Living next door to an operational airfield has it's perks when the airshow comes around we got our on display over the back garden.

Not my normal bird in flight shot however I thought it was worth sharing this photo of the Thunderbirds at one of the premier airshows in north America. Yes, I am a nature and wildlife lover but to be honest I've always been drawn to power and speed beginning with horses then muscle cars, NASCAR and air shows. It's been a long while since attending this or any social event for that matter so it was a welcomed change from everyday home life.

After the event I pondered the cost of such a demonstration and did a bit of snooping on the internet. What I gathered was: The average cost of jet fuel here is approximately $7 per gallon. The average time the Thunderbirds are in the air is 15 minutes flying at 700mph. There were 6 jets so approximately 1200 gallons of fuel were used in the air.

It's reported that this display is used to recruit enlistments and it must work otherwise moving from one show to another with complete ground crews, pilots, food and housing at such an enormous cost it wouldn't make any sense. That being said with the current push for electric vehicles to reduce oil consumption it struck me as being one of those little life oxymorons. Even with this info I must say I get a rush from the sights, sounds and admire the precision maneuvers these pilots do.

Crop of an R3 image with Topaz Sharpen AI used.

Aerospace Valley Air Show at Edwards Air Force Base 2022.

Demonstration Team

Tearing up the sky at the Rhode Island Air Show.

Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo, Lakeland, Florida

CadWest

Thanks to all who have visited, commented or faved (it would be nice if you left a comment too) my photos. It is very much appreciated. Constructive criticism welcomed.

From September 2018. . .or the world before COVID - 1984. McConnell Air Force Base Open House/Air Show in Wichita. The USAF Thunderbirds were the featured performers.

Experimenting lower shutter speeds on fast moving jets. Only a few keepers but I am beginning to like them.

Take off from runway 33 at YXU.

2015 Air Force Graduation

United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO.

With the 2016 Graduation Ceremony fast approaching, I decided to take another look at my 2015 archives ...

afthunderbirds.com

92-1094 an LC-130H-3 from the New York ANG in the blue hour. Most noticeable of the H-3 upgrades are the Hamilton Sundstrand NP2000 eight-blade propellers.

RAF Fairford, Gloucester, England

USAF F-16C Fighting Falcon

91-0413 '4'

57th Wing

USAF Demonstration Squadron Team 'The Thunderbirds'

Nellis AFB, Nevada, USA

Vacating RWY 24 @ RAF Lakenheath....

F-16C Fighting Falcons of the USAF Thunderbirds perform at the 2022 US Air Force Academy Graduation, Colorado Springs, USA

USAF 48th Fighter Wing, 493rd Fighter Squadron 'Grim Reapers'. Now departed from the UK, this was one of their last flights through the Mach Loop. The LN logo (for Lakenheath) already being removed.

Thanks to all who have visited, commented or faved (it would be nice if you left a comment too) my photos. It is very much appreciated. Constructive criticism welcomed.

2023 Joint Base Lewis-McChord Airshow.

USAF C-17, 50084, landing at Prestwick 21/6/21.

With the Air Festival this past weekend at nearby Martin State Airport I was able to snap of some fighter plane captures in addition to birds along Middle River.

Captured here at slower shutter speed to show the props in motion.

USAF G.D. F-111F 70-396 from 48th TFW at IAT '90 Boscombe Down

75-0125 Boeing E4B-BN USAF - highlight of this years WEF, arriving on a sunny afternoon from Paris Le Bourget.

Phase 2 of the Air Force Thunderbirds inaugural winter training trip was being held here at Fort Huachuca. For the last 2 weeks residents of Sierra Vista, AZ have been witness to their extraordinary talent and bravery.

Thanks for all the views on in Explore. Grateful to share this amazing experience with all of you!!

General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon

Battle Creek Air Show

Thanks for views, comments and favs :)

General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon (401)

A cold February in 2017

FAP BA5 with USAF F16s - Joint Exercise

USAF 90-0829 52nd FW Spangdahlem AB, Germany

General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon

RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, England

Airshow London 2022.

The USAF Heritage Flight seen at Yuma airshow comprising of F-22A, 06-4108 and F-86F 52-4978. 17/03/2018.

Raf Lakenheath Home of the 48th Fighter wing.