Military Aircraft Arrive for Thunder Over Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Military aircraft began arriving at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base on April 16, 2026, in preparation for the Thunder Over Louisville air show scheduled for this weekend.

The aircraft arrivals are part of the buildup for the annual air show, which will feature more than a dozen rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft performing over the Ohio River. The show is set to begin Saturday at 3 p.m.

Among the participating units is the U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team from Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, which arrived at the base on April 16. The team’s F-16 aircraft are being staged at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base for the event.

The Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing is serving as the base of operations for all military aircraft involved in the Thunder Over Louisville air show. Wing personnel are coordinating logistics, maintenance and ground support for the visiting aircraft.

Photographic and video documentation of the arrivals was captured on April 16 by Tech. Sgt. Chloe Ochs and Dale Greer of the 123rd Airlift Wing. The materials were released through the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) and show F-16 aircraft taxiing and parking at the base.

Officials confirmed that the aircraft arrivals began on April 16 and continued through April 17 in anticipation of the weekend performances. No further details about the specific number or types of additional aircraft were provided in the verified sources.

The Thunder Over Louisville air show is one of the largest annual events of its kind in the region, drawing significant public attendance each year. This year’s edition marks the continuation of a longstanding tradition featuring military and civilian aviation displays.