Editing Tactical Air Command (section)

==== USAF Thunderbirds ====
For most of its history, the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron (USAF ADS), better known as the '''[[U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds|Thunderbirds]]''', had flown front-line fighter aircraft, having been part of TAC since they moved to [[Nellis AFB]], Nevada in the mid-1950s.  In 1969, the team switched aircraft from the [[F-100 Super Sabre]] to the [[F-4 Phantom II]].  However, due to the [[1973 oil crisis]], the team only flew six air shows and was grounded for some time. In 1974, the Thuunderbirds switched to the more economical [[T-38 Talon]] advanced jet trainer. The rationale for the change to a trainer was purely economical in an era of post-Vietnam fiscal austerity, since five T-38s used the same amount of fuel needed for one F-4 Phantom II. The switch to the T-38 also saw an alteration of the team's flight routine to exhibit the aircraft's maneuverability in tight turns.

In January 1982, a devastating accident during a training flight claimed the lives of four USAF ADS pilots at their primary practice facility, [[Creech AFB|Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field]], northwest of Nellis AFB.  While practicing the four-plane diamond loop, the formation impacted the ground at high speed, instantly killing all four pilots. The cause of the crash was officially listed as a result of pilot error by Thunderbird #1, the team leader, as he misjudged the proper altitude to execute the loop. The other three aircraft, following proper procedure, were looking at the Lead's aircraft, rather than the ground, and followed the Lead aircraft into the ground. The airshow season for that year was canceled and it was also decided to equip the squadron with the [[F-16 Fighting Falcon|Block 15 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon]] and start over for 1983. In 1992, the squadron was upgraded to the [[F-16 Fighting Falcon|Block 32 F-16C/D]], and in 2009 to the [[F-16 Fighting Falcon|Block 52 F-16C/D]].<ref name="multi3"/>