According to Air Force Global Strike Command, the “V” formation marked the first time all three Air Force bombers and four different fighter/attack planes flew together.

Memorial Day weekend typically offers plane watchers a special opportunity to see military aircraft in the wild. Around the country, aircraft take part in flyovers to mark the sacrifice of fallen airmen and service members, allowing the general public to catch a glimpse of aircraft that can be hard to spot otherwise. 

On May 24, attendees at the Hyundai Air and Sea Show in Miami, Florida were treated to a never-before-seen sighting: a seven-ship formation, featuring the majority of the Air Force bomber and fighter/attack inventory. Participating in the seven-ship “V” formation was the B-52 Stratofortress, B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and F-22 Raptor. The over flight included all three strategic bombers in the US military inventory, while the only Air Force fighter/attack aircraft omitted from the formation was the F-35 Lightning II. (The only other bomber/fighter/attack aircraft, from the entire US military inventory not included in the over flight were the F/A-18 Super Hornet and the AV-8B Harrier.)

Needless to say, the flyover was a remarkable demonstration of US air power—a nearly comprehensive assembly of America’s offensive and defensive airborne abilities. 

The Planes Came from All Across America

According to Air Force Global Strike Command, the “V” formation marked the first time all three Air Force bombers and four different fighter/attack planes joined together in a “spectacular seven-ship formation,” referred to as the “Freedom Formation.” The formation was assembled from a variety of active duty, reserve, and Air National Guard units geographically ranging from Florida to Missouri. Specifically, the B-2 came from Whiteman AFB, Missouri; the B-52 and B-1 both came from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana; the F-15 came from the Louisiana ANG; the A-10 came from Moody AFB, Georgia; the F-16 came from Homestead AFB, Florida; and the F-22 came from the US Air Force’s touring F-22 Demonstration Team. 

“Troops use flyovers for publicity and training, as well as to show off US military capabilities to friends and foes who might be watching,” Air & Space Forces Magazine reported. Indeed. The Freedom Formation demonstrated a breadth and quality of military aircraft that is without peer, anywhere in the world. Consider the strategic bombers in isolation; Only three nations on Earth have a strategic bomber platform (America, Russia, and China) at all; the United States has three, one of which is stealth and one of which is supersonic—a lineup no nation can match.

The F-22, also featured in the formation, is the world’s undisputed air superiority paragon. Similarly, the A-10 is the most renowned close attack aircraft in the history of warfare. 

Freedom Isn’t Free—In Fact, It’s Really Expensive

The Freedom Formation wasn’t free in the fiscal sense. The B-2 has an hourly operating cost of $150,741; the B-1, $173,014; the B-52, $88,354; the F-22 $85,325; the F-16, $26,927; F-15, $41,921; A-10, $22,531. That’s a grand total of nearly $600,000 per hour—likely more than you paid for your house.

Was the flyover worth it? Maybe. “This is a great opportunity to…showcase what the Air Force and all the branches are about,” said Reserve recruiter Master Sgt. Bryant Guardia. “It is a good opportunity to engage and recruit the next generation of Airmen into our ranks.”

About the Author: Harrison Kass

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

Image courtesy of United States Air Force.

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