Diksha Sundriyal
Netflix’s ‘Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds’ follows the story of the real-life daredevils who perform high-speed aviation demonstrations. The elite unit, which consists of some of the most skilled pilots of the US Air Force, has to go through vigorous rounds of training, where they have to master speed and precision, the likes of which are rarely seen anywhere else in the world. One of the pilots that the documentary focuses on is Jake “Primo” Impellizzeri, who initially struggles to find the rhythm but eventually clicks into place, delivering some of the most spectacular aerial demonstrations by the Thunderbirds.
Jake Impellizzeri’s Love for Aviation Runs in the Family
For Jake Impellizzeri, the desire to fly planes and jets had been a lifelong dream. His grandfather served in the US Air Force, followed by his father, who flew a C-130 for about a decade. Their passion was carried forward by Jake, who got his recreational pilot certificate at Sporty’s in 2008. In 2012, he graduated from Wright State University with a degree in criminal justice, where the final three years of his education were funded by a scholarship from the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps program. Meanwhile, he also got his private pilot certificate at the Wright Patterson Aero Club. In 2013, he moved to Sheppard Air Force base in Texas, where he started his training as an Air Force pilot, and eventually got to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
From here, he was stationed around the world as he honed his aerial skills. He became a lead pilot during his time at Osan Air Base in South Korea, and was promoted to instructor pilot on F-16 while he was at Misawa Air Base in Japan. Here, he also became a part of the F-16 demonstration team, following which he was assigned to the 79th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, where he worked as an F-16 Flight Evaluator and Chief of Standardization and Evaluation.
Jake Impellizzeri Plans to be a Pilot for As Long as Possible
Jake “Primo” Impellizzeri joined the Thunderbirds in 2021, where he started as the #8, the Advance Pilot/Narrator. He didn’t get to fly until the 2023 season, where he became the #3, the Right Wing Pilot, which put him in extremely close vicinity to the #1 in the diamond formation. The flight formations required acute precision on his and the team’s part, with all of them working together on blind faith. Jake continued his journey with the Thunderbirds in the 2024 season, where he flew in the #4 spot, the slot position, and continued to perform throughout the country.
In the same year, the Thunderbirds also performed the flyover during the Super Bowl game. With every Thunderbird pilot serving for two years, Jake’s time with the team also ended with the 2024 season. He did not reveal what he plans to do next, but he did express his desire to work for Delta Airlines, where his father was also employed as a commercial pilot following his time in the Air Force. Though it is not confirmed whether he will continue to serve in the Air Force for the next few years or pursue a different career, he has maintained that his love for aviation will push him to fly for as long as he can.
In addition to this, the dog-lover also loves to travel the world. His time in the Air Force allowed him the opportunity to travel to different corners of the globe. He also continues this in his private life, where he often travels across the country and the world with his friends and family. He enjoys adventure activities like skiing, surfing, and skydiving, to name a few. While he has been open about his love for flying and his dedication to the Air Force, he prefers to keep the details of his personal life private and enjoys spending time with his loved ones away from the public limelight.
Read More: Justin Elliott: Where is the Thunderbirds Commander Now?
