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wwTwfha.caeeebrBootoeekca.hcncoemow/nsT.ecaommM/maarrcchharb                          April 16-17, 2016                                                      3

U. S. Air Force Thunderbirds

   On May 25, 1953, the Air Force’s offi-                                              86$LUIRUFHSKRWR7HFK6JW0DWWKHZ6PLWK
cial air demonstration team, designated
the 3600th Air Demonstration Unit, was     F-16A assigned to the Thunderbirds was     sists of 24 professionals in various air- thousands of Airmen serving at home
activated at Luke Air Force Base, Ari-     delivered to Nellis AFB on Jun. 22, 1982.
zona. The unit adopted the name “Thun-                                                craft maintenance specialties. During     and abroad.
derbirds,” influence in part by the strong     In 1997, the team performed 57 dem-     the 2016 season, its 63rd year, the team     Each year brings another opportu-
Native American culture and folklore       onstrations for more than 12 million       will perform 71 demonstrations in 39
from the southwestern United States.       people in the spirit and theme of the Air  locations and spend approximately 170     nity for the team to represent those who
                                           Force’s 50th anniversary.                  days on the road.                         deserve the most credit: the everyday,
   Seven officers and 22 enlisted were                                                                                           hard-working Airmen voluntarily serv-
selected for the first demonstration           Since the team’s inception, 343 offi-       Millions of people have witnessed      ing America and defending freedom.
team. From these humble beginnings         cers have worn the distinguished emblem    the Thunderbirds demonstrations, and
and this group of men, the Air Force       of “America’s Ambassadors in blue.”
Thunderbird legend was born.                                                          in turn, they’ve seen the pride, profes- For more about the Thunderbirds,
                                              The Thunderbirds Show Line con-
   The team flew and maintained the                                                    sionalism and dedication of hundreds of visit www.afthunderbirds.com.
F84G Thunderjet. The straight-wing
configuration of the F-84G was consid-
ered well suited for aerobatic and dem-
onstration maneuvers.

   Always trying to display the most
advanced fighters of the age, the swept-
wing F-84F Thunderstreak became the
team’s new aircraft in 1955.

   After one season in the F-84F Thun-
derstreak, the Thunderbirds traded air-
craft again and became the world’s first
supersonic aerial demonstration team
as it transitioned to the F-100C Super
Sabre in 1956. That same year, to sim-
plify logistics and maintenance for the
aircraft, the team moved to Nellis AFB,
Nevada.

   Nearly forgotten, the F-105B Thun-
derchief performed only six shows. Fol-
lowing an unfortunate accident in the
F-105, the team transitioned back to the
Super Sabre and the F-100 remained
with them for nearly 13 years.

   In the spring of 1969, the team re-
ceived the first of the new McDonnell
Douglas F4-E Phantom IIs. In 1974, a
spreading fuel crisis inspired a new air-
craft for the team, the T-38A Talon.

   Remaining true to its character to
showcase the latest advancement in
America’s fighter technology, the first

86$LUIRUFHSKRWR6HQLRU$LUPDQ-DVRQ&RXLOODUG                                    86$LUIRUFHSKRWR7HFK6JW&KULVWRSKHU%RLW]
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