U.S.
GalleryGreat Texas Airshow thrills crowds, honors 250 years of US military history
Stars and Stripes
May 4, 2026
The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” perform during The Great Texas Airshow at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, May 2, 2026. (Zelideth Rodriguez/U.S. Air Force)
The Great Texas Airshow thrilled crowds once again at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph with aerial demonstrations that celebrated 250 years of U.S. military history.
With the theme, “Let Freedom Roar; Honoring 250 Years,” the air show welcomed families and aviation fans over the weekend to enjoy free military and civilian performances, static aircraft displays and hands-on educational activities.
The air show’s Military Appreciation Day event scheduled for May 1 was canceled because of inclement weather, with safety cited as the top priority, JB San Antonio said in an X post on April 30. The rest of the weekend’s events continued as planned.
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds led the show with fast, precise flying, including their signature diamond formation, and the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights drew cheers for their parachute landings. Additional aerial demonstrations featured aircraft such as the C-17 Globemaster III, KC-46 Pegasus and F-22 Raptor.
The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” perform during The Great Texas Airshow at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, May 2, 2026. (Corban Lundborg/U.S. Air Force)
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to the Air Combat Command F-22 Raptor Aerial Demonstration Team performs aerial maneuvers during The Great Texas Airshow at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, on May 02, 2026. (Joseph Kumzak/U.S. Air Force)
Spectators watch as the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team descend to the ground with the American flag to signify the start of The Great Texas Airshow at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, May 3, 2026. (Kevin Jones/U.S. Air Force)
The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” perform during The Great Texas Airshow at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, May 2, 2026. (Zelideth Rodriguez/U.S. Air Force)
Attendees watch The Great Texas Airshow practice run at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, May 2, 2026. The air show, featuring the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds,” is scheduled for May 2-3. (Zelideth Rodriguez/U.S. Air Force)
Ken and Austin Rieder, Redline Airshows RV-8 pilots, maneuver their aircraft during a performance at The Great Texas Airshow at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, May 2, 2026. (Kathryn Reaves/U.S. Air Force)
A soldier assigned to the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team carries an American Flag to the drop zone during The Great Texas Airshow at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, May 3, 2026. (Zelideth Rodriguez/U.S. Air Force)
The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” perform during The Great Texas Airshow at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, May 2, 2026 . (Joseph Kumzak/U.S. Air Force)
Oliver Beck, center, sits on the shoulders of his father, Shane Beck, both of San Antonio, Texas, as they watch the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” perform during the Great Texas Airshow at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, May 3, 2026. (Jonathan Mallard/U.S. Air Force)
The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” taxi before their headline aerial demonstration during The Great Texas Airshow at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, May 2, 2026 . (Joseph Kumzak/U.S. Air Force )
A pilot with the Commemorative Air Force’s Pearl Harbor reenactment team, TORA! TORA! TORA!, maneuvers his aircraft on the flightline at The Great Texas Airshow at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, May 2, 2026. (Kathryn Reaves/U.S. Air Force)
Aircraft from demonstration team Tora! Tora! Tora! perform aerial maneuvers during The Great Texas Airshow at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, May 2, 2026. (Joseph Kumzak/U.S. Air Force)
The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” perform during The Great Texas Airshow at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, May 2, 2026 . (Joseph Kumzak/U.S. Air Force )
Bill Culberson, an aerial performer, maneuvers a MiG-17PF during a performance at The Great Texas Airshow at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, May 2, 2026. (Jonathan Mallard/U.S. Air Force)
An aircraft with the Commemorative Air Force’s TORA! TORA! TORA! Pearl Harbor reenactment team performs an aerobatic maneuver during a performance at the Great Texas Airshow at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, May 2, 2026. (Jonathan Mallard/U.S. Air Force)