Ken Middleton Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Thunderbirds' first female pilot announced with new 2006 pilots 06/16/2005 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (ACCNS) - The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, "Thunderbirds," have announced their new pilots for the 2006 demonstration season which includes the first female demonstration pilot in the 52 year history of the Thunderbirds. Leading the team as Thunderbird no. 1, commander/leader, will be Lt. Col. Kevin Robbins, currently assigned to Air Force Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Joining the Thunderbirds in the no. 3 right wing position will be Capt. Nicole Malachowski, currently assigned to the 494th Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom. Captain Malachowski will turn a new page in history as the first female demonstration pilot on a U.S. military high performance jet team. The 2006 no. 6 pilot, flying the opposing solo position, will be Capt. Ed Casey, currently assigned to the 56th Training Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. The new advance pilot/narrator, Thunderbird no. 8, the voice of the Thunderbirds, will be Capt. Tad Clark, currently assigned to the 52nd Operations Support Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Returning members of the 2005 team who will round out the 2006 team include: Maj. Rusty Keen, Thunderbird No. 2, left wing; Maj. Steve Horton, Thunderbird No. 4, Slot; Maj. Brian Farrar, Thunderbird No. 5, lead solo; Maj. Jeremy Sloane, Thunderbird No. 7, Operations Officer; Capt. Todd Randolph, Thunderbird No. 10, Executive Officer; and Capt. Angela Johnson, Thunderbird No. 12, Public Affairs Officer. The team is also in the process of interviewing a new Thunderbird No. 9, the Flight Surgeon and a new Thunderbird No. 11, the Maintenance Officer. The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron is an Air Combat Command unit comprised of eight pilots (including six demonstration pilots), four support officers, four civilians and about 120 enlisted Airmen performing in more than 29 career specialties. A Thunderbirds' demonstration is a mix of six aircraft, performing formation flying and solo routines. The four-aircraft diamond formation demonstrates the training and precision of Air Force pilots, while the solos highlight the maximum capabilities of the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon. The team's first performance was June 8, 1953 at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Since then, the Thunderbirds have flown before more than 310 million people at 3,944 air demonstrations in all 50 states and more than 60 foreign countries. Link to post Share on other sites
Les / Creative Edge Photo Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Good for her. Hey if females can fight in war, they should be able to fly in demo teams. Recently (2001) the Snowbirds had a female demo pilot, Captain Maryse Carmichael. Link to post Share on other sites
Koen L Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Just wondering, is it normall to have non-F-16 pilots in the Thunderbirds? Link to post Share on other sites
boom175 Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Oh Yeah, they just have to have tactical jet time. i.e. F-15, F-16 A-10 etc... Link to post Share on other sites
Chappie Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Excellent! Chappie Link to post Share on other sites
Gunner Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Certainly a good thing, something that has come of age and one doesn't get an assignment like that as a PR move. I commend the Air Force. (betcha didn't think you'd hear that out of me) I wonder how long it will take Navy to follow? The Blue Angels do have some female ground crew. Link to post Share on other sites
weegie602 Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Well guess that makes them true to their name then?. The Thunderbirds have a true Thunder-Bird!!! weegie apologies in advance to all female members (including the wife biltongbabe) Link to post Share on other sites
strikeeagle48 Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Good on her,I wish her all the very best and good luck. She's also a 494th Mudhen jock!! Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Middleton Posted June 16, 2005 Author Share Posted June 16, 2005 I'm proud that no one wondered what she looked like.... Here Link to post Share on other sites
Matt Shropshire Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 I'm proud that no one wondered what she looked like....Here It's still early Ken and thak you for the pic. Link to post Share on other sites
The_Animal Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 SSSSSSSSIZZZZZZZLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEE...JDAMMMMMM!!!!!! Is it getting hot in here??? ;) Must be all the single guys drooling and panting. Someone open a window! Link to post Share on other sites
Gunner Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Not shabby - reminds me a little of Dana Delaney from China Beach. Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Kethan Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Not shabby - reminds me a little of Dana Delaney from China Beach. Ahhhh.. Dana Delaney..... One of my favorite women! I especially liked her in Tombstone. 'Bout time one of the demo teams got a female. I've never supported women in combat, but I sure think it's time for women in the Blues and T'Birds. Link to post Share on other sites
Gunner Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Chris - In that case check my post on Best Girl in Test Club. I think females are certainly capable to act in a combat role, I just think its much worse on them if captured. Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 I'm proud that no one wondered what she looked like....Here It's still early Ken and thak you for the pic. yeah - you didn't give me time to get home from work! Link to post Share on other sites
Waco Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Must be all the single guys drooling and panting. Save your breath. Took less than 2.2 seconds for me to recognize THAT female fighter pilot...former classmate from the Colorado school for wayward youth. The face is the same, but the last name has changed. Married now, as I'd heard. Also believe she was among some of the E-model crew who've been in town for WSEP and DACT with Raptors over the last year. Good accomplishment for her, I'm sure. -Waco Link to post Share on other sites
Chorse6 Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Waco, Not to get to personal or start a riot, but do I note a tinge of friction? Link to post Share on other sites
Waco Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 (edited) Nope, no friction here. Just throwing ice water on the over-zealous bachelors is all... Perhaps a Catherine Bell pic post would help? Edited June 17, 2005 by Waco Link to post Share on other sites
General Grievous Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 af.mil blocks connections from Brazil. :o What USAF has against us? GG Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Very Cool !!! Gregg Link to post Share on other sites
The_Animal Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Nope, no friction here. Just throwing ice water on the over-zealous bachelors is all... Perhaps a Catherine Bell pic post would help? Well, Waco, Lucky me...I'm out of the "dating game" too. Happily tied down. Just making fun of the single guys who are still ruffling their feathers hoping to land a look. ;) Just kidding, all ya single guys. :) We know you're all still looking at that Norweigan F-16 pilot. :P Link to post Share on other sites
Lance Pawlik Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Also notice Ed Casey, the 2002-03 Viper East demo pilot. Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Must be all the single guys drooling and panting. Save your breath. Took less than 2.2 seconds for me to recognize THAT female fighter pilot...former classmate from the Colorado school for wayward youth. The face is the same, but the last name has changed. Married now, as I'd heard. Also believe she was among some of the E-model crew who've been in town for WSEP and DACT with Raptors over the last year. Good accomplishment for her, I'm sure. -Waco Interestingly, one of the Air Force "lost souls" up here also suspected she was a classmate. Link to post Share on other sites
ThePhantomTwo Posted June 18, 2005 Share Posted June 18, 2005 A salute and thumbs up to her and also to the new team members,both officer and enlisted Link to post Share on other sites
dragon Posted June 18, 2005 Share Posted June 18, 2005 This is the year for "fast women". You can guess that somewhere there is a talk show producer trying to schedule Danica Patrick, Eileen M. Collins, and Nicole Melachowski in the studio at the same time. Link to post Share on other sites
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