Southwest Airlines Independence One Displayed at AirVenture Oshkosh 2026
All photos © John Freedman, story from Southwest Airlines media releases and Ken Kula
Southwest Airlines provided a big boost to the 2026 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh salute to America’s 250th birthday, displaying their B-737 MAX 8 airliner named Independence One at the Boeing Plaza. The colorful jetliner arrived on the Wednesday of the week-long show and departed Wittman Regional Airport on Thursday morning. Present on the ramp during the Wednesday night air show, it became the favorite subject for many photographers!
JOHN FREEDMAN
Several months before AirVenture, Southwest Airlines introduced Independence One to North American air travelers as the third in a series of Boeing aircraft to carry the red, white and blue US flag color scheme. In 2021, Southwest presented Freedom One in a special color scheme celebrating the airline’s 50th anniversary, the airline’s more than 50,000 employees, and gave a salute to America’s military personnel with a US flag pattern on the fuselage. Recently, Liberty One was unveiled, with similar colors to the earlier Freedom One jet. Independence One goes a step further with decorations, adding a nod to 1776 (celebrated as the year of America’s birthday) and a scripted line from America’s Declaration of Independence.
JOHN FREEDMAN
Details about the livery of their newest jet is included in this excerpt from a full Southwest Airlines media release about the plane:
JOHN FREEDMAN
“Southwest Airlines carries more travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline, helping connect cities, states, and stories across the country. Independence One will feature several design elements that commemorate our nation:
- Red, white, and blue paint scheme with 1776 written in giant quill script
- The key phrase, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” from the Declaration of Independence and the three inalienable rights endowed to all humans
- Thirteen stars on the fuselage denoting the thirteen original colonies
- Circle of stars on each engine cowling reflecting the original Betsy Ross flag
- Special “1776” tail number
- America250 nose and winglet decal
JOHN FREEDMAN
Within the Southwest Airline’s media release is information about America250 …”is the national nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in celebrating and commemorating the Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is spearheaded by the congressionally-appointed U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission and its sole-supporting nonprofit organization, America250.org, Inc., together known as America250.” The decal of America250 is prominently visible under the cockpit windows of Independence One.
John Freedman presents this photo gallery of Independence One images while it was at the EAA’s AirVenture Oshkosh 2026.
