Thunderbirds Show Program

Photos show sequence of USAF Thunderbirds demonstration program.
This is for "high show" (sunny day) - they may fly somewhat different during the "low show".
USAF Thunderbirds
Walk down
All aircraft number 1,2,3,4,5,6 participate. Photo taken at Edwards AFB
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Taxi to runway
All aircraft number 1,2,3,4,5,6 participate. Photo taken at San Angelo
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Fingertip formation Takeoff
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 participate. Photo taken at San Angelo
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360 deg aileron roll after takeoff
Aircraft number 5 participate. Photo taken at San Angelo
Thunderbirds opposing solo half cuban after take off
Split S after takeoff
After take-off, aircraft returns in direction opposite to using runway.
Aircraft number 6 participate. Photo taken at San Angelo
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Diamond loop
Coming in from Behind
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 participate. Photo taken at San Angelo
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Oppsing Kife Edge pass
Coming in from right & left
Aircraft number 5 and 6 participate. Photo taken at Reno Airrace
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Trail to Diamond turn Coming in from front left.
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 participate. Photo taken at San Angelo
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High speed inverted pass
Coming in from Right
Aircraft number 5 participate. Photo taken at San Angelo
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Inverted to Inverted pass
Coming in from Left
Aircraft number 6 participate. Photo taken at Reno Airrace
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Diamond pass in review
Coming in from rear right.
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 participate. Photo taken at Midland
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Knife Edge Pass
Coming in from left
Aircraft number 5 participate. Photo taken at Reno Airrace
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Slow Roll Coming in from right
Aircraft number 6 participate. Photo taken at San Angelo
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Diamond Roll
Coming in from front left.
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 participate. Photo taken at San Angelo
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8 point roll
Coming in from right
Aircraft number 5 participate. Photo taken at San Angelo
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Maximum performance Aileron roll
Coming in from left
Aircraft number 6 participate. Photo taken at Midland
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Arrowhead loop
Coming in from right
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 participate. Photo taken at Whidbey Island
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Calipso Pass
Coming in from right
Aircraft number 5 and 6 participate. Photo taken at San Angelo
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BonTon Roll
Coming in from left
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 participate. Photo taken at San Angelo
Thunderbirds Cossover Break
Crossover Break
Coming in from behind
Aircraft number 5 and 6 participate. Photo taken at Midland
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Trail to Diamond clover loop
Coming in from behind
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 participate. Photo taken at NAS Whidbey Island
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Opposing 4 point roll
Coming in from right & left
Aircraft number 5 and 6 participate. Photo taken at Misawa, Japan
Thunderbirds Trail to Diamond Roll

Trail to Diamond roll
Coming in from front left
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 participate. Photo taken at Misawa, Japan
Thunderbirds Solo Sneak Pass

Sneak Pass
Coming in from left
Aircraft number 5 participate. Photo taken at Midland
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Wing Walk
Coming in from right
Aircraft number 6 participate. Photo taken at Reno Airrace
Thunderbirds Solo and Dirty Diamond

Lead Solo overtake Dirty Diamond
Coming in from right
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 later joined by 5. Photo taken at San Angelo
Thunderbirds forming 5 card loop

Lead solo joins Diamond formation
Coming in from left
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 later joined by 5. Photo taken at Travis AFB
Thunderbirds 5 card loop

five card loop
Coming in from front right
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4,5 participate. Photo taken at Salinas
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Opposing solo vertical climb and roll
Coming in from left
Aircraft number 6 participate. Photo taken at San Angelo
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Line Abrest Breakaway loop
Coming in from left
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4,5 participate. Photo taken at NAS Whidbey Island
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Diamond and Lead solo head on pass
Coming in from right & left
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 joined by 5 participate. Photo taken at Reno Airrace
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Full afterburner high G maximum performance turn
Coming in from left
Aircraft number 6 participate. Photo taken at Reno Airrace
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Diamond 360
Coming in from right
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 participate. Photo taken at Reno Airrace
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Solo join up diamonds
Coming in from Behind
Aircraft number 5 and 6 participate, to join aircraft 1,2,3,4. Photo taken at Salinas
Thunderbirds Delta Turn
6 ship delta formation turn
Coming in from front right
All aircraft number 1,2,3,4,5,6 participate. Photo taken at San Angelo
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Delta roll
Coming in from left
All aircraft number 1,2,3,4,5,6 participate. Photo taken at Reno Airrace
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Delta loop
Coming in from right
All aircraft number 1,2,3,4,5,6 participate. Photo taken at Midland
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High bomb burst
Coming in from left
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 later joined by 6. Photo taken at NAS Whidbey Islands
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4 plane cross
Coming in from all directions
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 participate. Photo taken at Salinas
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Diamond pass
Coming in from opposite of using runway
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 participate. Photo taken at Reno Airrace
Thunderbirds Pitch up Break
Diamond pitch up break
Coming in from using runway direction
Aircraft number 1,2,3,4 participate. Photo taken at Midland
Thunderbirds Calipso Break
Calipso break
Coming in from direction of using runway
Aircraft number 5 and 6 participate. Photo taken at Misawa, Japan
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Landing
Coming in from direction o using runway
All aircraft number 1,2,3,4,5,6 participate. Photo taken at Midland
Thunderbirds taxi back
Walk back
All aircraft number 1,2,3,4,5,6 participate. Photo taken at San Angelo
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Walk back
All aircraft number 1,2,3,4,5,6 participate. Photo taken at San Angelo
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This is a remote show opening.
All aircraft number 1,2,3,4,5,6 participate. Photo taken at Reno Airrace
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This is a remote show finale
All aircraft number 1,2,3,4,5,6 participate. Photo taken at Salinas
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Old version of crossover break - two solos head towards show center from front,
then cross each other.
I like the new (current) version as the point of cross is much closer.
Photo taken at San Angelo.
Thunderbirds delta loop
Old version of the delta loop - formation head towards show center from front,
makes a loop and two solos break away.
I wish if I could see this maneuver again.
Photo taken at NAS Whidbey Islands
Thunderbirds #1
Two-seater backup aircraft changed its number to fly as #1.
Photo taken at Vandenburg AFB.
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Support C-130 and spare #7 aircraft seen at NAS Whidbey Islands.
C-130
Thunderbirds' support C-130 taxi for takeoff to Nellis AFB
Photo taken at Vandenburg AFB.
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This F-4E Phantom displayed at Newcastle AFB in California was actually used as #6 aircraft of thunderbirds.



Copyright 2001 Morimoto, Makoto : All Rights Reserved.