Pilots practice stunts ahead of Air Dot Show Fort Lauderdale

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — U.S. Navy Cmdr. Clifton Helterbran was at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport on Friday to prepare for the Air Dot Show Fort Lauderdale.

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Helterbran, better known as “Marv,” is a member of the Strike Fighter Squadron 122, or VFA-122, also known as the “Flying Eagles.”

“The challenge we have out here is just the airspace,” Helterbran said. “The fact that the major airfield around here are still active, so the safety brief this morning, we got a nice talk as far as how to keep ourselves safe."

There were also military pilots flying demonstrations of the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the Thunderbirds, and the F-22 Raptor. Helterbran safety is the priority.

“Things come up, nothing ever really goes as planned, as we all kind of know in life, so the biggest challenge is going to be dealing with the punches,” Helterbran said.

The 2026 Air Dot Show in Fort Lauderdale performances, which also include the U.S. Special Operations Command’s Para-Commandos and the RedBull helicopter, are from 11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

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Magdala Louissaint

Magdala Louissaint

Magdala Louissaint joined WPLG in August 2025 and is thrilled to call South Florida home.

Andrea Torres

Andrea Torres

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.