The F-16 Viper Demonstration Team is one of the U.S. Air Force’s premier aerial demonstration units, showcasing the speed, agility, and combat capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Its roots trace back to F-16 demonstration flying in the 1970s, and today the team operates under Air Combat Command out of Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina.
Unlike the multi-jet Blue Angels and Thunderbirds, the Viper Demo Team flies a single F-16, piloted by a hand-picked fighter pilot who rotates through the role on an annual assignment. The team performs at more than 20 air shows a year, flying high-G turns, high-speed passes, and a signature vertical climb meant to put the F-16’s raw thrust-to-weight performance on full display for the crowd.