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SOME OF MY BEST SHOTS FROM 2005

CRASCA

By CRASCA,
in Real Aviation

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CRASCA

CRASCA

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Feeling "withdrawl" from airshows, I decided to post a few of my "better" shots from the 2005 season. THis particular show was three days after I had gotten my digital rebel, so they're not the best.

Enjoy, Craig

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Chappie

Chappie

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Great Thunderbird pics. They were a huge disappointment at the Saturday show at Andrews in '05. They sat at EOR for 30 minutes, #3 broke, they took-off three ship, flew a shortened show, and basically seemed off. Even my wife (veteran of about 5 or 6 shows with me since '90) said their timing looked off.

Hopefully they'll pick it up again in '06. We'll be heading to Langley this year.

Chappie

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RipVW

RipVW

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The T-Birds haven't even posted their 2006 schedule yet!!!

Everyone else has . . . . Hummmmm.

- Rip -

BTW - Nice shots Craig - Thanks for sharing!

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CRASCA

CRASCA

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Gents,

Thanks for the compliments!

Yeah, it was alittle dissapointing. I think this was only their second show of the year, and they flew with 5. Seems I remember reading somewhere that the sixth guy was having health problems and eventually had to be replaced. Still, the worst day of airshow is better than the best day of work! I watched them practice on the Friday before, and one of the jets had to land early due to hydraulic problems.

Check out my other two posts. I also made it to a couple Blue Angels shows, and they had their share of problems as well, but still really cool to see. Plus, I was learning the camera and improving.

Enjy them guys!

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RipVW

RipVW

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RS -

Thanks for the link - For some reason, my link to Nellis only brings up the 2005 schedule. I'll delete it and reset it and see if I can get the update.

Two disappointing notes:

1. - No Arizona Airshows this year - Rats!

2. - It looks like the first female selected for the birds didn't make the cut. I don't see her on the 2006 team list.

ATB -

- Rip -

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  • 2 weeks later...
Ken Middleton

Ken Middleton

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2. - It looks like the first female selected for the birds didn't make the cut. I don't see her on the 2006 team list.

ATB -

- Rip -

Rip - I think the page was not up to date

By Capt. Angela Johnson

Thunderbird Public Affairs

01/26/2006 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (ACCNS) - The United States Air

Force Air Demonstration Squadron will complete a historic season in

2006. The team will perform more than 70 demonstrations in 27 states. It

will also be making history with the first female demonstration team

pilot in the United States.

Capt. Nicole Malachowski from Las Vegas, Nev., will be flying in the

number three position as the right wing and will help the team to

represent the more than 530,000 Airmen throughout the U.S.

In preparing for the upcoming season, the team is also looking to hire

seven new officers for the 2007-2008 seasons. Each January, the team

solicits applications for new officers. This year, there are seven

positions opening: three demonstration pilots, an operations officer,

executive officer, maintenance officer and a public affairs officer.

Officers serve two years on the team in their position.

The demonstrations pilots perform aerial demonstration maneuvers to

exhibit the capabilities of high performance aircraft and supports Air

Force recruiting and retention programs. Applicants must be qualified

for aviation service and have a minimum of 1,000 hours of first pilot

and instructor pilot flying time in jet fighter or trainer aircraft and

have been qualified in fighter aircraft. They must also have not more

than 12 years of active commissioned service by Dec. 1.

The operations officer is the second in command and runs daily

operations and scheduling. This officer must be a major and serves as

safety observer and evaluator for air demonstrations, and flies

celebrity, media, and orientation flights. To be the operations officer,

applicants must be qualified for aviation service and have a minimum of

1,000 hours first pilot and instructor pilot flying time in jet fighter

or trainer aircraft and have been a qualified in fighter aircraft.

The executive officer supervises executive support, information

management, budget and personnel selections as well as manages overall

squadron operations. The exec also serves as the squadron commander

during the commander's frequent deployments. Applicants for this

position must be a pinned on captain by Nov. 1 and squadron section

commander or executive officer experience is desired.

The maintenance officer oversees approximately 90 aircraft maintainers

and is responsible for keeping the squadron's fleet of 11 F-16s mission

ready. To apply for this position, an officer must be fully qualified in

the 21A3 Air Force Specialty Code and a major or major select by Nov. 1.

The public affairs officer oversees the thunderbird publicity programs

and specialists to include photography, graphic arts, recruiting and

broadcasting. Applicants for this position must be a fully qualified

35P3 and a pinned on captain by Nov. 1.

Air Force officers interested in applying can contact the team's

executive officer at Nellis Air Force Base. For details on requirements

contact Capt. Todd Randolph at DSN 682-9584 or Tech. Sgt. Rebecca

McKlintock at DSN 682-2279.

The team is assigned to the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force base and made

up of eight pilots (six demonstration pilots), four support officers,

four civilians and more than 120 enlisted in 28 career fields. Between

March and November, the Thunderbirds average nearly 70 demonstrations,

keeping them on the road more than 220 days.

The Thunderbird diamond formation, flying an average distance between 18

inches and 3 feet apart, represents the skills and training of every

U.S. Air Force pilot.

Thunderbird solo pilots' job is to highlight the capabilities and max

perform the F-16C Fighting Falcon to the world.

Aircraft maintainers ensure the Thunderbirds' fleet of 11 F-16s are

mission capable and the pilots strap themselves into a safe and reliable

aircraft every time. Without their dedication, attention to detail and

long hours of preparing for the performance, the demonstration may not

be possible, said Maj. Sloane.

There are also 30 people behind the scenes supporting the Thunderbird

mission in operations, communications, administration, supply and public

affairs.

For more information, go to http://www.airforce.com/thunderbirds.

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