Give me one good reason for the existence of ANY of these flying daredevil teams? (a rhetorical question, I already know the answer)
Don’t bother, there isn’t any.
They should expand the “missing man” formation to include ALL the aircraft.
I am completely series!
You can’t think of a good reason? I can.
Here are four that are related. I doubt that they will mean that much to a non-aviator.
They are inspirational to watch and highlight the types of precision maneuvers that these aircraft and highly trained and talented individuals are capable of.
The type of training necessary to perform these maneuvers has been going on since WWI in one form or another and has been found to build confidence in those we depend on to protect our country in times of war and conflict.
They are an important recruiting tool used to gain the interest of young people who may not have considered a career in the military.
I took aerobatic instruction to increase my abilities to react in an emergency situation in our own aircraft. I feel that I would be much less likely to panic in an emergency situation after taking the training.
Morale, recruitment, doing something with your life. A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not why ships are built.
1. To show the taxpayers what sort of gear and skills they pay for.
2. To show our adversaries what sort of gear and skills they will be facing.