Thu, Jun 16, 2005
2006 Thunderbirds Team Named
US Air Force Air
Demonstration Squadron, “Thunderbirds,” officials
announced their new pilots for the 2006 demonstration season which
includes the first female demonstration pilot in the 52-year
history of the Thunderbirds.
Capt. Nicole Malachowski, of the 494th Fighter Squadron at Royal
Air Force Lakenheath, England, joins the team as the first female
demonstration pilot on any U.S. military high performance jet
team.
Lt. Col. Kevin Robbins, from the Air Force Weapons School at
Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and Capt. Ed Casey, of the 56th
Training Squadron at Luke AFB, Ariz., also were selected for two of
the demonstration pilot spots.
Returning demonstration pilots include Majs. Rusty Keen, Steve
Horton and Brian Farrar.
The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron is an Air Combat
Command unit comprising eight pilots, six of whom are demonstration
pilots; four support officers; four civilians; and about 120
enlisted Airmen 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 F-16 Fighting Falcon.
The team's first performance was June 8, 1953, at Luke. Since
then, the Thunderbirds have flown for more than 310 million people
at 3,944 air demonstrations in all 50 states and more than 60
foreign countries.
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