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USAF Thunderbirds Release 2004 Schedule

December 11, 2003 (by Kevin Coyne) - The USAF Thunderbirds announced the 2004 air show schedule. The team is scheduled to perform more than 65 shows in 22 states, Canada and Asia.

The USAF Thunderbirds during a display routine [USAF photo]

The 2004 schedule:

March 2004
27 and 28 - Punta Gorda, Fla.

April 2004
3 and 4 - Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
13 Indian Springs AFAF, Nev.
17 and 18 - Muskogee, Okl.
24 and 25 - March Air Reserve Base, Calif.

May 2004
1 and 2 - Millville, N.J.
8 and 9 - Lake City, Fla.
15 and 16 - Dover AFB, Del.
22 - Charleston AFB, S.C.
23 - Langley AFB, Va.
29 and 30 - Moffett Field, Calif.

June 2004
2 - USAF Academy, Col.
5 and 6 - Maxwell AFB, Ala.
12 and 13 - Hill AFB, Utah.
19 and 20 - North Kingston Air National Guard Base, R.I.
26 and 27 - Janesville, Wisc.

July 2004
3 and 4 - Kansas City, Mo.
10 and 11 - Binghampton, N.Y.
17 and 18 - Cold Lake, Alberta.
24 and 25 - Fairchild AFB, Wash.
28 - Cheyenne, Wyo.
31 - Greenfield, Ind.

August 2004
1 - Greenfield, Ind.
14 and 15 - Westover ARB, Mass.
21 and 22 - Offutt AFB, Neb.
28 and 29 - Toledo, Ohio.

September 2004
4 - Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
11 - Andersen Air Base, Guam.
14 - Kadena AB, Japan.
16 - Kunsan AB, South Korea.
19 - Osan AB, South Korea.
25 and 26 - Hyakuri AB, Japan.
30 - Misawa AB, Japan.

October 2004
3 - Hamamatsu AB, Japan.
9 and 10 - Redding, Calif.
16 and 17 - Houston.
23 and 24 - El Paso, Texas.
30 and 31 - Lafayette, La.

November 2004
6 - Camden, S.C.
7 - Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
13 and 14 - Nellis AFB, Nev.

The Thunderbirds squadron is an Air Combat Command unit composed of eight pilots (including six demonstration pilots), four support officers, three civilians and more than 130 enlisted personnel performing in 25 career fields.

A Thunderbirds air demonstration is a mix of formation flying and solo routines. The four-aircraft diamond formation demonstrates the training and precision of Air Force pilots, while the solo aircraft highlight the maximum capabilities of the F-16.

The pilots perform about 30 maneuvers during a demonstration. The entire show, including ground and air, runs about one hour and 15 minutes.

The air show season lasts from March to November, with the winter months used to train new members.