Approximately 100 aircraft were on display at the 2014 Aviation Nation air show, starting November 8 and 9 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Photo: Feng Cheng

The 2014 Aviation Nation show kicked off on November 8 and 9 at the Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The splendid performance, especially the presence of US Air Force Thunderbirds, attracted thousands of spectators.

Six Thunderbirds flew in over the crowd at high speed, and corkscrewed 360 degrees. The pilots thrilled the audience with breath-taking displays of skill, including flying vertically towards the sky and loop-the-loops.

Over 75,000 people attended the Aviation Nation on November 8, the first day of the air show, many more than military officials had expected. Many Chinese-American attendees said that it was one of the best shows of its type in the world, and that it demonstrated the power and skill of the US air force.

Before the show, the pilots underwent hundreds of hours of special training, with formation flying and solo routines included in these drills. Approximately 100 aircraft depicting the history of American aviation, such as gigantic transport planes, stealth fighters and military aircraft, were also on display.