As part of my airshow photoblog series, I’d like to look back at the Rhode Island National Guard Airshow in 2010. The airshow consisted of static and aerial displays. The main attraction was the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron (Thunderbirds). The Thunderbirds were formed in the 1950s and their first aircraft was the F-84G Thunderjet. Since then the Thunderbirds have flown several types of aircraft including the F-84F Thunderstreak, F-100C Super Sabre, F-105B Thunderchief, F-4E Phantom II, and the T-38A Talon. Their current aircraft is the F-16 Fighting Falcon, which the team has used since the 1980s. Hope you like the photos.

The A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog) is a close air support aircraft that was developed in the early 1970s, and was part of the “mock invasion” demonstration at the airshow (Canon 5D Mark II, 100-400mm, 400mm, f/4.5-5.6L IS, f/7.1, 1/500, ISO 100)

The UH-60 Black Hawk also made an appearance during the “mock invasion” demonstration. Here it is flying through heavy black smoke (Canon 5D Mark II, 100-400mm, 100mm, f/4.5-5.6L IS, f/5.6, 1/500, ISO 100)

A pair of C-130 Hercules flying over the smoke covered tarmac during the “mock invasion” demonstration (Canon 5D Mark II, 100-400mm, 100mm, f/4.5-5.6L IS, f/8, 1/500, ISO 100)

“Flying into the light” with an F/A-18 Hornet and contrails of air streaming from either side (Canon 5D Mark II, 100-400mm, 400mm, f/4.5-5.6L IS, f/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 100)

“Thunderbirds are go” (Canon 5D Mark II, 100-400mm, 180mm,  f/4.5-5.6L IS, f/5.0, 1/1000, ISO 100)

Thunderbirds 1 to 4 in the diamond formation (Canon 5D Mark II, 100-400mm, 190mm, f/4.5-5.6L IS, f/5, 1/1000, ISO 100)

One of the “solo” Thunderbirds streaking across the sky from airshow center left (Canon 5D Mark II, 100-400mm, 400mm, f/4.5-5.6L IS, f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO 100)

At airshow center with the Thunderbird “opposing solos” in close proximity to each other (Canon 5D Mark II, 100-400mm, 400mm, f/4.5-5.6L IS, f/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 100)

Thunderbirds 1 to 4 streaking through a cloud-filled sky (Canon 5D Mark II, 100-400mm, 400mm, f/4.5-5.6L IS, f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO 100)

The Thunderbirds signature bomb burst maneuver (Canon 5D Mark II, 100-400mm, 105mm, f/4.5-5.6L IS, f/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 100)

Over sun-filled clouds with a solo Thunderbird (Canon 5D Mark II, 100-400mm, 390mm, f/4.5-5.6L IS, f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO 100)

On the tarmac with Thunderbird 4 after the demonstration (Canon 5D Mark II, 100-400mm, 180mm, f/4.5-5.6L IS, f/8, 1/500, ISO 100)