The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds finally got their shot. After Saturday’s Hoover Dam flag display was scrubbed due to high winds, the team completed their six-ship delta formation pass over Hoover Dam and its 45,000-square-foot American flag on Tuesday morning, June 30. It was the first Thunderbirds delta over Las Vegas since 2020—and their final Vegas appearance before heading westbound to Washington, D.C., for America’s 250th anniversary Salute to America celebrations on July 4.
Six F-16 Fighting Falcons executed the pass at approximately 9 a.m. PT as part of a transit mission from Nellis Air Force Base to the nation’s capital. Lt. Col. Alexander Prevendar, Thunderbird 1 and the squadron’s commander, called it a moment of pride for his hometown: “It’s an incredible honor for the Thunderbirds to fly over our hometown this weekend. As America marks 250 years, we’re proud to celebrate alongside our community.”
The Original Saturday Flyover — Why the Dam Pass Moved
The partnership between the Thunderbirds and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority started Saturday, June 27, with an ambitious evening route. Takeoff was set for 6:45 p.m. The formation flew the Las Vegas Strip north to south, then reversed course. They threaded past the North Las Vegas VA Medical Center, Lone Mountain, and Las Vegas Ballpark—where they kicked off the Battle for Vegas charity softball game at 7:30 p.m.—before pushing on to Red Rock Canyon and Mount Charleston.
The original plan had them arriving at Hoover Dam at 7:47 p.m. that Saturday evening. But forecasts of high winds forced a change. Organizers postponed the Hoover Dam pass specifically, leaving the dam’s massive American flag unfurled only for Tuesday morning. The flag—measuring 45,000 square feet—stayed on continuous display through July 4, lit nightly with patriotic lighting.
Thunderbirds Delta — Formation and Heritage
The six-ship delta is the Thunderbirds’ signature move: all six F-16 Block 52 Fighting Falcons flying in a tight triangle with as little as 0.5 meters (1.5 feet) separating the airframes. These Block 52 variants pack upgraded avionics and the more powerful Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine—delivering an additional 3,600 pounds of thrust over earlier models.
Tuesday’s Hoover Dam pass wasn’t just a photo op. The Thunderbirds—135 personnel across 31 career fields—have called Nellis Air Force Base home since June 1, 1956. The team was originally activated on June 1, 1953, at Luke Air Force Base in suburban Phoenix. Seven decades of continuous presence has woven them into Southern Nevada’s fabric and the region’s defense infrastructure. Nellis is undergoing a rebrand to the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, a shift that signals the installation’s growing strategic importance.
Washington, D.C. — Next Mission
With Vegas checked off, the Thunderbirds are now headed to Washington, D.C., where they’ll be a main attraction at the Salute to America 250 air show on the National Mall on July 4. The event is expected to draw hundreds of thousands. It’ll feature military flyovers, headline performances, and the largest fireworks display in U.S. history: 850,000 shells launched from 10 sites, including the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and barges on the Potomac River.
The July 4 lineup includes the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, the F-22 Raptor Demo Team, the Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II Demo, and heritage bombers like the B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit. The daytime program kicks off at 1 p.m., with an evening live broadcast starting at 7 p.m. via the Joint Armed Forces Orchestra.
Tuesday’s Hoover Dam delta closes a significant chapter in America 250’s Las Vegas festivities. It also opens the final countdown to the nation’s capital celebration.
Stay in the loop
Get the latest airshow spectacle updates delivered to your inbox.