In general, American fighter aircraft do not strive to captivate observers with elaborate color schemes; rather, they frequently employ a hue of blue known as “dark azure,” which is generally perceived as a dull grey.

As an example, aerobatics teams and aircraft operated by aggressor squadrons, which portray the evil guys and must not only behave but also appear like them, are exempt from this unwritten rule.

Although not as conspicuous in aerial displays or media coverage as, sаy, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Thunderbirds or the Navy’s Blue Angels, the Viper Demonstration Team proudly displays an exclusive paint scheme on its solitary F-16 FigҺting Falcon.

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This small group refers to the aircraft as “Venom” and has it adorned with a color-coded uniform that emulates the scales of a serpent. Under the canopy, these painted features are presented in black, with yellow official insignia and a pair of yellow eyes positioned on either side of the snout.

Since the paint job was first unveiled in 2019 in preparation for the 2020 air show season, numerous Americans have had the opportunity to observe it in flight. Although many of them came as near as this recently released USAF image permits, it is improbable.

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At the end of September, while the aircraft was departing from Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, it encountered a KC-135 Stratotanker high above as it departed from Altus Air Force Base for a refueling mission.

Considering the conclusion of this year’s air show season, this is likely the final opportunity to observe the Viper Demo Team F-16 Venom in that particular stance. The team’s most recent excursion took place in Stuart, Florida, in mid-November; the schedule for the following year is currently unknown.

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