Originally Posted by
bombedup6
I do recall the USAF's Thunderbirds went to T-38 trainers for a while in the 70s and early 80s, but the public demanded a return to big, noisy, front line jets and so they switched back to F-16s.
That, and the unfortunate fact that during a training mission, the four ship made a diamond shape in the Nevada desert. It was after that tragic mishap that the USAF moved to the by-then more numerous F-16.
As for the RAF using front line aircraft, 'tis not my place to comment on that. (Edited to add) But the Snowbirds put on a really, really good show as well. Not bad for a trainer, eh?