The U.S. Air Force presented a remarkable display of its capabilities during the Hyundai Air and Sea Show in Miami Beach, Florida, on May 24, 2025.
Featuring a unique ‘tri-bomber/fighter dissimilar formation,’ the event showcased a combination of seven aircraft: the B-2A Spirit, B-1B Lancer, B-52H Stratofortress, A-10C Thunderbolt II, F-15C Eagle, F-16C Fighting Falcon, and F-22A Raptor.
This historical formation was referred to as the ‘Freedom Formation’ by the Air Force Reserve Command, emphasizing its unprecedented nature.
For the first time, fighter aircraft joined a typically bomber-focused display, representing a collaboration across different Air Force components.
The flyover was led by the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), featuring aircraft from various units: 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 at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana, and an A-10C from the Active Duty 23rd Wing at Moody AFB in Georgia.
Additionally, the F-15C was provided by the Louisiana Air National Guard’s 159th Fighter Wing, while the F-16C came from the 482nd Fighter Wing of the Air Force Reserve based at Homestead ARB in Florida.
The F-22 was represented by the F-22 Raptor Demo Team from Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia.
According to a press release from AFGSC, the inclusion of these four fighters in the bomber formation highlighted the participation of the entire Air Force, showing collaboration among active duty, reserve, and National Guard pilots and crews.
Lt. Gen. John Healy, commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, addressed the audience, noting the critical role of the reserve forces in the event.
He stated, “Nearly every aspect of what you see today touches the Air Force Reserve in some way… 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.”
Interestingly, the formation did not include the F-35A Lightning II, a notable omission considering it is one of the Air Force’s latest platforms.
Instead, the formation consisted of legacy aircraft that have been operational since the Cold War era, with the B-52 being the oldest and the F-22 the newest.
A stunning flyover showcased the diverse capabilities of the Air Force to thousands of spectators gathered on the beach.
This event occurs concurrently with the phased retirement of the A-10s as part of a service-wide divestment plan, which will ultimately see these ground attack aircraft retired to the ‘boneyard’ at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona.
Videos captured by a C-17 Globemaster III demonstrated the aircraft as they engaged in the flyover over Miami’s beach.
However, there were moments when the F-16C appeared to be absent from the formation, which may have been due to the timing of the recording.
The Hyundai Air and Sea Show also featured a variety of other demonstrations on the same day.
Highlighting the Air Force Reserve’s capabilities, two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters from the 920th Rescue Wing performed a combat search and rescue mission in the waters near Miami Beach.
This was complemented by a simulation of aerial refueling performed by a 920th RQW HC-130J Combat King II for the two Pave Hawks.
Additionally, A-10s provided simulated close air support for the helicopter operations.
The event also included T-38 Talon trainer flyovers, U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk displays, and a simulated air refueling featuring a KC-135 and a C-17.
Coast Guard search and rescue demonstrations, the F-22 Demo Team performance, an MV-22 Osprey display, and an MH-139 flyover further enhanced the show’s scale.
As the event took place leading up to Memorial Day, static displays exhibited a wide range of military assets and the latest innovations of the U.S. military.
In discussions about innovation, Lt. Gen. Healy remarked on the importance of adapting to emerging warfare trends.
He emphasized the need for Reserve forces to be innovative in addressing challenges such as aging aircraft and limited funding.
“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,” Healy stated.
He concluded, “We might be bringing a knife to a gun fight, but we bring a really tricked-out knife.”
image source from：https://theaviationist.com/2025/05/26/miami-air-sea-show-freedom-formation/
