Thunderbirds Squadron ensign

The USAF Thunderbirds perform an echelon pass. While performing the pass the F-16 Fighting Falcons fly between 18 and 24 inches apart at an average speed of 400 mph.

The Thunderbirds are the Air Demonstration Squadron of the United States Air Force. As such they tour the United States and much of the world, performing aerobatic formation and solo flying in specially marked USAF jet aircraft. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x590, 109 KB)Thunderbirds Squadron ensign File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x590, 109 KB)Thunderbirds Squadron ensign File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (1100x785, 140 KB)Over MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida -- The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform an echelon pass here April 7, 2005. ... Download high resolution version (1100x785, 140 KB)Over MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida -- The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform an echelon pass here April 7, 2005. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerospace branch of the United States armed forces. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerospace branch of the United States armed forces. ...

History

The USAF Thunderbirds' F-16s precisely lined up on the ramp at Nellis AFB just prior to the team's last performance of 2004.

The Squadron was activated, after 6 months training in an unofficial status, on June 1, 1953 as the 3600th Air Demonstration Team at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. They flew their debut exhibition at Luke a week later, and began public exhibitions at the 1953 Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The team had flown 26 shows by that August. The first team leader was Maj. Gen. Dick Catledge, and the first plane flown by the squadron was the F-84 Thunderjet. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1000x439, 555 KB) Summary The USAF Thunderbirds F-16s precisely lined up on the ramp at Nellis AFB just prior to the teams last performance of 2004. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1000x439, 555 KB) Summary The USAF Thunderbirds F-16s precisely lined up on the ramp at Nellis AFB just prior to the teams last performance of 2004. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1953: Events The first year in which the worlds airlines carried more than 50 million people (ICAO statement, 29 December) January January 26 - The first meeting of the Experimental Aircraft Association takes place at Milwaukee, Wisconsins Curtis-Wright Field. ... Luke Air Force Base, Arizona is a large Luke beacuse he is Americas idle. ... Official language(s) English Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 6th 295,254 km² 500 km 645 km 0. ... Motto: Nickname: Map Political Statistics Founded 1867 Incorporated County Laramie County Borough {{{borough}}} Parrish {{{parrish}}} Mayor Jack R. Spiker Geographic Statistics Area  - Total  - Land  - Water 57. ... F-84G Thunderjet F-84F Thundersteak flown by USAF Thunderbirds The F-84 Thunderjet was an American built fighter-bomber aircraft made by the Republic Aviation Company. ...

The next year the Thunderbirds performed their first overseas air shows, in a tour of South America. A year later, 1955, they moved to the F-84F Thunderstreak aircraft, in which they performed 91 air shows. South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1955: Events February February 26 - George F. Smith becomes the first person to survive a supersonic ejection, from a North American F-100 Super Sabre travelling (Mach 1. ... F-84G Thunderjet F-84F Thundersteak flown by USAF Thunderbirds The F-84 Thunderjet was an American built fighter-bomber aircraft made by the Republic Aviation Company. ...

The aircraft of the squadron was again changed in June, 1956, this time to the F-100 Super Sabre, which gave the pilots supersonic capability. This switch was accompanied by a move of headquarters to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada on June 1 with their first show after the move being held on June 23. It also signaled a shift in their performance routine—for example, the Cuban 8 opening routine was dropped, and emphasis was placed on low, screaming flyovers and demonstrations of takeoff performance. For a time, if the show's sponsor permitted it, the pilots would create a "sonic boom." (This ended when the FAA banned supersonic flight over the continental U.S.) This is a list of aviation-related events from 1956: Events March March 10 - Lt Cdr Peter Twiss sets a new airspeed record in the Fairey Delta FD.2, also becoming the first person to exceed 1,000 mph. ... F-100A Super Sabre The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a jet fighter aircraft that served with the USAF from 1954 to 1971 and with the ANG until 1979. ... Map showing the locations of Nellis AFB and the NAFR Nellis Air Force Base (IATA: LSV, ICAO: KLSV) is a United States Air Force base, located in Clark County, Nevada, on the northeast side of Las Vegas. ... Official language(s) None Capital Carson City Largest city Las Vegas Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 7th 286,367 km² 519 km 788 km 0. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... June 23 is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 191 days remaining. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Supersonic. ... The Federal Aviation Administration is the entity of the United States government which regulates and oversees all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S. // Activities Along with the European Joint Aviation Authorities, the FAA is one of the two main agencies worldwide responsible for the certification of new aircraft. ...

In 1960 a decision was made to allow the tail vertical stabilizer of the slot plane, black from exhaust of the other planes, to remain black. (Contrary to rumor, the stabilizer has never been painted black.) In 1961, the team was compelled to discontinue the vertical bank maneuver due to an FAA regulation prohibiting aerobatics that pointed the nose of the aircraft toward the crowd. 1962 saw the introduction of dual solo routines, and the Thunderbirds went on their first European deployment in 1963, the year after the disbanding of the "Skyblazers" (see below). The team switched to the F-105 Thunderchief for a brief period, but returned to the F-100 in 1964 after only six airshows, following Capt. Gene Devlin's death resulting from structural failure of the aircraft in a high-G climbing maneuver. This is a list of aviation-related events from 1960: Events January January 1 - Fiji Airways is reconstituted, becoming equally owned by BOAC, QANTAS, and Tasman Empire Airways. ... The vertical stabilizer or VST resides on the tail of an aircraft and generally sticks straight up. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1961: Events February February 3 - Operation Looking Glass commences, meaning that the US Air Force Strategic Air Command would have a permanent, airborne command post. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1962: Events January US Army CH-21 Shawnees are dispatched to Vietnam, the first US military aircraft to be deployed there January 10-11 - a B-52 Stratofortress is flown from Okinawa to Madrid, establishing a new distance record of 12... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1963: Events January January 7 - Aeroflot commences direct services between Moscow and Havana February February 14 - the Indian Air Force receives its first batch of Soviet fighters, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s March March 18 - the Dassault Balzac makes its first transitions... The Republic F-105 Thunderchief (commonly known as the Thud by its pilots) was a single-seat, supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1964: // Events February February 7 - The Canadian Golden Hawks aerobatic team is disbanded. ...

By 1967, the Thunderbirds had flown their 1,000th show. In 1969, the squadron adopted the F-4E Phantom, which it flew until 1973, switching to the T-38 Talon, mainly due to considerations of fuel efficiency (the team had been grounded for some time during the 1973 oil crisis). The switch to the T-38 also saw an alteration of the flight routine to exhibit the aircraft's maneuverability in tight turns. This is a list of aviation-related events from Canadian Golden Centennaires aerobatic team is formed and performs all year to celebrate the Canadian centennial year. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from Canadian Snowbirds aerobatic team is formed. ... F-4 re-directs here; for alternate uses, see F4 The F-4 Phantom II (simply F-4 Phantom after 1990) is a two-place (tandem), supersonic, long-range, all-weather fighter-bomber built by (originally McDonnell Aircraft Corporation) McDonnell Douglas Corporation. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1973: Events Icelandair established. ... The Northrop T-38 Talon is a US-built supersonic jet trainer for military pilots. ... Fuel efficiency relates the efficiency of converting energy contained in a carrier fuel to kinetic energy or work. ... At the height of the crisis in the United States, drivers of vehicles with odd numbered license plates were allowed to purchase gasoline only on odd-numbered days of the month, while drivers with even-numbers were limited to even-numbered days. ...

1982 saw another disaster for the Thunderbirds. On January 18, while practicing a line abreast loop, the leader delayed his pullout from the maneuver to such an extent that recovery was impossible. The entire diamond contacted the ground, killing all four pilots: Maj. Norm Lowry, leader, Capt. Willie Mays, Capt. Pete Peterson and Capt. Mark Melancon. The cause of the mishap whether pilot error or mechanical blockage of the flight controls, was never officially determined by the safety investigation board. The line abreast loop, which effectively denies forward visibility to the wingmen, was discontinued as a result of this mishap. This is a list of aviation-related events from 1982: Events January January 8 - the Airbus A300 is certified, becoming the first wide body airliner with cockpit accommodations for only two to be certified. ...

Conversion to F16's

In 1983 the team switched to the F-16 Fighting Falcon, which had been under consideration even before the "Diamond Crash." The team still flies the F-16, having switched from the A model to the F-16C in 1992. These are almost identical to current combat aircraft, the only difference being the replacement of the 20mm cannon with a smoke-generating system to create a white smoke trail. If necessary, the planes could be made combat-ready in less than 72 hours. This is a list of aviation-related events from 1983: Events January January 31 - the Ayres Turbo Thrush NEEDS cropduster plane officially joins the United States war on drugs. February February 1 - Boeing announces it will stop producing Boeing 727 airliners. ... F-16 Fighting Falcon over Iraq The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a modern multi-role jet fighter aircraft built in the United States. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1992: Events The European Commission approves three new regulations to liberalize air travel within the European Union. ...

In 1986, the Thunderbirds did a flyby for the rededication of the Statue of Liberty, which was viewed by tens of millions. They also performed the first American military demonstration in a Communist country when they did an air show in Beijing, China in 1987. Their 3,000th air show was performed in 1990. In 1996, the team participated in the Atlanta Olympics' opening ceremonies, which were viewed by an estimated 3.5 billion people worldwide. The squadron celebrated its 50th anniversary on June 1, 2003. In June 2005 the Thunderbirds accepted Capt. Nicole Malachowski as the squadron's first ever female pilot. This is a list of aviation-related events from 1986: Events January January 9 - the UK Defence Secretary, Michael Heseltine, resigns amidst a political furore over the future of Westland Helicopters. ... Statue of Liberty and Liberty Island Liberty Enlightening the World, known more commonly as the Statue of Liberty, is a statue given to the United States by France in the late 19th century, standing at Liberty Island in the mouth of the Hudson River in New York Harbor as a... Communism - Wikipedia /**/ @import /w/skins-1. ... (help· info) (IPA pei˩ tɕɪŋ˦), a city in northern China, is the capital of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1987: Events January January 1 - US Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphins and US Navy H-3 Sea Kings help rescue people trapped inside the Dupont Plaza hotel Puerto Rico after a fire there on New Years Eve January 7 - French... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1990: Events Pan American World Airways and Trans World Airlines, both in financial difficulty, transfer their coveted landing rights at London Heathrow Airport to American Airlines and United Airlines. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1996: Events February the T-6 Texan II is selected as the new primary trainer for the United States armed forces. ... Nickname: The Horizon City, Hotlanta, The Big Peach Official website: http://www. ... For months before the Olympic Games, runners relay the Olympic Flame from Olympia to the opening ceremony. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 2003: Events February 1The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates, killing all seven occupants. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 2005: // Events January January 29 - Nonstop flights between mainland China and Taiwan take off for the first time since 1949. ... Capt. ...

A nerve-tensing opposing pass performed by the USAF Thunderbirds opposing solos.

On August 20 2005, the Thunderbirds temporarily grounded themselves pending an investigation into a minor mid-air incident during the Chicago Air and Water show. During a diamond formation slow-roll pass, the tip of the missile rail on the right wing of the slot (#4) aircraft contacted the left stabilator of the right (#3) aircraft. A four-foot section of the missile rail snapped off, while the #3 aircraft sustained damage described by one of the Thunderbirds pilots as a "medium deep scratch" to the red paint of the stabilator. Amateur video showed the missile rail falling into the "safety box" on Lake Michigan away from boaters. While there were no injuries and the aircraft remained apparently flightworthy, the demonstration was immediately terminated, all aircraft returned to the Gary International Airport, and the Thunderbirds did not return for the second day of the Chicago show. The Right Winger (#3) was Maj. D. Chris Callahan, and the Slot position (#4) was flown by Maj. Steve Horton. Image File history File linksMetadata Airshowfan-dot-com--by-Bernardo-Malfitano--Image-of-USAF-Thunderbirds-3. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Airshowfan-dot-com--by-Bernardo-Malfitano--Image-of-USAF-Thunderbirds-3. ... August 20 is the 232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 2005: // Events January January 29 - Nonstop flights between mainland China and Taiwan take off for the first time since 1949. ... A glossary of terms used in relation to aircraft, in alphabetical order. ... Sunset on Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. ...

The Routine

Thunderbirds performing their signature "bomb burst" maneuver

The performers typically include six pilots, each flying one F-16. (A pilot that must stop flying part way through the airshow season is usually not replaced. From that point on the Thunderbirds will fly five-ship demonstrations until the end of the season). Download high resolution version (750x938, 17 KB)Thunderbirds bomb burst large File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (750x938, 17 KB)Thunderbirds bomb burst large File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

The team is split into "the Diamond" (Thunderbirds 1 through 4) and the Opposing Solos (Thunderbirds 5 and 6). Most of their display alternates between maneuvers performed by the diamond, and those performed by the solos. The diamond performs maneuvers in tight formation, usually at "lower" speeds, such as formation loops and barrel rolls or transitions from one formation to another. The opposing solos usually perform their maneuvers just under the speed of sound, and show off the capabilities of their individual F-16s by doing maneuver such as fast passes, slow passes, fast rolls, slow rolls, and very tight turns. Some of their maneuvers include both solo F-16s at once, such as opposing passes (where the solos fly towards each other in what appears to be a collision course, and seem to narrowly miss each other) and mirror formations (their two F-16s being flown back-to-back or belly-to-belly. In such formations, one Thunderbird must of course be inverted, and it is always Thunderbird number 5. In fact, the "5" on this aircraft is painted on upside down, and thus appears right-side-up for much of the routine). At the end of the routine, all six aircraft join in formation, forming the Delta. There is also an extra amount of humor regarding the inverted performance of Thunderbird Five: the pilots all wear tailored flight suits with their name and jet number embroidered on the left breast. The 5 is sewn inverted.

Lineage

Organized as 30th Aero Squadron on 13 Jun 1917. Demobilized on 14 Apr 1919. Reconstituted, and redesignated 30th Bombardment Squadron, on 24 Mar 1923. Activated on 24 Jun 1932. Redesignated: 30th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 6 Dec 1939; 30th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, on 28 Mar 1944. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944. Activated on 1 Apr 1944. Redesignated: 30th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 10 Aug 1948; 30th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, on 1 Jul 1961. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 Feb 1963. Consolidated (19 Sep 1965) with unit constituted as USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, and activated, on 13 Feb 1967. Organized on 25 Feb 1967.

Relationship to Other USAF Aerial Demonstration Teams

The first USAF jet-powered aerobatic demo team was the "Acrojets," performing early in 1949 with F-80Cs at the USAF Fighter School at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona. This team flew together until August 1950, when it was deactivated due to the American committment to the Korean War. Additionally, there was also a later USAFE "Acrojets" team in Germany, this one made up of USAF T-33 instructor pilots at Fürstenfeldbruck AB in the mid-1950's. The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first operational jet fighter used by the United States Army Air Force. ... Williams Air Force Base southeast of Mesa, Arizona was the leading pilot training facility of the United States Air Force. ... Official language(s) English Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 6th 295,254 km² 500 km 645 km 0. ... Overview map of the Korean War The Korean War, from June 25, 1950 to cease-fire on July 27, 1953 (the war has not ended officially), was a conflict between North Korea and South Korea. ... Categories: Stub | Commands of the U.S. Air Force ... Categories: Aircraft stubs | U.S. military trainer aircraft 1940-1949 ...

The "Skyblazers" were the USAF demonstration team representing the United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE) from the late 1940's through the 1950's. This team was formed in early 1949 by a group of 22d Fighter Squadron pilots from the 36th Fighter Wing at Fürstenfeldbruck AB in Germany. At this time they were flying Lockheed F-80B "Shooting Stars." The unit transitioned to the F-84E in 1950, the F-86F in 1955 and the F-100C in 1956. Unlike the Thunderbirds, the Skyblazers seldom appeared outside of the realm of USAFE operations in Europe. Categories: Stub | Commands of the U.S. Air Force ... Categories: Stub | Commands of the U.S. Air Force ... Fürstenfeldbruck is a town in Bavaria, Germany. ... The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first operational jet fighter used by the United States Army Air Force. ... The F-84 Thunderjet was an American built fighter-bomber aircraft made by the Republic Aviation Company. ... The first proposals for the North American Aviation F-86 Sabre were made in 1944, but construction was not begun until after World War II. Many elements of German jet design were implemented in the Sabre, after the American liberation troops captured a number of working Messerschmitt Me 262 experimental... The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a jet fighter aircraft that served with the USAF from 1954 to 1971 and with the ANG until 1979. ...

The Skyblazers were disbanded in January 1962 when their home squadron was rotated back to the United States and their assigned aircraft transitioned to the F-105 Thunderchief. The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was a single-seat, supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. ...

Image Gallery

USAF Thunderbirds flying the F-16 USAF Thunderbirds. ...	The USAF Thunderbirds form up into the Delta near the end of an airshow. Image File history File linksMetadata Airshowfan-dot-com--by-Bernardo-Malfitano--Image-of-USAF-Thunderbirds-1. ...	The USAF Thunderbirds start their routine at Moffett Field's 2004 airshow the way they start every routine - with a sneak pass, overhead from behind. Image File history File linksMetadata Airshowfan-dot-com--by-Bernardo-Malfitano--Image-of-USAF-Thunderbirds-2. ...	The USAF Thunderbirds opposing solos fly two mirror formations. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (700x895, 572 KB) Summary The USAF Thunderbirds opposing solos fly two mirror formations. ...
A USAF Thunderbird taxis out just before the demo at Edwards AFB's 2003 airshow. Image File history File linksMetadata Airshowfan-dot-com--by-Bernardo-Malfitano--Image-of-USAF-Thunderbirds-5. ...	A USAF Thunderbird performs a sneak pass at high speed and full afterburner at the Nellis airshow, 2004. Image File history File linksMetadata Airshowfan-dot-com--by-Bernardo-Malfitano--Image-of-USAF-Thunderbirds-6. ...	The USAF Thunderbirds diamond performs a loop while in tight formation, at the Nellis AFB 2004 airshow. Image File history File linksMetadata Airshowfan-dot-com--by-Bernardo-Malfitano--Image-of-USAF-Thunderbirds-7. ...

External links

• Thunderbirds' official website
• Skyblazers history page
• USAF Museum link for USAF aerial demonstration teams