The French Air Force’s elite Patrouille de France is bringing their nine Alpha Jets to the Mid-Atlantic this June. They’re here to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary as part of the official “Liberté 250” mission. Three confirmed performances are locked in: Ocean City, Maryland on June 13–14, Naval Air Station Patuxent River on June 20–21, and Baltimore Fleet Week on June 27–28.
This is the third U.S. tour for the world’s oldest continuously active precision aerobatic team in four decades—and their first American appearance since 2017. The French Air and Space Force announced the deployment on May 7, framing it as a celebration of Franco-American partnership and military heritage. At each venue, the French contingent will share the skies with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, USAF F-16 Viper Demo Team, and Heritage Flight performers.
Ocean City Opens the Tour
The Air Dot Show Tour will host the Patrouille de France’s stateside debut on June 13–14 in Ocean City, Maryland. The timing matters: it’s the first public showing of the month-long U.S. deployment. Show organizers said they were “incredibly honored that the French Air and Space Force has chosen Air Dot Show Ocean City as the destination to kick off this historic mission.”
The nine jets will stream the French tricolor—red, white, and blue smoke—through maneuvers honed over the team’s 95-year history. Each Alpha Jet features a commemorative Liberté 250 livery with the American Stars and Stripes on the tail, plus the names of ten iconic Franco-American figures: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Josephine Baker among them.
Pax River Goes International
NAS Patuxent River’s 75th Anniversary Air Expo (June 20–21) becomes a de facto international showcase. The Patrouille de France shares the bill with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels in F/A-18 Super Hornets, the USAF F-16 Viper Demo Team, World War II warbirds including the B-25 “Panchito” and P-51 Mustang, and aerobatic pilot Michael Goulian flying his Extra 330SC.
PenFed Credit Union, continuing its partnership with Goulian Aerosports for 2026, will maintain its Wall of Honor exhibit at the show—a tradition honoring military service members and first responders. “We are honored to continue our journey with PenFed at some of the best air shows in the United States,” Goulian said. “This partnership is a natural fit because we share the same drive for excellence and an unwavering commitment to serving our communities.”
Admission is free and open to the public. Pax River is one of Southern Maryland’s largest annual aviation events. Jeff Sias, NAS Patuxent River’s Fleet and Family Readiness Director, explained the broader mission: “The air show is more than an exhibition of aerial displays; it is a community wide event for the Navy to invite the public to see, and feel the air power, first-hand on what goes on at Pax River on a regular basis.”
Baltimore Fleet Week Finale
The SAIL250® Maryland & Airshow Baltimore festival runs June 24–30, with airshow performances June 27–28. Expect international tall ships, U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels, and the full slate of demo teams. The Patrouille de France’s Baltimore appearance marks the third and final confirmed stop on the Liberté 250 itinerary before the team heads to New York for July 4 Independence Day festivities.
Here’s a bonus for aviation enthusiasts: Pax River and Baltimore host the same headliners—Blue Angels and F-16 Viper Demo—on back-to-back weekends. That rare scheduling alignment means two chances to see the French contingent in formation.
What’s Next
The Patrouille de France will continue operations through early July under the French Air and Space Force’s official June 8–July 4 deployment window. More performer confirmations for Ocean City and Baltimore are expected in coming weeks. Ticket details and venue information are available through each respective show’s official channels.
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