LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Thunder Over Louisville returned on Saturday with record temperatures and crowds lining both sides of the riverfront. Here’s a recap of Thunder’s high-flying air show.

What You Need To Know

  • This year’s jam-packed air show was in honor of the 75th anniversary of the United States Air Force

  • Thunder returned at full capacity for the 2022 show after being canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and reimagined in 2021

  • This year’s Thunder was the warmest on record

  • Both civilian and military aircraft took part in the air show

This year’s jam-packed air show was in honor of the 75th anniversary of the United States Air Force. Both civilian and military aircraft took part.

Thunder returned at full capacity for the 2022 show after being canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and reimagined in 2021. Fittingly themed “The Legend Returns,” attendees sought out the best views on both sides of the Ohio River in Louisville and in southern Indiana to catch all of the action.

Along with the high number of attendees came the high temperatures. This year’s Thunder was the warmest on record.

The temperature at Saturday's Thunder was four degrees above the previous record high set in 2004.

To kick off the air show, the National Anthem was sung by Staff Sgt. Melissa A. Griffith from the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America on the Second Street Bridge.

The 123rd Special Tactics Squadron Parachute Team from Louisville, Kentucky, then worked their magic in the air carrying a variety of flags before landing in the Ohio River.

The air show began shortly after. From fighter jets like the F-16 Viper to bomber jets like the B-29 Superfortress, the show had it all. 

Here’s the full lineup from the air show in alphabetical order:

  • 123rd Special Tactics Squadron Parachute Team (Louisville ANG Base, Ky.)

  • A-1 Skyraider (Warbird Heritage Foundation, Waukegan, Ill.)

  • A-10C Thunderbolt II “Warthog” (107th FS, Selfridge ANG, Mich.)

  • AC-130J Gunship (1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.)

  • Acemaker Airshows (T-33 Demo)

  • B-2 Spirit (13th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman, Mo.)

  • B-24 Liberator (“Diamond Lil,” Commemorative Air Force, Ft. Worth, Texas)

  • B-25 Mitchell (“Show Me,” Commemorative Air Force, Missouri Wing)

  • B-29 Superfortress (“FiFi,” Commemorative Air Force, Ft. Worth, Texas)

  • B-52 Stratofortress (93rd Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.)

  • World War II Victory Formation (B-25, B-24, B-29 and P-51D)

  • Boeing 767, UPS Airlines (Louisville IAP, Ky.)

  • C-130J Super Hercules (Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville ANG Base Ky.)

  • C-17 Globemaster III (437th Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, S.C.)

  • Carbon Cub Float Plane (Bowman Field, Louisville, Ky.)

  • CH-53 Sea Stallion (Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14, Norfolk, NAS)

  • Coleman Aerobatics (Taylorcraft, Bowman Field, Louisville, Ky.)

  • CV-22 Osprey (Marine Tilt Rotor Squadron 204, New River, N.C.)

  • F-15E Strike Eagle (4th Fighter Squadron, Seymour-Johnson AFB, N.C.)

  • F-16 Viper (112th Fighter Squadron, Toledo, Ohio)

  • F-16 Viper (176th Fighter Squadron, Madison, Wis.)

  • F-86 Sabre Demo (Warbird Heritage Foundation, Waukegan, Ill.)

  • F-100 Super Sabre Demo (Ft. Wayne, Ind.)

  • Growler Demonstration Team, E/F-18G Growler (Electronic Attack Squadron 129, Whidbey Island NAS)

  • U.S. Navy Legacy Flight (E/A-18G/F4U Corsair)

  • KC-46 Pegasus (305th Air Mobility Wing, McGuire AFB, N.J.)

  • KC-135 Stratotanker (72nd Aerial Refueling Squadron, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind.)

  • P-51D Aerobatics (“Swamp Fox,” Concorde, N.C.)

  • Raptor Demonstration Team, F-22 Raptor (1st Fighter Wing, Langley AFB, Va.)

  • USAF Heritage Flight (F-22/P-51D Formation)

  • T-38 Talon (9th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.)

  • UH-60 Blackhawk (8th Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment, Ft. Knox, Ky.)
  • Younkin Airshows (Twin Beech Aerobatics Demo)

Excitement still remains in the air even after the jets landed. Thunder's iconic firework show returns on Saturday night with stunning visuals and a soundtrack with something for everyone.

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