BILLINGS — The skies over Billings were buzzing Saturday as more than 10,000 people gathered on the Rims near the Billings Logan International Airport for the first day of the Yellowstone International Air Show.
Watch the sights and sounds from the grounds at the 2026 Yellowstone International Air Show:
Military aircraft, high-flying jumpers, and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels filled the sky with speed, noise, and spectacle, drawing aviation fans from across Montana and beyond.
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For many spectators, the excitement started well before the first aircraft took off. Heavy traffic backed up along North 27th Street, Zimmerman Trail, and Airport Road for several hours. Joanne Stryker and her husband, Rick, spent more than an hour in traffic before reaching the show.
“I’m surprised that we ran into traffic because we came over late,” Stryker said. “It’s been stop and go, but it’s been much better after we got through the traffic circle at the airport.”
Once they arrived, the traffic frustrations quickly faded into the background.
“It was just hung up,” said Kevin McGreevy, who traveled from Virginia. “Could have been a little better signage so everybody knew that you could have come in two lanes.”
“But once we got here, I mean, it’s fantastic. It made up for it,” said Doug Graveley of Helena.
For McGreevy and Graveley, the aircraft and the pilots' skill are what keep them coming back to air shows.
“Planes, flights, pilots — everything has just been amazing. Very cool,” McGreevy said.
“I love to watch the skill of the pilots. They are amazing. They do a terrific job,” Graveley added.
The Blue Angels were a major draw, especially for younger spectators.
“I’m excited for the Blue Angels,” Mackenzie and Rylee Whitten said, attending with their cousins Emersyn, Kora, and Elijah Koenes.
Others were excited to see the variety of aircraft filling the sky.
For some visitors, the Yellowstone International Air Show was also an opportunity to meet some "familiar" faces.
Top Gun impersonators Garrett Witeck and Brian Ernst, portraying Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw and Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, respectively, wandered the show grounds and posed for photos with fans.
The pair travel to air shows around the country and the world with impersonator California Tom Cruise, and said they were happy to return to Billings.
“This is our second time coming back here to the Yellowstone Air Show,” Ernst said. “And we love Montana. The people here are great, everyone’s just warm and welcoming. It’s like coming into a big family.”
Ernst said the size of Saturday’s crowd stood out.
“I’ve never seen a crowd this big before,” he said. “You guys, this is the best of the best.”
The crowd itself reflected just how far the air show’s reach extends. Elijah Koenes was visiting family in Billings after traveling from Sweden.
“I traveled 12 hours to come here to Billings,” Koenes said. "I'm excited for the Blue Angels."
For longtime local spectators, the show has become a tradition. Brad Hines said Saturday marked his fourth air show in Billings.
“This is my fourth show, and they just get better and better all the time,” Hines said. “We’re from Billings, and we can see a lot from the house, but you just can’t experience it until you get here,” he said.
The Blue Angels' appearance was also part of the nation's celebration of America's 250th birthday, adding another layer of significance to the weekend's performances.
For spectators, though, seeing incredible aircraft, watching skilled pilots, and sharing the experience with thousands of other aviation fans was the main appeal.
“I think this might recruit a lot of upcoming pilots,” Graveley said.
The Yellowstone International Air Show continues Sunday, with the show running from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Blue Angels are scheduled to perform at 3 p.m.
