The first day of the air show faced challenges from both political and natural forces. The absence of the Blue Angels, a major draw for the event, was a direct result of the ongoing government shutdown, while the gusty winds forced organizers to cut the day’s schedule short.

Nevertheless, the event still managed to attract a significant crowd, with Jacksonville’s Sports and Entertainment department expressing satisfaction with the attendance figures for Saturday.

“We grew up as Navy brats, attending air shows regularly and often taking them for granted,” said Bryan Yarborough, reflecting on the experience. “This event felt like a nostalgic return after a long break.”

“We grew up Navy brats, went to air shows all our life, took them for granted, so this was a nice return to that hiatus,” Bryan Yarborough said shortly after the air show ended.

Brothers David and Bryan Yarborough turned the Sea & Sky Air Show in Jacksonville Beach into a family affair, just like how it was when they grew up.

That included bringing their 87-year-old father.

“He was even screened at one point today to possibly be a Blue Angel, so it was a moment of father-son love for us,” David Yarborough said.

The Yarboroughs were disappointed to learn less than 24 hours before the show the Blue Angels and Viper Demo Team wouldn’t be performing due to the ongoing government shutdown.

But they’d already made the trek out from Louisiana and Tampa, so they came for the show anyway, and they’re so glad they did.

“When the show started, he came out on the balcony and just lit up, all that aviation blood running through him,” David said.

The show ended a bit early, as Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment reports the wind was too strong for the parachute team to perform at the end, but they were still pleased with the turnout at the beach.

“I think hopefully people had already made plans to be out there, and hopefully they saw how high class our civilian performers were,” Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment Executive Director Alex Alston said. “These guys do this all over the country. They’re some of the best performers in the world and we’re happy to have them here.”

“We all know a little bit about aviation and that was still impressive, especially the aerobatic guy doing the dead falls,” Bryan said. “It was well worth it.”

The Yarboroughs will be back for round two Sunday to get another chance to catch the look on their dad’s face when the pilots take to the sky.

“Any time we can get together with him is super, super special, right? It was a cherished moment,” Bryan said. “We know there’s not that many left, so we count them and we’re blessed by them.”

Festivities start at 11 a.m. Sunday and the show will start at 1 p.m.