I have seen video and pictures of the Thunderbirds taxing. I always see a like "remove before flight" thing behind the number. Do they fly with those "ribbions" on there? Cause they taxi to the runway then take off.

AF

I'm sure someone else can explain this in better detail but they have ground crew on the runway to do some final checks and take the final remove before flight covers off the aircraft.

Then the TB's light the burners.

Scooter

Scooter is correct! Pre flight checks are performed on the runway and post flight checks as well following landing prior to taxing back. Good observation though...

LD

Scooter is right.. Yes the Thunderbirds do there checks for the crowd..before the show Ie, Comm, speed brakes, flaps, ECT....Then when they taxi out they have their Remove before flight pins still in so they (pilots and ground crews) can do a pre-flight of the aircraft... Next time you go to an airshow watch for that...Then when the jets marshall back they have the post flight and the pins are put back in so the jets can be stored till the next flight...

That would be the Emergency Power Unit pin and yes it gets pulled at EOR just prior to the EPU bleed air run up, just dont want to play around with Hydrazine in front of thousands of people . Grab