Happy anniversary, U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds

In the 1950s, airshows became an exciting part of our cultural landscape as well as a powerful recruitment tool for the military. The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels came first in 1946, and the U.S. Air Force, which had several aerobatics teams, formed the Thunderbirds in May 1953, and performed its first show that July. The Thunderbirds are members of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, part of the 57th Wing. The squadron was originally based at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, a region with strong Native American traditions. In many tribes the thunderbird is a supernatural creature with tremendous strength and power. The objectives of the squadron are to support recruiting and retention for the U.S. Air Force as well as strengthen public perception and morale. The Thunderbirds fly F–16 Fighting Falcons, which have been the team aircraft since 1983. Today, the Thunderbirds are based at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. A Thunderbird squadron comprises eight pilots, four support officers, three civilians, and approximately 130 enlisted personnel. The team flies formations as well as solo flights. In formation, the the lead airplane can be just 18 inches from the canopy of the next aircraft. The airplanes reach speeds of 700 mph; the average speed in a demonstration is 400 mph. The demonstration is a mix of six aircraft flying in formation. The team performs at airshows throughout the country.

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