Defenders of Freedom Air and Space Show 2024 in Nebraska
Plenty of exciting displays and aerobatics at Offutt Air Force Base
Dates: August 24–25, 2024
Defenders of Freedom Air & Space Show makes a great comeback to Bellevue, Nebraska, in 2024! The air show takes place at Offutt Air Force Base, located south of Omaha and adjacent to Bellevue. The air base is home to the U.S. Strategic Command, the 557th Weather Wing, and the 55th Wing of the Air Combat Command. Defenders of Freedom Air & Space Show was a regular event in Nebraska; however, it was put on hold since 2018 because of accidents, construction, and COVID-19.
2024 Lineup
Defenders of Freedom Air & Space Show boasts top U.S. Air Force performers. In 2024, the show features the famous Thunderbirds, the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, known for precision aerial maneuvers on high-performance aircraft. The public can also see Golden Knights, the demonstration and competition parachute team, comprised of members from all branches of the U.S. Army. Other performers include US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet Demo, USAF C-17 Globemaster III/KC-135 Stratotanker Joint Demo, Randy Ball (MiG-17 Fresco), Stephen Covington [Pitts S2S], Andrew Malousek (DH-115 Vampire), Adam Baker, and Trojan Phlyers (T-28 Trojan).
Tickets
The air show is free for the public to watch. However, Flight Deck Premium Seating is offered for maximum comfort. Tickets for the premium experience will be available on the official website (in External Resources below). The Offutt 55th Force Support Squadron is the only source of information for seating options.
Offutt Air Force Base
The historical Offutt Air Force Base dates back to September 1918, when it was the Army Air Service balloon field during World War I. Its name commemorates World War I pilot and Omaha native 1st Lt. Jarvis Offutt. In the 1940s, Offutt hosted a new bomber plant. The United States Army Air Forces bombers Enola Gay and Bockscar, which dropped Little Boy and Fat Man over Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II, were constructed at Offutt AFB. The air base served as the headquarters for the former Strategic Air Command (SAC) during the Cold War.
