NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE: Officials from the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, “Thunderbirds,” here announced its 2010 airshow schedule.
The team’s 57th show season is scheduled to take them to more than 65 shows in 27 states and Canada.
Lt. Col. Case Cunningham will join the team as commander and leader for the team and fly the No. 1 position.
Other officers beginning their first season with the team are Thunderbird No. 3, Capt. Chad Shenk, right wing; Thunderbird No. 6, Capt. Aaron Jelinek, opposing solo; Thunderbird No. 8, Maj. John Gallemore, advance pilot and narrator; Thunderbird No. 9, Capt Thom Bowden, flight surgeon.
The new team members will join returning officers Thunderbird No. 2, Maj. John Baum, left wing; Thunderbird No. 4, Maj. Sean Gustafson, slot; Thunderbird No. 5, Maj. Rick Goodman, lead solo; Thunderbird No. 7, Lt. Col. Derek Routt, operations officer; Thunderbird No. 10, Capt. Petrina Hanson, executive officer; Thunderbird No. 11, Maj. David Lemery, maintenance officer; Thunderbird No. 12, Capt. Jason McCree.
The Thunderbirds, originally known as the 3600th Air Demonstration Unit out of Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., was activated May 25, 1953.
The demonstration squadron is an Air Combat Command unit composed of eight pilots, including six demonstration pilots, four support officers, four civilians and about 110 enlisted people performing in more than 29 Air Force specialties.
The Thunderbirds’ aerial demonstration is a mix of formation flying and solo routines. The pilots perform about 40 maneuvers in a demonstration. The entire show, including ground and air, runs about one hour. The airshow season lasts from March to November, with the winter months used to train new members.
“We are humbled to have the opportunity to travel the U.S and Canada this year, representing the 700,000 Airmen in America’s Air Force,” Captain McCree said.
The Thunderbirds’ 2010 schedule is as follows:
March
20 and 21: Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz.
27 and 28: Maxwell AFB, Ala.
April
10 and 11: Eglin AFB, Fla.
17 and 18: Lakeland, Fla.
24 and 25: Barksdale AFB, La.
May
1: Dyess AFB, Texas
2: Altus AFB, Okla.
8 and 9: Shaw AFB, S.C.
15 and 16: Columbus AFB, Miss.
22: Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
26: U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
29 and 30: Janesville, Wis.
June
5 and 6: Ocean City, Md.
12 and 13: Quebec City, Canada
19 and 20: Tinker AFB, Okla.
26 and 27: North Kingstown, R.I.
July
10 and 11: Gary, Ind.
17 and 18: Duluth, Minn.
21: Cheyenne, Wyo.
24 and 25: Fairchild AFB, Wash.
Jul 31 and Aug 1: Rockford, Ill.
August
7 and 8: Moffett Field, Calif.
14 and 15: Abbotsford, Canada
21 and 22: Westfield, Mass.
25: Atlantic City, N.J.
28 and 29: Brooklyn (Coney Island), N.Y.
September
4 and 5: Martinsburg, W.V.
11 and 12: Coraopolis (Pittsburgh), Pa.
18 and 19: Whiteman AFB, Mo.
25 and 26: McConnell AFB, Kan.
October
2 and 3: Salinas, Calif.
9 and 10: Little Rock AFB, Ark.
16 and 17: El Paso, Texas
23 and 24: Houston
30 and 31: Cocoa Beach, Fla.
November
6 and 7: Lackland AFB, Texas
13 and 14: Nellis AFB, Nev.
