Air Force Falcons Logo PNG
The Air Force Falcons logo, which unites both the men’s and women’s teams, is aesthetically appealing and emphasizes the absence of gender division. The succinct textual acronym in the brand’s colors symbolizes confidence in victory, stability, and the aspiration to achieve the best results.
The Air Force Falcons trace their history to 1954, when the United States Air Force Academy opened in Colorado Springs alongside West Point and Annapolis. From the start, sport was embedded in officer training as a core discipline.
Teams appeared in the first years, with the Falcons’ name tied to aviation and a live falcon adopted as mascot. Blue and silver reflected the air focus. The academy entered the NCAA under stricter conditions than civilian programs, as cadets balanced sport with academic and military demands.
Football became the main program. By 1958, the team reached top-level college competition and began appearing in Bowl games. A turning point came in 1981, when Fisher DeBerry took charge and introduced an option offense suited to disciplined rosters.
In 1985, the Falcons went 12–1 and ranked among the nation’s leading teams, while also winning the Western Athletic Conference title. Rivalries with the Army and Navy grew into nationally followed fixtures.
The move to the Mountain West Conference in 1999 brought new competition from Brigham Young and Utah. In 2011, Troy Calhoun continued the system, leading to conference titles and Bowl appearances, including the 2023 Armed Forces Bowl.
The program also produced results in boxing and maintained a steady presence in basketball. With 29 teams and mandatory participation for cadets, the Falcons have remained competitive within strict institutional limits.
Meaning and History
Since its inception, the combined teams’ emblem has undergone four redesigns. In the first three versions, a falcon was depicted as the symbol of the United States Air Force Academy, chosen by a general student vote in 1959. It was named after Mach 1, the first Falcon presented by the academy in October 1955.
The fearsome bird is widely flapping its wings and holding lightning in its clawed feet. The beak is open as if the bird is emitting a rallying cry. From 1954 to 1962, the bird was depicted in a circle, while the 1963 and 1995 versions omitted it. Some versions appear very dynamic due to the combination of short and long strokes, as if the falcon is being drawn in flight.
In 2004, the mascot bird was removed and replaced with the logo, which features a large acronym of the sports department, “AF.” The serif letters are arranged in a short staircase, read from top to bottom, and connect at the crossbar of “F.” They are presented in the brand’s blue-and-white colors.
What is Air Force Falcons?
Air Force Falcons is the sports division of the United States Air Force Academy, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and part of NCAA Division I. There are 10 women’s and 17 men’s teams that compete within the Mountain West Conference. The organization is also a member of various sports associations, including Atlantic Hockey, WAC, and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
1955 – 1956
1956 – 1999
1999 – 2005
2005 – 2018
2018 – 2020
2020 – today
Air Force Falcons Football
The Air Force Falcons university football team first appeared in 1955 and has competed continuously since then. It currently competes in the Mountain West Conference. Its most successful season was in 1985. The team plays at Falcon Stadium. The athletes’ coach is Troy Calhoun.