Defense: Military Aerial Display Teams — 2017 Photo Contest

The Blue Angels flying over San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge during 2017 Fleet Week.

U.S. Navy Blue Angels ground support team members dash away from their assigned jets prior to an aerial demonstration.

Blue Angels Crew Chief Jonathan Cronin gives the "3" sign to let the pilot know he is good to go as they test the F-18 smoke system.

Swiss Air Force Capt. Cyril Johner leads his team in diamond formation into a 60-deg. loop at the Breitling Sion Air Show in Valais, Switzerland.

The Blue Angels' 5 and 6 soar above San Francisco with legendary aerobatic pilot Sean D. Tucker in the Oracle Challenger III during Fleet Week 2017.

Snowbirds conclude demonstration at 2017 Huntington Beach, California, Air Show as seen from patio of hotel viewing area on Pacific Coast Highway.

The Blue Angels perform their breakaway maneuver over Alcatraz, the former U.S. prison and current tourist destination, finishing up their performance at Fleet Week San Francisco.

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels in morning light on the ramp at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, during the 2017 EAA AirVenture Fly-in.

The helmet of a pilot of the famed Patrouille de France rests near the squadron shield following the team's arrival at Kansas City Downtown Airport. The team was in Kansas City, Missouri, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I. The milestone was observed at Kansas City's World War I memorial.

This image of Thunderbird No. 8 was captured on March 22, 2017, the Wednesday before the Los Angeles County Air Show, at Fox Field in Lancaster, California. A pretty serious storm with almost zero visibility preceded the window of opportunity when I was able to capture this image.

Moscow flight show, 2017.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force Black Falcons team performs a spaghetti break in its new T-6C Texan ll aircraft at the 2017 Classic Fighters Airshow at Omaka Airfield, Marlborough, New Zealand. 

Red Arrows and Thunderbirds formation flight.

A rather strong thunderstorm rolls into Key Field in Meridian, Mississippi, with a T-38 from Tyndall AFB providing ramp scenery on Oct. 15, 2017.

French Air Force Mirage 2000s and AlphaJets fly over the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, a prominent old city gate near the Louvre, on Bastille Day in 2017.