ENID, OK - Col. Joshua Lundeby, 71st Flying Training Wing commander, announced on Friday that Vance Air Force Base will host the Wings Over Enid air show in July 2027. The highlight of the airshow will be the US Air Force Thunderbirds.
A 2027 airshow schedule for the US Air Force Thunderbirds has been released on a preliminary basis only, and will likely see multiple changes. It currently shows the Thunderbird Team being in Enid on July 24, 2027 at Vance AFB. An updated 2027 schedule will be released in December of 2026.
During his speech Col. Lundeby talked about the partnership between Vance AFB and the city of Enid. His speech at the State of the Base event was held at Autry Technology Center on Friday, February 6.
Stats that were given included the fact that almost 56,000 hours were flown out of Vance last year which amounted to 38,598 sorties. Vance is the third busiest airfield in the United States.
Vance has graduated 38,357 pilots since 1941 and had 394 graduates last year. The Air Force would like to greatly increase that amount at Vance in the not to distant future.
Vance Air Force Base uses the T-6A Texan II, T-1A Jayhawk, and T-38C Talon to train student pilots in its Undergraduate Pilot Training program. The T-6A is used for primary, the T-1A for advanced tanker/transport, and the T-38C for advanced fighter/bomber training. The T-1A is currently being phased out.
The base is preparing for a major, multi-year recapitalization to replace its T-38C Talon fleet with the new T-7A Red Hawk, with full operational transition expected to start in 2034.
Other updates included a start date of spring 2026 for work on the new Eisenhower Elementary School. It is expected to allow for an increased enrollment of 330 students.
Col. Joshua Lundeby speaking at the State of the Base event on Friday, February 6, 2026.
Photo by Curtis D. Tucker.
