@ Fairfield, CA
April 2026
A USAF Thunderbirds F-16 Fighting Falcon taxies by with speed brakes deployed after a performance during the 2026 Wings Over Solano Airshow at Travis AFB. The paint at the top of the tail shows the abuse of flying on the #4 (slot) position, constantly in the leader’s exhaust. The team transitioned to the F-16A Fighting Falcon in 1983, and upgraded to the F-16C in 1992. For the 2009 show season the Thunderbirds transitioned to the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (Block 52) which brings the Thunderbird fleet into alignment with the rest of the worldwide F-16 fleet. The F-16 has been the aerial demonstration aircraft for the Thunderbirds for over 40 years and is their ninth aircraft type since the team was formed in 1953.
