A seven-ship dissimilar formation with B-2A, B-1B, B-52H, F-22A, F-15C, F-16C and A-10C showcased the Air Force’s capabilities at the Air and Sea Show in Miami Beach.
In a ceremonial flypast during the Hyundai Air and Sea Show in Miami Beach, Florida, on May 24, 2025, the U.S. Air Force unveiled a first-of-its-kind ‘tri-bomber/fighter dissimilar formation’ of its frontline bomber and fighter aircraft. Led by the Air Force Global Strike Command (AGSC) with a B-2A Spirit, a B-1B Lancer and a B-52H Stratofortress, the formation also included an A-10C Thunderbolt II, F-15C Eagle, F-16C Fighting Falcon and F-22A Raptor.
The Freedom Formation
Calling it the “Freedom Formation”, the Air Force Reserve Command said that the unprecedented formation was being displayed “for the first time ever.” Similarly, the AFGSC called it “The Freedom Flyover,” which stood out from previous years’ installations involving as they featured only a “tri-bomber flyover,” confirming “this was the first time fighter aircraft joined to create a dissimilar formation.”
HISTORY IN THE MAKING! ✈️🇺🇸 Air Force Global Strike Command just unveiled its FIRST-EVER tri-bomber/fighter dissimilar formation at the Hyundai Air and Sea Show – a spectacular seven-ship formation that has never been seen before!#HyundaiAirandSeaShow pic.twitter.com/R1rBZT5vCg
— Hyundai Air & Sea Show (@AirAndSeaShow) May 24, 2025
The seven aircraft included a B-2 from the Active Duty 509th Bomb Wing, based at Whiteman AFB in Missouri; B-52 and B-1 from the Air Force Reserve’s 307th Bomb Wing, based at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana; A-10C from the Active Duty 23rd Wing based at Moody AFB in Georgia; F-15C from the Louisiana Air National Guard’s 159th Fighter Wing; F-16C from the Reserve’s from the 482nd Fighter Wing based at Homestead ARB in Florida; and the F-22 from the F-22 Raptor Demo Team based at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.
Day 2 of the #HyundaiAirAndSeaShow 🇺🇸 the ‘freedom formation’ flew again, even the commentary team were taking pictures!😎[Hyundai Live Stream] #aviation pic.twitter.com/GvgtXDXOwc
— Saint1 (@Saint1Mil) May 25, 2025
Representing the Total Force
The inclusion of the four fighters in the bomber formation represented the entire Air Force, including the active duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard pilots and crews. Having “a part in the flyover,” represented “the Air Force’s ability to collaborate across components,” mentioned the AFGSC press release.
I bet no one got this POV of the @usairforce‘s mighty B-1, B-2, and B-52 getting their close-up from above Miami Beach 😉 #HyundaiAirandSeaShow #HyundaiSalute #ExperienceMiamiBeach pic.twitter.com/AA4Pq4WvUz
— Hyundai Air & Sea Show (@AirAndSeaShow) May 25, 2025
“Nearly every aspect of what you see today touches the Air Force Reserve in some way,” said Air Force Reserve chief and commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, Lt. Gen. John Healy during the show. “What people don’t realize is we are so intricately woven into the day-to-day total force, that we are virtually indistinguishable from Active Duty. This Air Show couldn’t have happened this way without Reserve support.”
Aircraft combinations and flight
For unknown reasons, the formation did not include the F-35A Lightning II, one of the Air Force’s most recent platforms. In fact, the formation included the older legacy jets that have been around since the Cold War and post-Cold War eras, with the B-52 being the oldest, and the F-22 being the youngest aircraft types.
“The seven-ship formation displayed the Air Force’s array of capabilities used in defending the United States to thousands in attendance on the beach,” said a caption accompanying an image capturing the stunning formation. The flyover also comes at a time when the A-10s are being retired in phases in a service-wide divestment plan, which will see the ground attack aircraft gradually being sent to the “boneyard” at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona.
A video released on the DVIDS network showed an in-flight view recorded from the ramp of a C-17 Globemaster III which preceded the formation as it flew over the waters and beaches of Miami, while thousands of spectators watched from the ground. At one point, however, the F-16C was missing from the formation, although that part might have been recorded before the F-16 joined.
Other demonstrations
The Hyundai Air and Sea Show also saw two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters from the Air Force Reserve’s 920th Rescue Wing (920th RQW) performing a combat search and rescue demonstration in the waters off Miami Beach on May 24. The CSAR demonstration was followed by a 920th RQW HC-130J Combat King II simulating an aerial refueling for two HH-60G Pave Hawks.
A-10s could also be seen in the background, simulating a close air support mission in support of the helicopters. Other demonstrations included a flyover of T-38 Talon trainers, a display of two U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters which also supported an amphibious assault by special operations forces, a simulated air refueling with a KC-135 and C-17, Coast Guard SAR demonstration, the F-22 Demo Team, MV-22 Osprey display and an MH-139 flyover.
The large event, which preceded Memorial Day, also included static displays in the area near the beaches, showing multiple assets and the new innovations of the U.S. military.
Speaking about innovation, Lt. Gen. Healy put the future of the Air Force Reserve in perspective amid emerging warfare trends. In fact, during the Western Hemisphere Collective Security Summit at the air show, Healy reinforced that Reserve forces must be innovative to address issues like aging aircraft and funding constraints.
“Fifth-generation upgrades like radar and warning receivers that were on display with our Fighting Falcons during the air show demonstrate how we are mitigating some of our technology gaps,” said Healy. “We might be bringing a knife to a gun fight, but we bring a really tricked out knife.”
