A number of US fighter and bomber aircraft conducted “flyovers” of the weekend’s race in Washington, DC—for the second time in the summer, following similar events on July 4.

For the second time this summer, there was a massive flyover of US Air Force aircraft in the skies above the nation’s capital this weekend. A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber led a rare tri-bomber pass that included a B-1B Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress on Saturday.

The flyover—featuring all three of the US Air Force’s active bomber aircraft—was one of seven similar flyovers that featured aircraft from every branch of the United States military for the Freedom 250 IndyCar Grand Prix.

The first big flyover, which was one of the largest military flyovers in history, happened during America’s 250th birthday celebrations on July 4, 2026. It featured a wide array of aircraft from the US Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, NASA, and premier flight demonstration teams.

The Race Was a Grand Spectacle—in the Air and on the Ground

The B-2 Spirit, assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base (AFB), Missouri, flew in for the special event on Saturday. In addition to leading the tri-bomber flight, flyovers also included the Northrop stealth bomber escorted by four Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs and two F-22 Raptors, along with four US Marine Corps F-35Bs.

Other aircraft included US Army AH-64 Apaches, CH-47 Chinooks, and UH-60 Black Hawks helicopters; US Navy SH-60 Seahawks; and US Coast Guard C-130, C-144, and C-27 aircraft.

On Sunday, the new Qatari-donated VC-25B—the military designation of the Boeing 747 that serves as “Air Force One”—also took part in a flyover of the nation’s capital, escorted by four F-35As.

“Flyovers are a time-honored way to connect with the American public—honoring the past, celebrating the present and inspiring future generations,” the US Air Force’s public affairs office wrote.

In addition to the flyovers, the pre-race demonstrations included members of the United States Space Force Honor Guard, the US Navy Ceremonial Guard, the US Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, and the 3rd US Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard,” marching along the temporary street circuit ahead of the race. The US Air Force Band, the US Coast Guard Band, the US Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps, the US Army Fife and Drum Corps, and the US Army Herald Trumpets performed on the track as part of the pre-race ceremonies.

A Joint Armed Forces Color Guard further carried state and territorial flags that were meant to demonstrate the flawless precision and unwavering discipline of the US military.

It could be argued there was even more pomp and circumstance at the Grand Prix than what was seen at the US Army’s 250th anniversary parade in June 2025. Although smaller in scale, and just a prelude to the race, it was a far more choreographed event—likely what President Donald Trump had in mind for last year’s massive parade in DC.

Was the Race Worth It for DC?

The first-ever street race in Washington, DC, this past weekend was part of the NTT IndyCar series. The temporary street circuit saw the cars race along Pennsylvania Avenue and the National Mall, passing landmarks like the US Capitol and Washington Monument.

It came just over two months after the UFC Freedom 250 fight at the White House. That surreal event marked the first time such an event had been held on the grounds of the “People’s House,” and led to questions about its tastefulness—with some comparing Trump to a would-be Roman emperor seeking to stage gladiator games.

In the same vein, the IndyCar 250 race could be seen as a chariot race at the Circus Maximus, with the open-wheel Indy race cars completing 147 laps around the racecourse—for a total of 250 miles. As with the UFC fight, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix was something only Trump would consider high culture; although it was billed as a “Grand Prix,” it was an IndyCar event—as opposed to a Formula 1 race, which has an international following.

The race reportedly drew around 140,000 to 150,000 spectators each day, injecting millions of dollars into the local economy. The actual race cost around $35 million, with financing from Penske Corporation CEO Roger Penske and corporate sponsors, but federal funding covered at least $100 million. That number also didn’t include race-related police, fire, and security, which were drawn from a separate $90 million “special-events fund,” Forbes reported, adding, “The precise amount ultimately borne by taxpayers for the Grand Prix has not been disclosed.”

As expected with anything Trump puts his stamp of approval on, there was pushback. Some businesses within the security zone were impacted, and there was criticism of the impact the race would have on the city’s streets.

“Preservationists, too, raised concerns about the effect that racecars running more than seven times the speed limit would have on federal art collections, potentially causing damage through vibration,” The Washington Post reported.

Some observers also took umbrage with Trump’s desire to make himself the star of the event. Before the race began, the president took a televised lap of the course in the presidential limousine known as “The Beast,” then waved a green flag to formally start it. Trump’s unusually heavy involvement in the proceedings led a few online critics to compare his actions to a child recipient of a “wish” from the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Still, the race itself was generally regarded as a success. While high heat and rains partially derailed the earlier July 4 commemorations, the weather agreed with Sunday’s race, with clear skies and an absence of rain. Kyle Kirkwood, a 27-year-old Floridian, won the race with a course time of around 2 hours and 40 minutes.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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