Back in 2013, an Air Force unit in the U.S. that was training pilots for its most advanced aircraft adopted a patch inspired by My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. The Air Force itself confirmed the surprising twist — bronies (adult fans of the show) were, metaphorically speaking, flying jets.
The patch, dominated by pinks and purples, was worn by 24 flight students in Joint Undergraduate Specialized Pilot Class 14-05 at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma. Its design—“My Little Pilot, Flying Is Magic”—was a nod to the TV show about friendship and teamwork.
According to 1st Lt. Tom Barger, a public affairs officer, the patch was intended to boost morale, unity, and camaraderie among the pilots. The patch’s inclusion was said to be somewhat accidental: during a slideshow of patch ideas, someone threw in the “My Little Pilot” concept as a joke—and it surprisingly made it through the approval chain.
Not everyone was thrilled. One individual reportedly declined to wear it, and another complained about it to their mother. Still, the class embraced the irony. Barger later said that the students didn’t originally want the patch—they thought it was so bizarre that it was funny.
The patch fit into a broader Air Force tradition: each pilot training class (JSUPT) at Vance designs its own class patch as a symbol of esprit de corps. Over time, pop-culture references have been common in these patch designs—everything from The Hangover to Chuck Norris has appeared. In this case, the show’s copyright holders (Hasbro / the network) approved the design, unlike some other proposals.
Despite its whimsical origin, the patch turned out to be more than a gag. The values in My Little Pony—especially about friendship and teamwork—resonated with the Air Force’s own emphasis on working together. As Barger put it, embracing the humor actually strengthened bonds among the class.
In short: what began as a joke patch became a meaningful (and memorable) symbol for a class of Air Force pilot trainees.
Source: TRENCH ART
Welcome to the Forum!
Our forum is brand new, and you’re among the first to join! 🎉
Feel free to start a conversation, ask a question, or share your thoughts. Your voice can help shape this community from the ground up!