SIGforum
Documentary. Air Force Elite THUNDERBIRDS

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/720601935/m/1370094515

June 01, 2025, 01:02 PM
TMats
Documentary. Air Force Elite THUNDERBIRDS
This is a 2025 Netflix documentary about the 2023 Thunderbirds air demonstration team. Most of the 1 1/2 hours is spent on the training of the team moving toward certification for the ‘23 show season. The documentary fleshes out a couple of the pilots, and that makes it all the more interesting. I thought it was great.

The Thunderbirds have a special relationship with Cheyenne Frontier Days. CFD was the first show the team flew upon its creation in 1953. They continue to perform during the show, and will perform this year on Saturday, July 26th.

I’m posting this because I think the documentary is worth watching. I’d appreciate it if this thread didn’t turn into a Thunderbirds vs. Blue Angels discussion. The Blue Angels are fantastic—absolutely.


_______________________________________________________
despite them
June 01, 2025, 02:41 PM
mojojojo
I watched it. It was ok and some really good video. I thought the documentary of the Blue Angels was better (of course as a former Naval Aviator I'm biased)



Icarus flew too close to the sun, but at least he flew.
June 01, 2025, 06:32 PM
P250UA5
My wife's best friend's brother was ground crew for the Thunderbirds a few years ago [2019 I think]. He got us vip tickets to Wings Over Houston & flight line access once it had cleared out.




The Enemy's gate is down.
June 02, 2025, 03:05 AM
hberttmank
It was a good documentary, showed how much work that team puts in a years time. My son was a Thunderbird for 4 years so I went to a lot of air shows. I knew the routine pretty good so when it was time for the sneak pass, I liked to turn around and watch people in the crowd jump.



"But, as luck would have it, he stood up. He caught that chunk of lead." Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock
"If there's one thing this last week has taught me, it's better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it." Clarence Worley
June 02, 2025, 07:26 PM
SpinZone
We watched it the other day and enjoyed it.
Having enjoyed the one about the Blue Angels made me interested when I saw this was out.



“We truly live in a wondrous age of stupid.” - 83v45magna

"I think it's important that people understand free speech doesn't mean free from consequences societally or politically or culturally."
-Pranjit Kalita, founder and CIO of Birkoa Capital Management

June 03, 2025, 09:04 AM
TMats
quote:
Originally posted by hberttmank:
It was a good documentary, showed how much work that team puts in a years time. My son was a Thunderbird for 4 years so I went to a lot of air shows. I knew the routine pretty good so when it was time for the sneak pass, I liked to turn around and watch people in the crowd jump.

You would have seen me pull my head down into my shoulders to my ears.


_______________________________________________________
despite them