Yes, Thunderbird pilots wear G-suits during their flights. The Thunderbirds are the United States Air Force's aerial demonstration team, known for their precision flying and high-performance maneuvers. The pilots of the Thunderbirds, like other military pilots, wear G-suits to help protect them from the effects of high acceleration forces, particularly during maneuvers that generate high gravitational forces or G-forces.
G-suits, also known as anti-G suits, are specialized flight suits designed to counteract the physiological effects of high G-forces on the human body. These suits have inflatable bladders that are positioned around the lower body, typically around the legs and abdomen. When the aircraft undergoes rapid acceleration or maneuvers that result in increased G-forces, the G-suit inflates, applying pressure to the lower body to help prevent blood pooling in the lower extremities and maintain adequate blood flow to the brain.
By wearing G-suits, Thunderbird pilots and other military pilots can mitigate the risk of G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) and maintain their cognitive and physical capabilities during high-performance flight maneuvers. The G-suits are an important component of pilot safety and help ensure their ability to handle the extreme forces experienced during aerial demonstrations.