autoevolution
 

Thunderbirds F-16 Pilot Shows Everyone Glimpses of Two Opposing Worlds

For nearly seven decades, the skies across America have witnessed incredible displays of airpower thanks to some of the best aerial demonstration teams in the world. One of them is the U.S. Air Force’s Thunderbirds.
Thunderbirds Maj. Michael Brewer flying over the Cleveland Browns stadium 16 photos
Photo: USAF/Tech. Sgt. Nicolas Myers
USAF ThunderbirdsUSAF ThunderbirdsUSAF ThunderbirdsUSAF ThunderbirdsUSAF ThunderbirdsUSAF ThunderbirdsUSAF ThunderbirdsUSAF ThunderbirdsUSAF ThunderbirdsUSAF ThunderbirdsUSAF ThunderbirdsUSAF ThunderbirdsUSAF ThunderbirdsUSAF ThunderbirdsUSAF Thunderbirds
Created just six years after the USAF was established, in 1953, the team is the third-oldest of its kind in the world, just behind France’s Patrouille and the famed Blue Angels. Being such an old unit, it of course made use of several incredible flying machines during its time in the air.

The Thunderbirds started out with the F-84G Thunderjet, and then gradually moved to other planes, including the F-100C Super Sabre, F-4E Phantom, and T-38 Talon. It was during the Talon era that it suffered one of the world’s biggest air demo team disasters, losing four pilots and planes.

Back in 1982, during a practice run for a show in Indian Springs, a four-plane formation tried to perform a so-called line abreast loop. That meant the planes had to climb together to an altitude of several thousand feet, perform an inside loop turn, and then rush for the ground at speeds of 400 mph (644 kph). At just 100 feet (30 meters) above ground, they were supposed to level off.

Because of what was later discovered to be a jammed stabilizer on the lead jet, all four planes slammed into the ground, as the pilots of the other three planes did not question the maneuvers of their leader, hindered by mechanical failure, and followed him down.

It took the team quite a while to get back on its feet, but it has flown ever since without major incidents, and Americans have witnessed them time and time again performing incredible stunts. Most of the time, people see the F-16 Fighting Falcons now fielded by the team from the outside, and rarely get a chance to peek out the canopy of the planes.

But now here’s a rare occasion when we can do just that, thanks to an amazing photo released by the Air Force. It shows the teams’ pilot Maj. Michael Brewer flying over the Cleveland Browns stadium during a show in the city back in September.

We get glimpses of Cleveland below, but we can also spot the rear ends of three other Thunderbirds F-16s, reflected in the visor of the pilot. Quite an amazing sight, with both the sky and the ground captured in a single image.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Daniel Patrascu
Daniel Patrascu profile photo

Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories