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US Military Demonstration Teams

The Right Wing Captain Wayne Holum - the first pilot chosen to fly the Right Wing position when the Thunderbirds transitioned to the F-16 in 1982 - concentrates on maintaining position on the leader's aircraft as the team moves through a demanding aerobatic maneuver.

Demonstration team objectives are to positively affect recruitment and retention efforts, keep the public and military informed of U.S. preparedness, demonstrate modern weapon systems, promote community and international relations and reinforce public confidence in the military and demonstrate to the public the professional competence of the members.

Thunderbirds

The Air Demonstration Squadron of the United States Air Force, successors to the "Skyblazers." The Squadron was activated, after 6 months training in an unofficial status, on June 1, 1953 as the 3600th Air Demonstration Team at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. They flew their debut exhibition at Luke a week later, and began public exhibitions at the 1953 Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The team had flown 26 shows by that August. The first team leader was Maj. Dick Catledge, and the first plane flown by the squadron was the F-84 Thunderjet.

Air Combat Command

The U.S. Air Force’s Air Combat Command Single-Ship Demonstration Teams perform precision aerial maneuvers, demonstrating to the public the unique capabilities of the Air Force’s high performance aircraft. ACC Single-Ship Demonstration Team members also exhibit the professional qualities the Air Force develops in the people who fly, maintain and support these aircraft.

There are six single-ship demonstration teams within ACC. They are: two A-10 Thunderbolt teams, two F-15 Eagle teams, and two F-16 Fighting Falcon teams. The A-10 was the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces. The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack.

Heritage Flight

The USAF Heritage Flight program was established in 1997 in support of the Air Force's 50th anniversary. It involves today's state-of-the-art fighters flying in close formation with World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War vintage fighters such as the P-51 Mustang and the F-86 Sabre. Its mission is to safely and proudly display the evolution of United States Air Force Airpower. The Heritage Flight was voted the "Best Air Show Act" for 2001 by the International Council of Air Shows.

T6A "Texan"

Blue Angels

Formed at the end of World War II, the United States Navy's Demonstration Squadron, is the world's first officially-sanctioned military aerial demonstration team. The team started out flying 3 aircraft in formation, then four, and currently operates 6 aircraft per show. The team is split into "the Diamond" (Blue Angels 1 through 4) and the Opposing Solos (Blue Angels 5 and 6).

U.S. Army "Black Daggers"

The USASOC Parachute Team is comprised entirely of volunteers from throughout the Army Special Operations community. Special Operations Forces have been a part of our military history since the colonial era. For almost three-quarters of a century, small highly-trained groups of soldiers have been inserted behind enemy lines to disrupt the movement of enemy troops and supplies. They use a military variant of the Ram Air parachute that allows them to jump with more than 100 lbs. of military equipment attached. They must also withstand the high winds, frigid temperatures and low oxygen common at high altitude, requiring the jumper to be highly skilled.

Golden Knights

The demonstration teams and competition teams — spend the year traveling around the United States and the world entertaining crowds as well as entering into numerous tournaments. The Black and Gold Demonstration Teams spend more than 230 days a year entertaining millions of spectators around the world. The teams have performed more than 8,500 live aerial demonstrations at air shows and special events in all 50 states and over 47 countries, earning them the title of the "Army's Goodwill Ambassadors to the World."

The Golden Knights competition teams are formed by the Formation Skydiving Team and the Style and Accuracy Team. The teams tour the world competing in parachuting competitions and amazing the parachuting world with their record of 408 national championships, 65 world championships, and 14 national and six world team titles in formation skydiving. These impressive feats have made them not only the most-winning U.S. Department of Defense sports team, but the most-winning parachute team in the world.

The USMA Parachute Team conducts parachute demonstrations into stadiums and fields for any Army home game. Additionally, the Black Knights perform demonstrations and make appearances at the request of other organizations, weather permitting. Although the specialty of the Black Knights is the stadium demonstration, the team is capable of jumping into any open field or area. The main purpose of demonstrations is to publicize the United States Military Academy and leave a positive impression on the viewers. This allows the Parachute Team to give something back to the Academy, while still maintaining the high reputation of excellence associated with the Corps of Cadets and the U.S. Army.

United States Army Marksmanship Unit

A world-class shooting team, if you show them a target, you can be sure they will hit it. They are all U.S. Army Soldiers, and they are the best of the best. Since 1956, these Soldiers have gained worldwide respect by winning hundreds of individual and team competitions, including 40 World Championships and 20 Olympic medals.

Shooting is their specialty, but competing is not their only skill. USAMU Soldiers assist in technical development of military small arms equipment and ammunition. They have the knowledge and they share it. They hold Train-the-Trainer clinics were they pass on this knowledge. They translate their competitive marksmanship skills into useful combat marksmanship.

All American Free Fall

The 82nd Airborne Division, the largest parachute force in the free world, is trained to deploy anywhere, at any time, to fight upon arrival, and to win! Every soldier is airborne-qualified, and is continuously trained under rugged and realistic conditions. Located at the "Home Of The Airborne" at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, it represents the 82nd Airborne Division at military functions, exhibitions, special events and competitions, demonstrating individual, formation, and other precision freefall skydiving techniques. The Team tailors the type of demonstration performed to suit the needs of the event sponsor. Although the Team is organized to serve the soldiers of the U.S. Army and Fort Bragg, demand for performances by civilian audiences continues to increase, due the Team's growing reputation for professionalism, accuracy and reliability. The Troopers of the All American Freefall Team are proud to serve as ambassadors for the 82nd Airborne Division and the U.S. Army!

Blue Angels 50 Years of Precision Flight. Veronico & Fritze. The entire story of the Blue Angels flight demonstration team. This dynamic history begins with the Navy’s all-star team flying F8F Bearcats 50 years ago and culminates in flying today’s F/A-18 Hornets. Filled with photographs of the people, the places, and the aircraft of the Navy’s incomparable Blue Angels flight demonstration team.

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