SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- On June 8, 1953, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, officially designated the 3600th Air Demonstration Flight, performed for the first time at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
Their first aircraft was the straight-winged F-84G Thunderjet, a combat fighter-bomber that had seen action in Korea. 

Three years later, the Thunderbirds traded the F-84 for the world's first supersonic fighter, the F-100 Super Sabre--an aerial platform that would serve them for 13 years. More than 1,000 demonstrations were flown in the Super Sabre, thrilling spectators around the world. 

At that same time, the team moved to its current home at Nellis AFB, Nev. The Thunderbirds squadron is an Air Combat Command unit composed of eight pilots (including six demonstration pilots), four support officers, three civilians and more than 130 enlisted personnel performing in 25 career fields. A Thunderbirds air demonstration is a mix of formation flying and solo routines. 

The four-aircraft diamond formation demonstrates the training and precision of Air Force pilots, while the solo aircraft highlight the maximum capabilities of the F-16. The pilots perform approximately 30 maneuvers in a demonstration. The entire show, including ground and air, runs about an hour and fifteen minutes. 

Early in 1983, the Thunderbirds reinstituted their traditional role of demonstrating the Air Force's front-line fighter capabilities. Transition to the F-16A allowed the team to retain manpower and fuel efficiency while demonstrating to spectators the latest in fighter technology. 

The Thunderbirds returned to Europe for the first time in 13 years in 1984. More than 3.2 million people viewed the aerial demonstrations in 11 countries. In 1986, the Thunderbirds participated in the rededication flyby of the Statue of Liberty and in September, another milestone was attained when the team went over the 200 million mark for total attendance.

The largest crowd, 2.25 million people, to see a performance was at Coney Island, N.Y., July 4, 1987. The 1987 Far East tour marked their debut in Beijing, China -- the first American military demonstration performance in a Communist country. Operation Desert Storm cancelled the 1990 European tour and the season was shortened. The team converted to the F-16C in 1992, bringing the F-16A era to an end. 

In 1996, the team traveled again to Europe where crowds from former Warsaw Pact countries enjoyed the "Ambassadors in Blue."

In July 1996, the team participated in opening ceremonies of the Centennial Olympics held in Atlanta which were viewed by an estimated 3.5 billion people around the world.

The season lasts from March to November, with the winter months used to train new members. The squadron exhibits the professional qualities the Air Force develops in the people who fly, maintain and support these aircraft.

Objectives of the squadron are:

- To support Air Force recruiting and retention programs.

- To reinforce public confidence in the Air Force and to demonstrate to the public the professional competence of Air Force members.

- To strengthen morale and esprit de corps among Air Force members.

- To support Air Force community relations and people-to-people programs.

- To represent the United States and its armed forces to foreign nations and to project international goodwill.

Most recently, the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron flew over Dolphin Stadium during Super Bowl XLI Feb. 4 in Miami, Florida as part of the Air Force's year long 60th Anniversary Celebration. The team's red, white and blue F-16 Fighting Falcons roared in their signature six-ship Delta formation at the conclusion of the national anthem flying at approximately 500 feet and 450 mph. 

This appearance is part of the larger-scale effort throughout this year to highlight the achievements of the men and women of the United States Air Force. Previously, the Air Force Academy Band marched in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this past November and Edwards AFB aircraft soared over the 118th Rose Parade in Pasadena, California on New Year's Day. 

In the coming months, the Air Force will leave their marks at the Daytona 500 in Florida and the 56th NBA All-Star Game Weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Click on the following link to see where the Air Force will be represented next: http://www.af.mil/library/usaf60.asp