Welcome to the Special Feature on the USAF Thunderbirds!

The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds: 

Since 1953, when the Thunderbird Team was formed, more than 287 million people in all 50 states and 59 foreign countries have seen the red, white, and blue jets streak across skies at more than 3,400 official aerial demonstrations. In addition to the pilots of the F-16s, the Thunderbird Team consists of people who maintain the aircraft, help in operations, communications, adminstration, and public affairs. Approximately 130 of the 140 people on the Thunderbird Team are enlisted members of the United States Air Force. The "diamond" formation shown above is the Thunderbird's trademark. The pilots take the basic skills taught to every USAF fighter pilot and perfect them. The first aircraft ever to be flown by the US Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron was the F-84G Thunderjet. Since then, the T-Birds have flown the F-100, F-105B, F-4E, T-38, and now the F-16. The smoke made by the jets in the above left picture is a light oil that is released into the jet stream where it vaporizes into a contrail. Aspiring Thunderbird pilots are evaluated on aerial maneuvers such as rolls, loops, and turns. These members of the Thunderbird Team are volunteers who are pround of the work they do.