The Thunderbirds Diamond at the Chicago Air Show 2001

 
It's not normal to see the Thunderbirds from this head-on angle, because airshow regulations generally prohibit a group of aircraft (or even single aircraft) from flying directly over a crowd, in order to reduce the probability of an accident.   But I was able to get these shots because my vantage point at the end of Fullerton Street jutted out into Lake Michigan quite a bit further than the official "show center" line at North Beach.
photo #53:  four Thunderbirds coming head-on

 
photo #52:  four Thunderbirds coming head-on

 
photo #51: four Thunderbirds in tight formation against blue sky

 
The original Thunderbirds consisted of a four plane team flying in a classic "diamond" formation.   This is still the basis of the team demonstration today.

  
photo #57:  four Thunderbirds banking in diamond formation b

  
They do a slow flypast with wheels extended and then pull them in...
photo #54:  four Thunderbirds banking in tight formation while pulling wheels up

 
photo #63:  four Thunderbirds banking in tight diamond formation with wheels almost totally pulled up

  
And they show that not all diamonds are the same shape...
photo #59:  four Thunderbirds banking in loose diamond

 
photo #58:  four Thunderbirds banking in tight diamond formation under view

 
photo #62:  four Thunderbirds banking in tight line abreast formation

 
 
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