshow returns to Hancock International Airport in June 2016 after a 14-year absence.

The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) announced the show on Monday. Syracuse’s last airshow was held in 2002.

The Navy Blue Angels will headline the June 11-12, 2016 event, representing their only upstate New York performance in 2016, SRAA said in a news release.

Hancock Airport is “beyond excited” that the Blue Angels selected Syracuse as their only Upstate performance in 2016, Christina Callahan, executive director, said.

 “There is nothing quite like the thrill of watching a military jet demonstration team like the Blue Angels; the speed, the precision, the performance … this is a chance for our community to see one of the military’s premier demonstration teams,” said Callahan.

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner sees the event as a “return on the investments” that the City of Syracuse has made to improve Hancock Airport.

“An air show featuring the Blue Angels will draw in even more people to our community to see first-hand the work that has been done at our airport,” said Miner.

A total of 16 officers voluntarily serve with the Blue Angels. After their time with the Angels, the officers return to the fleet after their tours of duty of two or three years depending on their role, the release stated.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com