Limited Edition · 10 Prints Only · The Only National Geographic Collection
US Air Force · F-16 Fighting Falcon
Six F-16 Fighting Falcons. Eighteen inches between wingtips at 500 miles per hour. Maneuvers that pull 9 Gs. The US Air Force Thunderbirds are among the most visually extraordinary subjects in aviation photography — and the only fine art collection of this caliber is made by a National Geographic photographer.
The Numbers
The Photography Challenge
The Thunderbirds present a specific photographic challenge: aircraft moving at speeds that require shutter speeds of 1/2000th of a second or faster, at distances and angles that change continuously, in formations where the geometry shifts in fractions of a second. The window for a technically perfect image — sharp aircraft, ideal formation geometry, clean sky — may be less than 1/100th of a second within a two-hour performance.
Edin Chavez shoots the Thunderbirds with professional Nikon telephoto equipment and the technical mastery of a National Geographic photographer. The result is a 65-image collection where every frame is resolution-tested for fine art printing at 40×60" — the standard that most aviation event photography cannot meet.
"At 500 miles per hour, the formation exists for a fraction of a second before it becomes something else. A technically perfect photograph of the Thunderbirds in the diamond formation is not an accident — it is the result of knowing exactly where to be, at exactly what moment, with exactly the right equipment."
— Edin ChavezThe full-color prints capture the vivid blue-and-white F-16 livery against the sky — graphic, energetic, patriotic. The black & white editions strip away color and expose the pure geometry of formation flying — abstract, architectural, timeless. Both are available. Both are extraordinary.
ChromaLuxe metal prints are the ideal medium for aviation photography. The luminous aluminum substrate makes the aircraft appear to occupy three-dimensional space. The blue sky achieves a depth and saturation that paper cannot replicate. The 40×60" metal edition is the trophy piece in this collection.
Why This Edition
Other Thunderbirds print sellers offer event photography on consumer-grade canvas. This is the only Thunderbirds collection made by a National Geographic photographer to museum archival standards — the only one resolution-tested for 40×60" fine art printing.
Competitors offer editions of 50–75. This collection is capped at 10 per image per size — not because editions of 10 are market convention, but because a collection of this caliber should be genuinely rare. Ten collectors worldwide will own each print at each size.
Archival giclée on Hahnemühle cotton rag paper. 100-year longevity. ChromaLuxe metal. WHCC professional labs. Signed Certificate of Authenticity. This is the standard that auction houses require. No other Thunderbirds print collection meets it.
No Comparison
Edition Structure
| Size | Edition | Medium | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 × 20"Fine Art Giclée · Color or B&W | 10 of 10 |
Fine Art Giclée | $595 | Waitlist Open |
| 24 × 36"Fine Art Giclée · Color or B&W | 10 of 10 |
Fine Art Giclée | $1,800 | Waitlist Open |
| 30 × 40"Fine Art Giclée · Color or B&W | 10 of 10 |
Fine Art Giclée | $2,800 | Waitlist Open |
| 40 × 60"ChromaLuxe Metal · White High Gloss | 10 of 10 |
ChromaLuxe Metal | $4,500 | Waitlist Open |
Each edition includes: individually numbered print · Certificate of Authenticity · physical signed COA mailed by Edin Chavez · WHCC archival production · free worldwide shipping
Specify your preferred image (formation, solo, color, or B&W) in the waitlist form. Open edition Thunderbirds prints available at standard pricing at edinfineart.com/gallery/united-states-air-force-thunderbirds.
The Photographer
Reserve Your Edition
Waitlist collectors are contacted first — before any public announcement — when editions are released. 10 editions per size. Please note your preferred image and size in the message field. No obligation to purchase.
Your information is never shared or sold