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The USAF Thunderbirds |
[ United States Air Force ] |
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The United States Air
Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, performs precision aerial
maneuvers demonstrating the capabilities of Air Force high performance aircraft
to people throughout the world. The squadron exhibits the professional
qualities the Air Force develops in the people who fly, maintain and support
these aircraft.
The Thunderbirds will be starting their 2007 European
Tour at the Salthill Air Show,
click here to read the
Thunderbirds press release on their appearance at the Salthill Air Show
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Thunderbirds patch
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Thunderbirds in action
USAF Photo |
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| The Team |
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The
Thunderbirds squadron is composed of eight pilots (including six demonstration
pilots), four support officers, three civilians and more than 130 enlisted
personnel performing in 25 career fields.
A Thunderbirds air
demonstration is a mix of formation flying and solo routines. The four-aircraft
diamond formation demonstrates the training and precision of Air Force pilots,
while the solo aircraft highlight the maximum capabilities of the F-16.
The pilots perform approximately 30 maneuvers in a demonstration. The entire
show, including ground and air, runs about an hour and fifteen minutes. The
season lasts from March to November, with the winter months used to train new
members.
Officers serve a two-year assignment with the squadron, while
enlisted personnel serve three to four. Replacements must be trained for about
half of the team each year, providing a constant mix of experience.
The
squadron performs no more than 88 air demonstrations each year and has never
canceled a demonstration due to maintenance difficulty. More than 280 million
people in all 50 states and 57 foreign countries have seen the red, white and
blue jets in more than 3,500 aerial demonstrations.
2007
Pilots
Thunderbird No. 1: Lt. Col. Kevin Robbins (Commander/
Leader)
Thunderbird No. 2: Maj. Chris Austin (Left Wing
Position)
Thunderbird No. 3: Maj. Nicole Malachowski (Right Wing
Position)
Thunderbird No. 4: Maj. William Poteet (Slot Pilot)
Thunderbird No. 5: Maj. Ed Casey (Lead Solo Position)
Thunderbird
No. 6: Capt. Samantha Weeks (Opposing Solo Position)
Thunderbird No.
7: Maj. Robert Skelton (Operations Officer / Second in Command)
Thunderbird No. 8: Maj. Tad Clark (Advance Pilot and Narrator)
Thunderbird No. 9: Maj. (Dr.) Dan Mirski (Flight Surgeon)
Thunderbird No. 10: Capt. Amy Glisson (Executive Officer)
Thunderbird No. 11: Capt. Charles Ploetz (Maintenance Officer)
Thunderbird No. 12: Capt. Elizabeth Kreft (Public Affairs
Officer)
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| Extra Information |
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