Wonderbolts Academy

• The episode's overall story shares many parallels with the 1986 film Top Gun including a colt resembling Tom Skerritt's character Mike 'Viper' Metcalf.​[​specify​]​
• The scenes where Spitfire is talking to the (and going off on individual) trainees is a common allusion used by several "boot camp" scenes throughout television and film of the famous barrack scene from the 1987 film Full Metal Jacket.

Apple Family Reunion

• The "Pappy Pony" tongue twister is likely a reference to the well-known tongue twister Peter Piper.

Spike at Your Service