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Sometimes it's not the Thunderbirds themselves, rather they're the hooplah that the advertising for the show is built around. Maybe that's the spark that gets a youngster to come out and see not only the T-birds but the displays, etc and realize the AF is something they can do instead of just seeing it on TV. Several times I've taken a C-130 to an airshow and I've always been surprised by the number of young people I tell "You can come do my job" and they look at me as if I'd come in from Mars. "No, really, get a degree, pass the tests, work hard, and you can do this too". I wouldn't belive it if I hadn't seen it myself - but many kids see that kind of thing as out of reach - which is a tragedy.
As far as budget goes, I can take or leave the Mustang car. It doesn't appeal to me - but it might to a 17 year old who aspires to be an auto mechanic, hydraulics specialist, or any number of specialties where they'll join for 4 years, learn a skill, and leave if they choose. Is the car a waste of money? Maybe, but as other posters pointed out, it's the government. Unless you want to run for the Senate to single-handedly fix the problem, that's their M.O.
My first airshow was around 1976; I was 8. (I was already an airplane nut so the show didn't sway me per se, however there's a big difference in reading about jets and seeing/hearing/feeling them fly.) The T-birds were there in the T-38. After the performance, my folks took me to the rope line to meet a pilot and get an autograph. We picked one guy at random and then left due to the crowds. I stuck the program in a box and, although I haven't seen it in 20 years, I assume it's still there.
Fast forward to 1998. I was in my second year as an airline 727 flight engineer. We were in Dallas and, as often was the case, a fellow pilot came in, introduced himself, and asked to ride our jumpseat to the next city. I did a double-take when I read his name on the form. "Did you happen to fly for the Thunderbirds around 1976?" I asked. "Sure! Wow, you must have quite a memory to know that". "Well, I was at one of the shows and got your autograph ... I was 8". "Wow ... you really know how to make a guy feel old."
Because the 727 is so loud, it's difficult for the FE to hear the pilots and vice versa - but the jumpseater and FE can talk easily. So, for the next 2 hours I enjoyed chatting with the ex-T-bird and, having flown the T-38 myself as an AF student, I truly enjoyed hearing his impression of what it was like to fly the Talon in the show. Pretty neat. That was one of my more memorable legs on the panel.
Ken
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"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."
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Nothing even close! There is only 1 real Mustang. Anything else is a sad representation of the name. Talk about judging a book by its cover - I won't do that again (nice title - fooled me).
I think it will be an excellent marketing tool. But hey, what do I know. 
