Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds

At an air show the public just sees the product. The documentary does show what all the work there is in getting to the final product. Breaks down to a degree each performing pilot and tells a little of their background before becoming a team member. Shows to a lesser degree logistics, medical, maintainers, administrative personnel and their roles on the team. So a viewer does come away with a sense of the total team and how each is dependent on each other doing their job. It is good for the public to see all that and understand it as well. Shows the hard training required to get the routines down to perfection. Really enjoyed it and believe anyone would like this documentary. On another note...wasn't too keen that some personnel wearing short sleeve uniforms had exposed tattoos showing. That did not sit too well with this old USAF retired MSGT. Doubt that would bother anyone else who watches it, but that is the only thing keeping me from giving this a 10. Highly recommend viewing this.

I've seen other documentaries on the Thunderbirds, and this one just doesn't cut it for me. Not enough facts about the intricacies of flying in formation or the role of the ground crew, terribly background music, and too many sappy moments.

The flight recordings were great, and the computer simulations helped. Given the importance of the shows throughout demo-season, some light on the logistics of that would have been nice.

I wasn't expecting some Top Gun hyped-up movie, but while it was modestly entertaining and informative, I was hoping for more documentary-type content to learn how the Thunderbirds machine works.

I live in the UK and I just loved watching this documentary about the Thunderbirds. It is inspiring to all humans. These pilots just blow your mind with the risks they take and the huge team of people behind them all essential to their success including their families. The footage filmed from inside the cockpit is just shocking and mind blowing. I must go and see a Thunderbird display in the states. At a time (27.5.25) when everyone is looking at the USA and thinking WTF this documentary shows you what is great about the USA. I did wonder if Primo's difficulties were purely for the camera and to make the story more interesting. However pulling a 7G manoeuvre is not for anyone other than super humans. Thank-you for your dedication Thunderbirds.

So let me go over the positives first. Amazing amazing filming of the flights. Not sure how they did it. I don't like air shows, but watching the acrobatics in this film was amazing.

The film goes over the progress toeard being certified as a Thunderbird to give demonstrationas around the world. Displays a dedicated team, working effectively together. Like all documentaries they have a story line. Not sure how contrived it was, but fundamentally the individuals stories was also interesting (though only really touched on their stories briefly.. could easily have been half an hour longer). Good pacing, very upbeat.

What I didn't like.. I've served myself, and I think these guys, while appearing calm logical types, are absolutely insane. 10% of Thunderbird Pilots die. This is an acrobatics demo team but I'm sure that death rate is higher than combat. The tight formations theu fly on are absolutely jaw dropping. Seriously I had tears in my eyes just watching them fly. God bless them, bit seriously, is it worth that death rate? Anyway I highly recommend this film. It literally amd figuratively flew by. Well done to the team that filmed this.

I would expect this to appeal to the patriotic pro-military types who might attend an air show but I was surprised by the entertainment value as I don't consider myself the target audience. But maybe I am, as the boss of the Thunderbirds noted that their entire mission is to inspire people who see these performances to think about what America means to them as an idea. They certainly have dedicated themselves to their craft and of course succeed in igniting a desire to achieve great heights in America's youth, as many of the pilots relayed their own stories of how they were inspired as kids by watching their heroes and now find themselves talking to excited kids at the air shows afterwards. A good film that captures the extraordinary skill of this elite team.