**-The aerial tricks they do are technically illegal (unless they have licenses, which they don’t), but there’s pretty much an unpspoken exception for The Washouts. Their performances brought so many roaring fans that banning the Washouts from holding shows would actually cause a dent in Equestria’s economy. **
It’d be like preventing a famous pop star from singing. Not only would fans be outraged and hold pesky protests, if there’s no show, there’s no pay. As much as the “authorities” hate to admit it, the Washout shows do bring quite a good amount of income.
**-That being said though, when they say their tricks are illegal, they really mean… illegal. They use a lot of chemicals and acids as parts of their stunts. One member of the Washouts fell into the tub of acid after being knocked aside by a spinning obstacle, and his entire leg was practically burned off, right down to the bone. It took a lot of repairing and they eventually needed the princess’s magic to help in the medical process. The wound never really healed, though… his leg barely grows fur anymore and he still has the scars. It’s rumored that the acid was infused with magical particles, making it all the more powerful, and that’s why even the princesses had a hard time helping. He’s currently retired… for obvious reasons. **
-Many Washouts have come and gone. Not all have been ex-Wonderbolts, but a good majority of them are. Most retire from injuries, but the lucky few opt out of the job before it’s too late for them. Thankfully, no one’s died. That they know of.
-Rolling Thunder attended the Wonderbolt academy in Oatsralia. Unfortunately, she was given a dishonorable discharge from the school, due to endangering her life and that of many others. She was a reckless student, even for the Wonderbolts.
**-Lightning Dust is, as we know her, the stubborn, overly determined competitive pegasus with a craving to outperform everyone. Despite popular belief, Lightning Dust is actually a really amazing flyer. Like Thunder, though, she’s just very reckless. She barely even needs to try. Lightning didn’t come from a good home, and maybe that’s why she is the way she is. She never met her father, but all she was told about him was how “disappointed he’d be” in her. Apparently, she wasn’t good enough at anything when she was young, not even flying. That’s according to what the adults said, anyway. **