Thunder Tigers to star in National Geographic special

2014-12-22

The ROC Air Force’s Thunder Tigers aerobatic display team is the subject of a National Geographic feature scheduled to premiere Jan. 1 in Taiwan, according to the TV channel.

Titled “Taiwan Elite Warriors: Thunder Tigers,” the one-hour special will reveal the stories behind the top-notch flying team and the pilots who have graced Taiwan’s skies with their airborne virtuosity in national celebrations since 1953.

“Through performing aerobatic displays and demonstrating bravery, loyalty and teamwork, the Thunder Tigers have constantly illustrated to the public their formidable flying prowess and the advances we have seen in Taiwan’s defense technology,” a Ministry of National Defense official said.

After the team’s 1988 transition from using F-5E Chung Cheng fighters to Taiwan-built AT-3 jet training planes, the Thunder Tigers adopted a paint scheme of red, white and blue—the colors of the national flag—and began using a smoke system of the same colors, according to the official.

“This year marks the 26th anniversary of the AT-3 formation, now based in Tainan City. To date they have performed 157 times, boosting the morale of the military and civilians alike,” the official said.

“The Thunder Tigers will continue honoring their commitment to honing their flying skills, perfecting their performances and proudly upholding the team’s glorious legacy.”

The documentary follows on previous MND-National Geographic collaborations. “Inside: Highway, Runway” is a 2011 program on the takeoff and landing drills of fighter jets on Taiwan’s national highways. “Taiwan Elite Warriors,” meanwhile, spotlights the nation’s Marine Corps frogmen in 2013.

Several Thunder Tigers pilots star in the upcoming special, including late Col. Chuang Pei-yuan, who died in an October training accident in southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City. Chuang sacrificed his life maneuvering his aircraft clear of a residential area to avoid endangering the lives of civilians after a mid-air collision with another aircraft.

National Geographic paid respect to Chuang by presenting a tribute film at his Nov. 8 memorial. The full-length feature will be aired in English in other Asian countries following the January premiere, according to a spokesperson for the channel.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=225387&CtNode=413)