Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds

Ah yes, Thunderbirds: Air Force Elite. I tuned in expecting jet-fuelled thrills, precision aerobatics, and a dash of military mystique. What I got, dear reader, was a red, white and blue firework of self-congratulatory waffle wrapped in a stars-and-stripes burrito.

The first 20 minutes? Rather good, actually. We meet the pilots, learn about the intense training, and there's some properly impressive flying. I was sipping my tea, genuinely intrigued. For a moment, I thought, "Gosh, perhaps this will be different. Perhaps we'll get some nuanced insight into the psychological and physical toll of being an elite aviator."

But no. Silly me.

Somewhere between the slow-mo flag waving and the swelling orchestral score that could make brushing your teeth feel like the D-Day landings, it swerved into full-blown American propaganda. We were no longer learning about a flying squadron, but being gently bludgeoned by a love letter to a fantasy America where everything is freedom, justice and suspiciously good dentistry.

Now, don't misunderstand me. I love a bit of national pride. I've even stood up for Rule Britannia while holding a gin and tonic. But this wasn't pride. This was a heavily scripted advert for a country that seems less interested in self-reflection and more interested in selling itself as the world's moral compass. A compass that, incidentally, spins wildly whenever oil is nearby.

By the end, I half expected an eagle to swoop across the screen clutching a cheeseburger while screaming about liberty.

In summary: if you enjoy airshows, motivational quotes, and documentaries that say "We're the best!" without a hint of irony, this is the film for you. But if you're looking for depth, balance or anything resembling humility - may I suggest watching paint dry on a Lancaster Bomber instead.

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.

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.

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.

This movie is outstanding and there are so many "life lessons" packed inside of the film. It's a real life, and at times emotional, look at the pilots, families, and support crew that comprise the USAF Thunderbird demonstration team. The viewer gets a peek behind the curtain on how challenging but rewarding it is to be a Thunderbird pilot. One can't help by getting drawn into "Primo's" rejoin issues or the impact that the time away from home has on the families. After watching, you'll appreciate the sacrifices that all the team members make to fulfill an important mission.

Definitely an inspiring movie and I rate it a 10!