The Red Helmet

This first-ever book explores the history, development and evolution of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds flight helmets, from the team's inception in 1953 to present-day. Learn the origin and meaning of the Native American Thunderbird emblem and how this came to be the iconic image we associate with America's "Ambassadors in Blue." Follow the detailed progress of handcrafting a modern flight helmet and witness the meticulous designing, painting and stunning graphics that set these helmets apart. Meet several Thunderbird pilots through in-depth human-interest interviews and go behind the scenes at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Home of the Thunderbirds. The book includes hundreds of black & white and color photos of Thunderbirds flight helmets from Thunderbird pilots, museums and private collections spanning 66 years.

Unique, colorful, large-format book covering the history, the helmets and the people behind the USAF Thunderbirds. Includes detail on the handcrafting of the helmets, in-depth interviews with male and female Thunderbirds pilots as well as a look behind the scenes at Nellis AFB, NV, their home base. Hundreds of beautiful B & W and color photographs.
Jeffrey D. Guidry is a private pilot, aviation historian and avid collector of military flight gear. A lifelong passion for aviation-and in particular, the USAF Thunderbirds-was the impetus for this unique book. The effort involved more than 23 years of research, countless interviews and onsite visits to Nellis AFB, GENTEX Corporation and aviation museums across the U.S.