Aviation Merch By Aviation Store on Instagram: "They turn precision into poetry, eight pilots, a handful of support crews, and thousands of synced practice minutes that make the impossible look effortless. (Credits usspecialforcess on TikTok) The Thunderbirds began in 1953 and today fly as the USAF air demonstration squadron based at Nellis AFB. Their mission blends recruiting, public engagement, and a living demonstration of Air Force skill; the unit fields eight pilots, four support officers a