Page 6 - Desert Lightning News Air Show Edition: Aviation Nation, April 5 – 6, 2025

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u.s. air Force demonstration squadron — thunderBirds
Mission
The U.S. Air Force Air Demon- stration Squadron, the Thunder- birds, performs precision aerial maneuvers demonstrating the ca- pabilities of Air Force high perfor- mance aircraft to people through- out the world.
The squadron exhibits the pro- fessional qualities the Air Force develops in the people who fly, maintain and support these air- craft.
Objectives of the squadron are:
• To support Air Force recruiting and retention programs
• To reinforce public confidence in the Air Force and to demon- strate to the public the profes- sional competence of Air Force members
• To strengthen morale and es- prit de corps among Air Force members
• To support Air Force community relations and people-to-people programs
• To represent the United States and its armed forces to foreign na- tions and to project international goodwill
The Team
The Thunderbirds squadron is an Air Combat Command unit composed of eight pilots (includ- ing six demonstration pilots), four support officers, three civilians and more than 130 enlisted personnel performing in 25 career fields.
A Thunderbirds air demonstra- tion 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 capabili- ties of the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
The pilots perform approximately 30 maneuvers in a demonstration. The entire show, including ground and air, runs about an hour and 15 minutes. The season lasts from March to November,
with the winter months used to train new members.
Officers serve a two-year assign- ment with the squadron, while enlisted personnel serve three to four. Replace-
ments must be trained for about half of the team each year, providing a constant mix of experience.
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Air Force photograph by Senior Airman Maria Umanzor Guzman
The United States Air Force Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds,” perform an aerobatic formation during the Thunder Over The Rock air show at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The Thunderbirds perform at various events around the world, showcasing their elite pilot skills and demonstrating the capabilities of the Air Force’s F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Air Force photograph by Senior Airman Josey Blades
Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Makenna Gott
An F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet assigned to the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” during the Aviation Nation 2022 air show at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Nov. 4, 2022. The Thunderbirds perform maneuvers that test and showcase what is required from every combat aviator.
Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Makenna Gott
Six F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets assigned to the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” during the Aviation Nation 2022 air show at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Nov. 4, 2022.
LEFT: The Thunderbirds perform in the Thunder Over The Rock air show at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The Thunderbirds team performs precision aerial maneuvers demonstrating the capabilities of Air Force high-performance aircraft to audiences worldwide.
Air Force photograph
The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, perform during the Frontiers in Flight Open House and Air Show \at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas.
See ThuNdErbirdS, on Page 8