Thunderbirds fly into 2001 - air demonstration team - Brief Article

Airman, March, 2001

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nevada (AFPN) -- The Air Force Thunderbirds air demonstration team will launch into the air show season this month.

The Air Combat Command unit is composed of eight pilots (including six demonstration pilots), four support officers, four civilians and more than 100 enlisted people in more than 27 career specialties.

A Thunderbirds' aerial demonstration is a mix of formation flying and solo routines. The pilots perform approximately 30 maneuvers per demonstration. The entire show, including ground and air, runs about an hour and 15 minutes. The air show season lasts until November, with the winter months used to train new members.