Map released for Utah National Guard flyover to celebrate America’s 250th
Jul 1, 2026, 5:09 PM
Maj. Kristin "Beo" Wolfe flies in a demonstration at Hill Air Force Base on June 3, 2022. The U.S. Air Force Reserve's 419th Fighter Wing will be joined by the Utah Air National Guard's 151st Wing for a statewide July 4th flyover. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
OGDEN — Utahns across the state will get to enjoy a patriotic military display on the Fourth of July as part of Hill Air Force Base’s “Freedom 250 Celebration.”
The Independence Day flyover is a long-standing tradition from the U.S. Air Force Reserve’s 419th Fighter Wing. This year, the pilots will be joined by the Utah Air National Guard’s 151st Wing for a portion of the historic route, the 419th Fighter Wing announced Wednesday.
The first half of the Freedom 250 Flyover map was released by Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, days before the Fourth of July holiday. (Photo: Hill Air Force Base)
The flyover will feature F-35A Lightning II aircraft from Hill Air Force Base soaring over approved cities. The 151st Wing will have a KC-135 Stratotanker join the flight path for a “unique mixed-formation display for select communities,” the wing said.
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“To celebrate the quarter-millennium milestone, this year’s flight path was specifically designed to maximize participation for the unprecedented number of cities that formally requested flyover support. To ensure every approved community is included, planners developed a continuous, route-based flight plan that prioritizes reaching all requested locations safely and efficiently, rather than attempting to meet precise, individual time-on-target requests,” the wing said in a statement.
The second half of the Freedom 250 Flyover map was released Wednesday, July 1, 2026, days before the Fourth of July holiday. (Photo: Hill Air Force Base)
The flyover will occur from 8 a.m to 11:45 a.m. on July 4 and is being conducted as part of the pilots’ routine training to provide them with experience in navigation, timing and coordination across diverse terrains and airspace.
“This flyover is a proud tradition for our wing and a fantastic opportunity to connect with communities across Utah during a historic national milestone,” said Col. Bradley Klemesrud, 419th Fighter Wing Commander. “We are especially excited to have our partners from the 151st Wing join us on the route, showcasing the unified strength of Utah’s military components as we reach as many Utahns as possible.”
“Residents across Utah may see or hear the aircraft as they transit the planned routes. While some communities will experience a direct overhead flyover, others may observe the formation as it moves between locations,” the wing said.
