August 29, 2011 at 5:00 pm

Picture of the Day: Inverted Thunderbirds

by twistedsifter

 

INVERTED THUNDERBIRDS

 

us air force thunderbirds inverted Picture of the Day: Inverted Thunderbirds
Photograph by DAVID ARMER

 

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform an airshow after the 2007 U.S. Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony May 30 in Colorado. The ceremony marks the culmination of four years at the academy and their transition from cadet to the Air Force’s newest second lieutenants.

The Thunderbirds are the air demonstration squadron of the U.S. Air Force (USAF), based at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada. The squadron tours the United States and much of the world, performing aerobatic formation and solo flying in specially marked USAF jet aircraft. The name is taken from the legendary creature that appears in the mythology of several indigenous North American cultures.

In addition to their air demonstration responsibilities, the Thunderbirds are part of the USAF combat force and if required, can be rapidly integrated into an operational fighter unit. Since February 15, 1974 the Thunderbirds have been a component of the 57th Wing at Nellis AFB. [Source: Wikipedia]

 

via Wikimedia Commons