Photos: Thousands turn out for the Arctic Thunder air show

Mostly clear skies added to the high-summer feel of the day as JBER hosted big crowds for their biennial open house event.

Updated: July 22, 2024 Published: July 21, 2024

Undaunted Airshows perform during the Arctic Thunder Airshow at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage, AK on Saturday, July 20, 2024. They fly Van's Aircraft RV series of sport aircraft. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

Thousands of people made the trek to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Saturday to see military equipment and aircraft displays on the ground and, especially, the performers in the air, who put on a dazzling show during the Arctic Thunder open house.

The event, which takes place every two years, continues Sunday. Admission to the open house on base is free, though organizers encourage attendees to carpool. Gates open at 9 a.m. with opening ceremonies at 11:15 a.m. and demonstrations continuing through the afternoon.

A full schedule of events and demonstrations is available online at arcticthunderopenhouse.com.

A large crowd watches the US Army Golden Knights parachute team during the Arctic Thunder Open House at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage on Saturday. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

An F-22 starts a steep climb during the Arctic Thunder air show at JBER in Anchorage on Saturday. The F-22 demonstration team is out of Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

Major Brent "Bloody" Rist stands by his F-16 as the US flag is carried by parachute to the field during opening ceremonies of the Arctic Thunder Open House on Saturday. Rist is stationed at Eielson Air Force base near Fairbanks. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

Fred Ulroan holds his son Rylan Ulroan as Rylan holds a homemade airplane during the Arctic Thunder Open House at JBER on Saturday. The father and son, from Chevak, AK, were watching the F-16 demonstration. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

A member of the US Army Golden Knights parachute team carries the POW/MIA flag during the Arctic Thunder Airshow at JBER. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

A JBER-based C-17 flies by as people find shade under another cargo plane on static display during the Arctic Thunder air show at JBER. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

A fighter jet makes a low pass as a spectator with ear protection watches during the Arctic Thunder air show. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

Harris Anderson looks at The Eyes of Freedom memorial during the Arctic Thunder Open House on Saturday. The memorial shows 22 fallen service members of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment in Iraq. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

6-year-old Ethan Dolchok, from Anchorage, wears the helmet of F-16C pilot Captain Aaron "Pulse" Tollon as he poses for the photo with Tollon during the Arctic Thunder Open House. Tollon's 18th Fighter Intercepter Squadron is stationed at Eielson Air Force Base outside of Fairbanks. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

Undaunted Airshows perform during the Arctic Thunder air show on Saturday. They fly Van's Aircraft RV series of sport aircraft. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

Vincio, Pamela, Carissa, (mom) Maximiliano, Luis, (father) and Gerardo Ochoa find shade from a AWAC Air Force plane during the Arctic Thunder Open House at JBER on Saturday. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

People get an inside look at an Air National Guard C-17 with a display of the Critical Care Air Transport Team set up inside the aircraft at JBER on Saturday. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

Members of the US Army Golden Knights parachute team free fall during the Arctic Thunder air show on Saturday. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

People get an inside look at an Air National Guard C-17 with a display of the Critical Care Air Transport Team set up inside the aircraft during the Arctic Thunder Open House on Saturday. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

Hugo Thomas holds up his F-16 model as he and his dad and brother watch the F-16 demonstration during the Arctic Thunder air show. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor deploys flares during a demonstration on the final day of the Arctic Thunder Open House at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)

An Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter with the 210th Rescue Squadron and a HC-130J Combat King II of the 211th, both from the 176th Wing, demonstrate aerial refueling capabilities on the final day of the Arctic Thunder Open House at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)

U.S. Air Force fifth generation fighters a F-35A Lightning II, left, and a pair of F-22 Raptors performed during the Joint Forces Demonstration on final day of the Arctic Thunder Open House at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Paratroopers jump from a C-17 Globemaster III on the final day of the Arctic Thunder Open House at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform a delta formation in F-16 Fighting Falcons on the final day of the Arctic Thunder Open House at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Bob Hallinen

Bob Hallinen has been a photojournalist in Alaska since the 1980s and has traveled extensively all over the state. He retired from the ADN in November 2018 after 33 years at the newspaper.

Bill Roth

Bill Roth is a staff photojournalist at the Anchorage Daily News.