Ford Mustang takes wing with Air Force Thunderbirds

If you miss seeing the Air Force's Thunderbirds jet demonstration team performing, Ford has come up with the next-best thing -- a Mustang that has the same paint job and flies along the pavement.

In April, the Thunderbirds suspended all their 2013 shows due to the federal budget cuts. Just because the team's F-16 fighters remain grounded doesn't mean the pilots still can't be honored with a special car.

The 2014 Mustang GT was donated by Ford for charity, and it will be sold at the Experimental Air Association show in Oshkosh, Wis., on Aug. 1. Benefits go to the EAA's Young Eagles program, which provides free flights for kids interested in aviation.

Every year, Ford decorates a Mustang for the occasion of the big air show, often with a military theme.

"The dedication and excellence displayed by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds are qualities we also celebrate at Ford," said Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford board of directors. "With this year's beautiful U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Edition Mustang, we've captured the recognizable symbols of their stature and paired it with the innovation our Ford design and engineering teams build into all of our products.