Arlington residents can expect more military flyovers — and more noise — in the coming weeks as the nation marks its 250th birthday.
The U.S. military notified D.C. that it will conduct aircraft flyovers near the National Mall from Wednesday, June 24, through Friday, July 10, as part of America’s 250th-anniversary celebrations, according to AlertDC.
“While there may be an increase in air traffic noise, there is no cause for alarm,” the alert said.
Arlington got a preview earlier this month, when about a dozen military helicopters flew down the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor and across the Potomac River ahead of a weekend of flights tied to the celebrations.
The latest round anchors the Great American State Fair, a 16-day exposition on the Mall running June 25 to July 10 and organized by Freedom 250, the White House-backed group leading the anniversary events. President Donald Trump is set to headline a kickoff rally tomorrow (Wednesday) evening.
A two-night aerial showcase opens the fair. The June 24 kickoff is slated to feature a rare flyover by the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, an F-35A Lightning II formation and the Air Force’s red, white and blue F-16 Viper Demo Team, according to Freedom 250. The June 25 lineup features eight aircraft flying in formation, including the B-52 Stratofortress, F-15 Eagle, F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-35C Lightning II.
The celebrations culminate July 4 with “Salute to America,” an all-day program of performances and flyovers around the Washington Monument. Organizers say it will end with the largest fireworks display in history — 850,000 shells launched from 10 sites, including the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and eight barges on the Potomac. Aviation teams expected to take part include the Thunderbirds, the Blue Angels, the F-22 Raptor Demo Team and the Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II Demo Team.
The celebrations will also disrupt air travel at Reagan National Airport. Its runways are set to close for much of July 3 and 4 — with no flights scheduled after noon on the Fourth. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has warned that other flights could face temporary holds around events including the fair’s June 24-25 opening and a July 10 closeout flyover and parachute jump.
Arlington is marking the milestone closer to home, too, with the Arlington Historical Society coordinating local programming for the anniversary that includes a planned “Let Freedom Ring” bell-ringing on the Fourth of July.
More on the two nights of flyovers, below, from Freedom 250’s announcement.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The thunder of American airpower will roar over the National Mall this June as Freedom 250 unveils a spectacular two-night aerial showcase anchoring the Great American State Fair Kick-Off Celebration — a once-in-a-generation tribute to 250 years of independence, freedom, and the world’s strongest military.
On June 24 and June 25, some of the United States Air Force’s most iconic and advanced aircraft will conduct precision flyovers and dramatic formation flights above the heart of the nation’s capital, delivering a breathtaking display of American airpower to open the Great American State Fair, which will transform the heart of the nation’s capital into a world-class exposition and modern-day World’s Fair.
FLYOVER SCHEDULE
June 24 — Kick-Off Celebration Flyovers
- F-16 Viper Demo Team — Opening the June 24 festivities with a patriotic flyover featuring the team’s uniquely painted red, white, and blue F-16 Viper.
- B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber — America’s iconic long-range stealth bomber making a rare flyover appearance
- F-35A Lightning II — Formation flyover showcasing America’s most advanced fifth-generation fighter jet
June 25 — Aircraft Formation Flyovers
In a spectacular display of multi-generation airpower, eight aircrafts will fly in formation featuring:
- B-52 Stratofortress
- F-15 Eagle
- F/A-18 Super Hornet
- F-35C Lightning II
Together, these aircraft represent the full arc of American aviation supremacy from the Cold War-era B-52 that has served for over seven decades, to the cutting-edge F-35C, the Navy’s most advanced carrier-based fighter.
