--- title: "The Air Force’s Viper demonstration team definitely goes hard in the paint" description: "10/10 would buy the model kit" date: "2020-06-12" modified: "2020-06-12" authors: - name: "David Roza" job_title: "YouTube Writer/Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/david-roza.md" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/air-force-f16-viper-demonstration-team-paint-job-venom/" categories: - "Aircraft" - "Culture" - "Fighter Aircraft" - "Mandatory Fun" - "Tech & Tactics" --- # The Air Force’s Viper demonstration team definitely goes hard in the paint ![]() The Air Force [F-16 Viper Demonstration Team](), it seems, goes hard in the paint. That at least is the impression one gets from new pictures of the team’s star jet, which now boasts an objectively awesome snakeskin paint job dubbed 'Venom' that ups the already-sky-high sex appeal of one of the world’s best multirole fighter aircraft to near-disastrous levels. “Inspiring the next generation of pilots and maintainers,” the Viper team wrote modestly on its [Instagram]() and [Facebook]() pages on Friday, knowing full well that they just caused a nationwide wave of computer and smart phone problems from all the saliva slopping down on keyboards and touchscreens from the mouths of fawning aviation fanboys and fangirls like yours truly who greedily covet the Mach 2-capable aircraft. Unfortunately, due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we fans may not be able to enjoy this new paint job in person, as the Air Force has cancelled all large gatherings like airshows [through June 30](). That could change after June 30, but for now we must be content to witness the Viper’s shining glory from afar. ![]() Full disclosure: midway through writing this article, this reporter discovered that the Viper team made the paint changes [over a month ago](), making this reporter late to the game. According to the Viper Facebook page, the team had been working on the project since December so that it would be ready for the 2020 airshow season. But then COVID-19 reared its ugly head. “While it was scheduled to be completed in March, due to the COVID-19 pandemic we paused production to ensure the safety of our crews, but we're now proud to introduce you to 'VENOM’,” the team wrote. “The snake scales across the body of the aircraft fit the namesake of the jet and our signature black and yellow colors feature prominently from nose to tail.” The team added that the project was meant as a special experience for fans and as an extra bit of jet fuel to inspire Americans to join up. And boy is it tempting. But next year, Air Force, we request something along the lines of the Venom comic book super villain. Just a suggestion. ![]() *Our suggestion for 2021* ## Author David Roza writes scripts about military news for the Task & Purpose YouTube channel, and he also writes articles about military pay, benefits, health care, child care, culture, and other personnel topics on a freelance basis. Roza previously covered the Air Force and Space Force for Task & Purpose from 2019 to 2023 and for Air & Space Forces Magazine from 2023 to 2025. In the course of that reporting, he has set off a ‘Hollywood explosion’ with Air Force bomb techs, turned the (unarmed) keys of a nuclear missile bunker, hovered over the Nevada desert on an Air Force rescue helicopter, and got the best sleep of his life on the floor of a C-17 over the central Pacific. Share tips and story ideas with David at [david.roza@teamrecurrent.io]()