Features

Photos: Arctic Thunder Open House 2024

Thunderbirds perform a Diamond Pass-in-Review. Photo by Sarah Bennett.

Arctic Thunder Open House featured land and sky demonstrations that were performed for a crowd of thousands. This biennial event was hosted at the Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson or JBER on July 20 and 21. This year's theme was “Honoring Legacy, Inspiring the Next Generation”

The open house also had local food vendors, memorials and tours of military aircraft. This event was free to the public. The next Arctic Thunder Open House is planned for July 2026.

Visitors on the top of a plane overlook the crowd. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Melissa Burn celebrates her high-performance aerobatics in her Zivko Edge 540. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Members of the medical team on the C-17 globemaster demonstrate how to use the critical care equipment. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
UAA provided information about their academic programs and community resources to attendees. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Crowds gathered around the planes. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Stephen and Todd of The Undaunted Airshow perform a two-ship formation. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Children get a closer look at the jets as they prepare to fly. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
The simulated assault demo ends with a bang. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
The event also had a fun house and carnival games. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
U.S. Air force F-22 spewing demo shots. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
The F-22 Raptor rotates at high speed. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
C-17 drops paratroopers during a demonstration of a simulated assault. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
A member of the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team skydives as spectators watch. Golden Knights can free fall at a rate of 120 miles per hour. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
The Golden Knights free fall and join together to fly the star banner. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Sgt. 1st Class Justin Drake high-fives fans in the crowd. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Thunderbirds pilots get pumped up before their performance. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Men in uniform take in the show from the wing of a plane. Photo by Sarah Bennett.
Thunderbirds end the show with a grand finale flyover. Photo by Sarah Bennett.