15 Incredible Photos of the USAF Thunderbirds Taken from a Hotel Rooftop in Owensboro, Kentucky

Day One of the 2023 Owensboro Air Show was phenomenal. The weather was nearly perfect and the teams in the show gave the crowd of thousands and thousands the show they came to see. That show, of course, was headlined by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, who made their third appearance here in town. As expected, the team delivered jaw-dropping and ear-plugging thrills as they came roaring across the sky over the Ohio River.

For the show, we were perched high atop the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Downtown Owensboro/Waterfront. It was a great vantage point. Honestly, it was the perfect place to watch.

We could not only watch the show from what is essentially the "8th Floor" of the hotel, but we were also able to scan the Owensboro skyline to watch the planes circle to prepare for their next maneuvers. While the crowd was routinely surprised by where the planes were coming from, we weren't.  We saw 'em coming.

Our spot atop the hotel was also the perfect perch for expert air show photographer, Chris Conley.

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Chris, who has spent much of his summer traveling to various air shows throughout the country, is a big fan of the Thunderbirds. He knows their show and how to photograph it and did just that on their first show day in Owensboro.

Here are some phenomenal shots- 14 more- that not only capture the detail of those powerful F-16 jets, but illustrate the immense precision with which the Thunderbirds fly.

Take a look and enjoy the power, beauty and awe and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

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As you can see, Chris is no stranger to air show photography. He knows what the planes and teams can do and he knows how to capture those exhilarating moments like a boss. Back in 2021, the Owensboro Air Show was headlined by the Blue Angels and Chris took these photos.

Oh, and by the way, the Blue Angels are set to headline the 2024 Owensboro Air Show!