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USAF Thunderbirds release 2005 schedule

December 15, 2004 (by Lieven Dewitte) - The USAF Thunderbirds announced the 2005 air show schedule. The team is scheduled to perform more than 70 public shows in 29 states, Canada and Central America.

Thunderbirds going vertical [USAF photo]

The USAF Thunderbirds 2005 schedule:

March 2005
19 and 20 - Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

April 2005
2 and 3 - Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz.
9 and 10 - MacDill AFB, Fla.
16 - Laughlin AFB, Texas
17 - Holloman AFB, N.M.
23 - Shaw AFB, S.C.
24 - Patrick AFB, Fla.
30 - Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

May 2005
1 - Ft Lauderdale, Fla.
7 and 8 - Rochester, N.Y.
14 and 15 - Langley AFB, Va.
20 and 22 - Andrews AFB, Md.
28 and 29 - Wantagh, N.Y.

June 2005
1 - U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
4 - Peterson AFB, Colo.
5 - Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
11 and 12 - Smyrna, Tenn.
18 and 19 - Lacrosse, Wis.
25 and 26 - Davenport, Iowa

July 2005
2 - Tinker AFB, Okla.
3 and 4 - Battle Creek , Mich.
9 and 10 - Pittsburgh
16 and 17 - Dayton, Ohio
23 and 24 - Terre Haute, Ind.
27 - Cheyenne, Wyo.
30 and 31 - McChord AFB, Wash.

August 2005
13 and 14 - Abbotsford, British Columbia
20 and 21 - Chicago
27 and 28 - Westfield, Mass.
30 and 31 - Atlantic City, N.J.

September 2005
3 and 5 - Cleveland
10 and 11 - Portland, ORE.
16 and 17 - Reno, Nev.
18 - Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
24 and 25 - Forth Worth, Texas

October 2005
1 and 2 - Salinas, Calif.
8 and 9 - Little Rock AFB, Ark.
15 and 16 - Travis AFB, Calif.
22 and 23 - Naval Air Station-Joint Reserve Base New Orleans
26 - La Aurora, Guatemala
29 and 30 - Ilopango Air Base, San Salvador

November 2005
2 - Acapulco, Mexico
5 and 6 - Randolph AFB, Texas
12 and 13 - 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.


Additional images:

USAF Thunderbirds 2004 flag panel photographed at Dover AFB on May 16th, 2004. [Photo by Mike Boyd]

'The mirror' displayed by Thunderbirds 5 & 6 at Selfridge ANGB, Michigan on July 26th, 2003 [Photo by Jon Somerville]