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Thunderbirds fly for recertification at Ellsworth AFB
October 9, 2003 (by
Lieven Dewitte) -
The five F-16s of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds team flew for about a half-hour Wednesday at Ellsworth Air Force Base to gain recertification after a Sept. 14 accident.
The Air Force requires the Viper pilots to become recertified for air show performances by flying a mix of group formation demonstrations and solo routines.
The flight is Ellsworth Air Force Base because the general who is responsible for re-certifying the team is visiting. General Hal Hornburg is the commander of Air Combat Command. He is the only person who can approve the Thunderbirds' return to demonstration duty.
The Sept. 14 mishap, at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho, involved a sixth F-16 and its pilot. Because the incident remains under investigation the pilot is not allowed to fly.
The team has not flown publicly since the accident, but the remaining five pilots began practicing five days after the accident. Hornburg granted the team recertification Wednesday, and the Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform this weekend at Fort Smith, Ark.
The public was not allowed on base to view Wednesday's demonstration flights, and they are not allowed at the annual recertification demonstration held each March.
The Thunderbirds are stationed at Nellis AFB Nevada., just outside of Las Vegas.
The flight is Ellsworth Air Force Base because the general who is responsible for re-certifying the team is visiting. General Hal Hornburg is the commander of Air Combat Command. He is the only person who can approve the Thunderbirds' return to demonstration duty.
The Sept. 14 mishap, at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho, involved a sixth F-16 and its pilot. Because the incident remains under investigation the pilot is not allowed to fly.
The team has not flown publicly since the accident, but the remaining five pilots began practicing five days after the accident. Hornburg granted the team recertification Wednesday, and the Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform this weekend at Fort Smith, Ark.
The public was not allowed on base to view Wednesday's demonstration flights, and they are not allowed at the annual recertification demonstration held each March.
The Thunderbirds are stationed at Nellis AFB Nevada., just outside of Las Vegas.
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- Thunderbirds on hold after crash (2003-09-17)
- Thunderbird crashes at Idaho air show (2003-09-15)
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