Second in Line

Decided to do a sequel to this . Though it's hard to see in a black and white sketch, this is meant to be Soarin' showing off the next major evolution in the uniform of the 22nd Cloudsdale 'Wonderbolts'.

Headcanon Time:
As Equestria's neighbours settle down, the need for a standing army falls away. As the size of the army is reduced, the remaining regiments become more ceremonial in function, and as they do so too does their uniform become more gaudy. Advancements in metalurgy allow the regiment's pegasi to bear full metal armour in the air for the first time, but it is enamelled blue and affixed with a similarly coloured cape, as a tribute to the tabards worn by their predecessors. Their helmets remain more or less the same, but officers now wear a horsehair crest (often made with the officer's own mane and tail trimmings) which, more through luck than anything else, strongly resembles the characteristic windswept manestyle modern Wonderbolt members tend to develop. As before, gold bands around the rear shoes indicate rank.

I plan to do an inked and coloured version of this one, and I envisage one more version between this and what we see in the show. I've got a pretty good idea what it would look like, but what about you? What do you think an intermediary between this uniform and the modern uniform should look like?