Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds

Visually, this documentary is exactly what you'd expect, sleek shots of jets cutting through the sky, dramatic slow-motion, swelling music, and pilots framed as modern-day superheroes. As an aviation fan who goes every year to the BIAS Air Show in Bucharest, I enjoyed the flying sequences. The Thunderbirds are undoubtedly impressive, and the production knows how to showcase their precision.

But here's the thing: this is less documentary, more recruitment commercial. Every other line is a recycled slogan, "the best in the world", "the greatest pilots alive", "the elite of the world", rinse and repeat. Be f for real. And from an international perspective, it gets tiring. I've been to America, I know the culture, and I get that patriotism is a big part of it. But at times, the film feels like the U. S. is the only country on the planet, as if aviation elsewhere doesn't even exist. Spoiler: it does.

Don't get me wrong, I can enjoy a good patriotic production. But when the narrative drowns in marketing language, it stops being insightful and becomes plain self-congratulation. Instead of digging into the human side of the Thunderbirds, the training, the pressure, the sacrifices, we get an endless loop of "Yay, America is number one!" Which is fine... if that's all you came for.

So yes, I had fun watching it. The jets look incredible, the editing is polished, and as pure spectacle, it works. But if you want depth, perspective, or even the faintest acknowledgment that the world is bigger than one country, you won't find it here. It's a glossy brochure with wings, and nothing more.

The dedication and precision of their flights was absolutely mesmerizing. Thunderbirds Air Force Elite is a stunning display of raw skill, power, and human excellence that left me in awe. What truly sets it apart from traditional flight documentaries is its focus on character-driven storytelling. You don't just witness the jets in action, you get a genuine, emotional insight into the lives, mindset, and sacrifices of the incredible pilots behind them. I loved every minute of it.

I left feeling deeply moved, inspired to dream bigger, and more committed than ever to pursuing excellence in my own craft.

The documentary immerses viewers in the high-stakes world of the Thunderbirds, capturing the precision, discipline, and camaraderie required to execute complex aerial maneuvers.

Through stunning cinematography and in-cockpit footage, audiences experience the thrill of formations like the Diamond Pass and the Opposing Hit, where jets fly mere inches apart at supersonic speeds.

While the aerial displays are mesmerizing, the documentary delves deeper, exploring the personal sacrifices and rigorous training that define the Thunderbirds.

It follows new team members as they undergo a grueling two-month certification process, emphasizing the "blind trust" essential among pilots flying in close formation .

All in all I loved watching this documentary and would highly recommend it!

I can't say enough about this documentary! I wouldn't say I know a lot about the Air Force, or what it takes, but this documentary did such a great job at giving you an all access insight into the unbelievable skill and determination it takes to be at this level. At so many points in the documentary I was terrified for the pilots, just beyond impressive. I loved the style and feel of how it was filmed it just felt like you knew the pilots and understood each of their stories. I hope to see more documentaries like this. Really enjoyable watch and one that I walked away from with a greater appreciation of these pilots and what they do.

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.