The 2026 Fort Lauderdale Air Show ran May 9–10, with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds headlining over Fort Lauderdale Beach. But the weekend’s most-talked-about moment happened a day before the show even opened — when Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk strapped into the backseat of a Thunderbirds F-16D Fighting Falcon and pulled 9.5 Gs over South Florida.
Tkachuk Goes Up in Thunderbird 7
Friday, May 8 was the show’s practice day. That’s when Tkachuk flew as a civilian passenger with Lt. Col. Tyler “Wrath” Keener — pilot of Thunderbird 7, the only aircraft in the fleet designated exclusively for VIP and Hometown Hero flights. They took off from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport under the U.S. Air Force’s Hometown Heroes program, which recognizes citizens and public figures who exemplify service and sacrifice.
Tkachuk went upside down at altitude. He briefly took the controls for some spins at Keener’s invitation. He did not black out. He did not get sick. For context: a fast roller coaster tops out around 4 Gs, a Formula One car rarely exceeds 5. Tkachuk absorbed 9.5. He also got a flyover of his own house — which, as he noted, he’d apparently been hearing rattle for days.
“We went over the house a bunch. And I know it’s loud because I think they were practicing a few days ago and I could hear it clearly. They were shaking the house.” — Matthew Tkachuk
After landing, the Thunderbirds presented Tkachuk with a photograph of the team flying past Mount Rushmore and a pin commemorating his 9-G threshold. The Panthers brought a commemorative team jersey to the flight line; Tkachuk brought his Olympic gold medal for the team to see. His name was painted on the side of the jet for the day.
“If you’re a hockey fan in general, you are a Matthew Tkachuk fan because of how he plays the game. As an American, watching him wear the Red, White and Blue and win for our country and then getting him up in a Red, White and Blue jet, you couldn’t ask for a better story.” — Lt. Col. Tyler “Wrath” Keener, Thunderbird 7
The Panthers-military connection runs deep. Owner Vincent Viola is a West Point graduate, and the team honors a veteran at every home game — which made the Hometown Heroes pairing a natural fit.
The Aircraft on the Flight Line
The Thunderbirds fly F-16C Block 52s in single-seat configuration for their demonstration, with the fleet consisting of 9 F-16C Block 52s and 3 F-16D Block 52s. Thunderbird 7 — an F-16D Block 52 — is the only aircraft in the fleet set up for two-seat passenger operations, reserved exclusively for VIP and Hometown Hero flights. The Block 52 upgrade brought the fleet’s avionics in line with the broader worldwide F-16 fleet. The cannon and ammunition drum are replaced with a smoke-generation system; the signature red, white, and blue polyurethane paint is applied at the maintenance depot at Hill AFB near Ogden, Utah. Beyond those modifications, these are standard production fighters that can return to combat-ready status in under 72 hours.
Sharing the ramp for the weekend: F-22 Raptors from the Air Combat Command F-22 Demo Team, performing thrust-vectoring low-speed passes and vapor-cloud display sequences over the beach. Also on the performer card were a Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet demo, a NORAD intercept demonstration, SOCOM para-commandos, an F-15 Eagle, the Red Bull Air Force, and the Racers Jet Team — nine acts total across the two-day event.
State Road A1A was closed to vehicles Saturday and Sunday, open only to pedestrians. The show ran from approximately 11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, with Drop Zone Beach access beginning at 9 a.m.
What’s Next for Tkachuk
Fort Lauderdale was the second stop on the 2026 AirDotShow Tour, which opened April 11–12 in Cocoa Beach and continues through Central Pennsylvania, Ocean City, and Atlanta as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Tkachuk, meanwhile, turns to an entirely different kind of mission. Named to Team USA for the IIHF World Championship in Switzerland, he’s chasing entry into the Triple Gold Club — a distinction held by only 30 players in history, requiring a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold, and World Championship title. He has the first two, and would become the first American ever to join the Club if he completes the set. He is expected to join the American squad after the start of group play on May 15.
“A truly unbelievable experience.” — Matthew Tkachuk, after landing
The AirDotShow Tour continues through its 2026 schedule.
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