COLUMBUS, Ohio — It's been almost 20 years since the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds buzzed through the skies here in Columbus. But that wait is about to end this weekend at the Columbus Air Show.
After a show in Michigan, the team is ready to give the Columbus audience a show they've been waiting for since 2007.
The event will be held at Rickenbacker International Airport from June 14 to 16.
"It's inspiring. It's patriotic to really look up into the sky and see this excellence of human achievement," said Thunderbird solo pilot Major Jeffrey Downie.
With around 50,000 people expected to be attending, preparation is everything.
"Reps, reps, reps. Just to be able to do this and it's just constantly perfecting our craft." Downie said.
A solo pilot can fly up to 800 mph in one of the Thunderbirds, making it about twice as fast as the average commercial plane.
In the diamond formation, the planes fly as close to a foot and a half from each other.
But these aren't tricks just any pilot can try. Each Thunderbird pilot has experience in the Air Force and has been flying for at least a decade.