The lasting image of the Thunder-birds, the official aerobatic demonstration team of the U.S. Air Force, is that of airplanes hand-painted to perfection and buffed to a high sheen, and their pilots turned out in tailored flight-suits—movements carefully choreographed with ground crews, carriage and demeanor almost robotic. Nearly forgotten on the road to razor-sharp showmanship, a handful of aerobatic teams streaked over Europe, North Africa, and the United States after the Air Force was formally created as a separate service in 1947 and before the Thunderbirds were commissioned in 1953. The Acrojets, Red Devils, Skyblazers, Sabre Knights, and even, briefly, the Jesters all had their day in the sun.
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