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NASA and Military Aircraft to Conduct Seven-Hour Flyover Over Washington on July 4
NASA-affiliated jets will open roughly seven hours of military and foreign aircraft flyovers above Washington, D.C., on July 4, 2026, to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. The schedule includes multiple waves of U.S. service aircraft plus teams from the United Arab Emirates and France.
Jul 3, 2:00 PM·1m read1 source
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On July 4, 2026. The full aerial review is scheduled to start at 1:14 PM ET with a NASA F-5 flyover followed by a NASA fleet review. NASA unveiled an F-15D Eagle and an F/A-18B Hornet with new star-spangled paint schemes on July 3.
Three of the F-5s with special 250th anniversary schemes landed at Andrews Air Force Base on June 30. The NASA Freedom 250 F-5 team consists of four privately owned aircraft, including one belonging to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. U.S.
Coast Guard helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft will follow the NASA portion. The U.S. Army’s Golden Knights and the U.S. Navy’s Leap Frogs parachute demonstration teams are scheduled next. Army helicopters expected include AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook, UH-72 Lakota, MH-60M, MH-47G, AH/MH-6 Little Bird, and VH-60 Black Hawk VIP variants.
Air Force waves will include a Tri-Bomber Formation of one B-2, one B-1, and one B-52, plus a U.S. Stealth Airpower Flyover with the B-2, F-22, and F-35. The F-22 Raptor demonstration team has a slot ending with an afterburner flyby at 7:53 PM ET.
A B-1 bomber flyover with afterburners is set for 8:07 PM ET, followed by a night pass at 10:36 PM ET. The new VC-25B Bridge aircraft, which made its maiden flight carrying President Donald Trump to North Dakota earlier in the week, is scheduled to participate. The Air Force states the B-21 Raider will not appear.
The UAE Ministry of Defense announced on July 3 that its Al Fursan national aerobatic team will participate, flying alongside the Blue Angels. , and New York City in the two weeks prior as part of the Liberté 250 tour.
