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Headline: U.S. Air Force Fly With French Fighters

Caption: These stunning images show the United States Air Force Thunderbirds and their French equivalent, Patrouille de France, fly together over California's Death Valley this week (17 April). The pictures show the American F-16s flying in formation with the French Dassault/Dornier Alpha aircraft as part of their 2017 tour of the United States. A jet team that performs precision formation maneuvers similar to the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds, the Patrouille de France is the oldest formal flying aerobatic team having originated in 1931, 15 years before the Blue Angels. The Patrouille are commemorating the 100th anniversary of American volunteer pilots fighting alongside the French Air Force in World War I as part of the Lafayette Escadrille and Lafayette Flying Corps. “It’s a great honour to be part of the Patrouille de France because we have the opportunity to represent all the fighter pilots in the squadrons and all the skills we get in the French air force,” said Commandant Nicholas Lieumont, a pilot of the Patrouille de France. “When we are overseas in a foreign country we represent all of France, which is a tremendous honour.”

Keywords: Air Force,Thunderbirds,U.S. Air Force,USAF,USAFADS,Boitz,Patrouille de France

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