Dazzling Military Flyovers Honor 250 Years Of American Freedom

By Grant Bromley

on Jun 26, 2026

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Watch some of the most captivating military flyovers conducted at events celebrating 250 years of American independence.
Several events held in honor of 250 years of American independence have been marked by impressive military flyovers. Here, the B-2 Stealth Bomber can be seen flying with four F-35 jets at the June 24 kick off rally for the Great American State Fair. (Photo credit: Freedom 250 / X)

Few things inspire awe and patriotic feeling quite like the sights and sounds of military planes flying overhead.

Flyovers, particularly in the lead up to the United States’ celebration of 250 years since declaring independence, have become quite prevalent.

At the June 24 “America Is Back” kick off rally for the Great American State Fair, which runs from June 25 to July 10, there were four stunning flyovers by a wide array of aircraft.

As the Great American State Fair continues, more flyovers are being conducted, and Freedom 250’s upcoming events — including the July 4 “Salute To America” — are set to feature plenty more.

Still, these captivating moments are not isolated to the National Mall, which is serving as the fairgrounds for the next couple weeks.

See — and hear — several of the most striking flyovers (so far) below.

RELATED: U.S. Air Force B-52 Bomber Crashes, Killing Crew Of 8

List: Watch The Flyovers That Remind Us Of How Our Nation Is Kept Free

When a military plane flys overhead, we are reminded of the strength of our Armed Forces, and the service of those who have committed themselves to maintaining our freedom.

Here is an ongoing list of some of the best flyovers observed in 2026, as America celebrates its 250th anniversary.

Back on April 28, King Charles III conducted a state visit to the United States in honor of 250 years of American independence from Great Britain.

While at the White House, a flyover of four F-35 jets was done as King Charles and Queen Camilla joined President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on the balcony over the South Lawn of the White House.

See the moment, here:

Youtube video

Then, on June 14, which is observed as Flag Day but was also President Trump’s 80th birthday, a flyover was conducted at the UFC Freedom 250 fight held on the South Lawn of the White House.

U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flew overhead as Zac Brown sang the National Anthem before the fight began, much to the delight of the crowd:

Quite notably, there were several flyovers at Trump’s kick off rally for the Great American State Fair.

Held on the National Mall on June 24, these flyovers were unique for their backdrop, with America’s iconic obelisk, the Washington Monument, speaking to the scale of these aerial displays of strength and precision, as well as the historic legacy these flyovers were paying tribute to.

Here’s a montage the Air Force put together of the flyovers at the kick off rally:

See another angle of the B-2 Stealth Bomber flyover, accompanied by F-35s, here:

The commander for the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, Maj. Taylor Hiester, shared a video of his June 24 flyover to social media from a very unique vantage: inside the cockpit.

Leading up to his flyover, Maj. Hiester wrote an op-ed for Washington Reporter, reflecting upon the meaning of participating in flyovers at patriotic events as well as serving in the military.

There, he wrote:

“On June 24, my team opens the Great America’s State Fair Kick Off in our commemorative F-16 painted red, white and blue. Behind us will come the B-2 and F-35. The following day, eight aircraft will fly in formation alongside our B52 Stratofortress. That is the entire arc of American airpower in one piece of sky.”

He added, “This airplane, this celebration, this country — all that she ever was and all that she can be, will always belong to the people. So will I … Happy birthday, America.”

Speaking to Fox News after his flyover, he recalled that he said over the radio to the other pilots, “Long live the Republic, and God bless America.”

Watch the F-16 Demonstration Viper Team’s flyover from inside the cockpit, featuring the Washington Monument in the background, here:

See the F-16 Viper Demo Team’s flyover from another angle, here:

On the first day of the Great American State Fair, which was June 25, a very impressive flyover of two B-52 Stratofortress Bombers flanked by two F-15 Eagles, two F/A-18 Super Hornets, and two F-35C Lightning IIs.

Here, the Royal Air Force Red Arrows, a military aerobatic team in the United Kingdom, did a patriotic flyover of the Nationals vs. Phillies game on Thursday, June 26, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

With smoke trailing their BAE Systems Hawk T.1 fast-jets in red, white, and blue, they reminded attendees of what America shares with Britain while celebrating America’s anniversary.

Here’s a POV shot from one of the Red Arrows during their flyover of the Nationals game:

See more on their flyby, here:

RELATED: Trump Holds “America Is Back” Rally, Kicking Off Great American State Fair

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About the Author

Grant Bromley

Howdy, I’m Grant, a multimedia storyteller and lover of the arts. Whether it’s Copland’s ballet Rodeo or Peckinpah’s iconic Western Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, I have an appreciation for works that engage with the American mythos. Covering news, I help tell the stories that define our shared tomorrow.

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