Thunder Over Michigan 2026: America’s Premier Warbird Airshow

Thunder Over Michigan has earned its reputation as America’s premier warbird airshow, where WWII-era fighters and bombers take to the skies in numbers seen nowhere else on the continent.

The 2026 event runs July 17-19 at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Hosted by the Yankee Air Museum, this show transforms a historic airport—where B-24 Liberators were built during WWII—into a living museum of aviation history.

Why Warbird Enthusiasts Make the Pilgrimage

Modern airshows increasingly rely on military demonstration teams and civilian aerobatics to fill programming. Thunder Over Michigan reverses that equation, building its identity around vintage military aircraft that flew in actual combat.

The concentration of airworthy warbirds at this event exceeds anything comparable in North America. Where other shows might feature one or two WWII bombers, Thunder Over Michigan assembles fleets—multiple B-17s, B-25s, and fighters from collections across the country converging for this weekend.

The Historic Venue

Willow Run Airport itself carries historical significance. During WWII, the adjacent Ford Willow Run plant produced B-24 Liberator bombers at rates that seemed impossible—one aircraft rolling off the line every 63 minutes at peak production. The museum preserves a portion of that original facility.

Standing on this tarmac watching B-24s taxi connects visitors directly to history. These aren’t replica aircraft at a themed attraction; they’re surviving examples of exactly what was built feet away eight decades ago.

2026 Featured Performers

USAF F-16 Viper Demonstration Team

The Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demo Team brings modern military precision to complement the historical focus. Their presence provides a bridge from WWII propeller-driven combat to contemporary jet warfare—evolution visualized across a single afternoon.

Warbird Flights

The specific warbird lineup varies year to year based on aircraft availability and airworthiness. Expect fighters including P-51 Mustangs, P-40 Warhawks, and F4U Corsairs. Bombers typically include B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-25 Mitchells, and when available, rarer types like B-29 Superfortresses.

WWII Battle Reenactment

Thunder Over Michigan’s signature feature: the world’s largest air and ground battle reenactment. Over 250 reenactors in authentic uniforms, supported by vintage tanks, half-tracks, and military vehicles, recreate combat scenarios while warbirds provide air support overhead.

This isn’t a brief demonstration but an extended theatrical production that transports viewers into historical moments. The combination of ground action and airborne aircraft creates immersion that pure flying displays cannot match.

The Experience

Unique Schedule

Thunder Over Michigan runs on an unusual schedule. Gates open at 2 PM with flying beginning around 5 PM, continuing into evening. This timing avoids midday heat and provides dramatic late-afternoon light that photographers prize.

The schedule also accommodates working visitors who can’t take full days off. Arrive after normal business hours and still catch the entire flying program.

Static Display Access

Before flying begins, attendees can walk among parked warbirds, often getting closer to historic aircraft than any museum allows. Crew members—many of whom volunteer countless hours maintaining these aircraft—share stories and answer questions with genuine enthusiasm.

Meet the Pilots

Warbird pilots at Thunder Over Michigan are often accessible in ways modern military demonstration teams aren’t. These aviators fly because they love the aircraft and the history they represent. Conversations happen naturally, and the knowledge shared connects visitors with living aviation heritage.

Attending Thunder Over Michigan

Ticket Options

General admission provides access to grounds and viewing areas. Premium options include the Fighter Club and Bomber Club, offering enhanced amenities, dedicated viewing areas, and exclusive access.

Drive-up tailgate spots allow groups to create their own viewing areas with vehicles, combining parking and prime positioning.

Getting There

Willow Run Airport sits between Ann Arbor and Detroit, accessible from I-94. Detroit Metro Airport offers the closest commercial service. Hotels in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area serve as convenient bases.

What to Bring

Late afternoon and evening timing means cooler temperatures than daytime shows, but Michigan July can still be warm. Bring layers for temperature changes as evening approaches. Cameras with telephoto lenses capture warbirds in golden hour light that creates stunning images.

Why Thunder Over Michigan Matters

Every year, fewer WWII veterans remain to share firsthand accounts. The aircraft that survive—maintained at enormous expense by dedicated organizations—become increasingly precious as connections to that history.

Thunder Over Michigan preserves more than airplanes. It preserves the experience of seeing them fly, hearing their engines, feeling the ground vibrate as bombers pass overhead. These sensory memories, created anew each summer, ensure that future generations understand what words alone cannot convey.

For warbird enthusiasts, no American airshow offers a more concentrated, authentic experience. For history students, the combination of flying aircraft and ground reenactment creates educational immersion unavailable anywhere else.

Thunder Over Michigan 2026 runs July 17-19. Visit thunderovermichigan.org for tickets and schedules.