USAF THUNDERBIRDS

1
USAF THUNDERBIRDS

• 3600th Air Demonstration Squadron
• Nellis AFB, Nevada
• Cadet 4th Class Ashley Copes

2
Overview

• History and Background
• Selection Process and Job
• The Air Show

3
History and Background

• Officially activated 25 May 1953
• Luke AFB, AZ
• 3600th Air Demonstration Squadron
• Original Name
• Stardusters
• Only used during first six shows

4
History and Background

• Native American Legend
• Thunderbird was looked upon to grant victory in
  battle
• Air Force found it a better emblem

5
History and Background

• First Plane (1953-1955)
• F-84G Thunderjet
• First appearance 1 June 1953 at Nellis AFB,
  NV
• 1st public appearance 23 June 1953 in Cheyenne,
  WY
• Last used 7 February 1955 at Webb AFB, TX

6
History and Background

• Second plane
• F-84F Thunderstreak
• Only used for part of 1955

7
History and Background

• JUNE 1956
• Home of Thunderbirds relocates to Nellis AFB
• Simultaneous transition from F-84 series to
  F-100C Super Sabre

8
History and Background

• Fourth plane commissioned F-105B
  Thunderchief
• Only used for 6 shows

9
History and Background

• Fifth plane F-100D
• 13 years (minus stint with F-105) of F-100 jets
  performing as Thunderbirds

10
History and Background

• Sixth Plane (1969-1973) F-4E Phantom II

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History and Background

• Seventh Plane (1974-1983)
• T-38A Talon
• Switch made because of oil embargo
• First supersonic trainer aircraft used

12
History and Background

• Eighth Plane (1983-1992)
• F-16A (widely used in Operation Desert Storm)

13
History and Background

• Ninth Plane (1992-present) F-16C Fighting
  Falcon

14
History and Background

• Nearly 48 years of performance
• Every US State
• 57 Countries
• world-wide
• More than 3500
• demonstrations

• There has never been a show cancelled due to
  maintenance problems!

15
Selection Process and Job
Intense Competition with Multiple Phases

• Applicant
• Semi-Finalist
• Finalist
• The Job

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Selection Process and Job
Every Applicants Background is Intensely Reviewed

• Job Performance Record
• Communication Skills
• Appearance
• Written Recommendations

• A pilot must have a minimum of 1,000 flying hours
  in high-performance aircraft before applying.

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Selection Process and Job

• Semi-Finalist
• Deploys with the team
• Experiences travel conditions and rigorous
  demands of job

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Selection Process and Job

• Finalist
• Travels to Nellis AFB, NV
• Many personal interviews
• Extensive medical examinations

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Selection Process and Job

• If Chosen
• Officers are required to serve 2 years on the
  Thunderbird team
• Enlisted personnel are required to serve between
  3 and 4 years

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Selection Process and Job

• Pilots
• Incur 3 1/2 months of vigorous training
• Away from home for demonstrations 200-250
  days a year
• Each position is unique and NOT interchangeable
  with other pilots

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The Air Show

• Season lasts from March to November
• Winter season used to train new members

22
The Air Show

• Personnel Involved
• 8 Pilots (6 Demonstration)
• 4 Support Officers
• 3 Civilians
• 130 Enlisted Personnel

23
The Air Show

• 6 aircraft perform over 30 maneuvers
• F-16C Fighting Falcon
• Multi-role fighter (tactical bomber and/or
  air-to-air combat)
• Slightly modified for Thunderbird model
• Smoke-generating system in place of 20mm cannon
  in the rear
• Thunderbirds colors painted instead of normal
  gray/blue color

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The Air Show

• Begins with 4 aircraft taking-off in tight
  diamond-formation
• Continues with a series of different maneuvers

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The Air Show

• Tight Diamond Formation

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The Air Show

• Arrowhead Loop
• While in Arrowhead Formation, 4 planes roll as
  one unit
• High-speed rolls are also performed by the solo
  planes

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The Air Show

• Maximum Performance Turn
• 9 Gs acting upon pilots body (solo
  maneuver)
• 9 times pilots body weight while making a
  360-degree turn in a 3,000 foot radius

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The Air Show

• Tactical Surprise
• Solo pilot sneaks up to diamond formation at very
  high speed
• Solo pilot must be cautious not to break sound
  barrier!

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The Air Show

• Calypso Pass
• One plane inverts itself atop another plane

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The Air Show

• Cross-over
• Key idea Traveling at Very High Speeds

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The Air Show

• Each show consists of a series of maneuvers
  that every Air Force fighter pilot learns in his
  or her initial training. The only difference is
  that we fly them in tighter formation and closer
  to the ground. -SSgt. Charles Ramey

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The Air Show

• How close to each other do they fly?
• 18 to 3 between inner wing-tips
• How close to the ground are they?
• As low as 75 feet!

33
Conclusion

• Thunderbirds used 9 different aircraft, currently
  using F-16C.
• The selection process is difficult.
• The demonstration/air show is amazing with stunts
  that are not only difficult but very beautiful
  in their art.