A couple of weeks ago, I shared the story about the USAF Thunderbirds Meet and Greet with Civil Air Patrol cadets. As far as I know their exhibition would be the first time that they appeared during our Fargo Airsho (spelled correctly). As you might imagine, their two-day show features some of the best pilots the Air Force has at their disposal. Their precision flight demonstration is something to be seen.

The precision team’s beginnings go back to only six years after the Air Force itself was created. In 1953, Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona became the home of the precision Air Demonstration Unit as it was called then. Their name, “Thunderbirds”, drawn from the culture and Native American folklore of the greater southwestern United States. Their first demonstration flights were only about 15 minutes in length completing a series of formation aerobatics using the venerable F-84G aircraft. In 1956, the team moved from Arizona to Nellis Air Force Base at Las Vegas, Nevada where the team of pilots and mechanics still call home today.

Over the years, the team has flown the best aircraft that the Air Force has available. In 1982, they transitioned to the venerable F-16A. There were no demonstration shows that year as they became accustomed to their new equipment and since their 1983 show season, the F-16 remains their showcase aircraft.

The team consists of twelve officers, eight pilots fly the eight aircraft and the other four are support officers for medical, administrative, maintenance, and public affairs. Since the beginning in 1953 when there was seven officers and twenty-two enlisted staff, the team of support enlisted personnel now fills over 120 support positions in close to 30 career fields. On the show line itself, there are 24 professionals including two crew chief positions for each aircraft responsible for keeping each aircraft mission ready.

In 2019, their schedule consists of 35 shows, as of publication here, the team has only six more performances remaining in Puerto Rico, Georgia, Texas, Florida, and a final show on November 16-17 at Nellis AFB. A full schedule of 35 air shows is already on their calendar for 2020. Their 2019-2020 show calendar is here. From that link, you can navigate to the entire Thunderbirds web site. I would be remiss in not submitting a gallery of images captured the two days of the show in Fargo. As usual, if your browser supports the function, you can click on an image to enlarge it and scroll through the gallery.

John Steiner

The USAF Thunderbirds were in town for the Fargo Airsho (spelling correct), and a couple of the members of our Fargo Cadet Squadron did the advance “legwork” to arrange a “Meet and Greet” on the day before the performances began. Thanks to their forethought, cadets and senior members from squadrons in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota were able to visit with one of the Thunderbird pilots and some of the ground crew members. I must say, it was a thrill for this old man as well and I was glad to be in town when the meeting occurred. The image above features all of the CAP members in attendance as well as the Thunderbird crew members.

The meeting started with a briefing by Thunderbird Pilot Michael Brewer (above). At first we were kept back from the aircraft, as you can see in the photo above. They were prepping one of the birds to fly an honor flight. A staple with the Thunderbirds is to fly a home town hero as chosen by the host city. Fargo’s choice was Officer Matt Niemeyer, a police officer and Community Trust Officer. Niemeyer works with children in neighborhoods to build trust between the Police Department and youth. Once the area was prepped and safe for visitors, our group was allowed to get “up close and personal” with the fleet of F-16s. We watched the final procedures as they readied to launch the F-16 on the Hometown Hero Flight.

As you might expect, the attention to every detail is systematic. What surprised me is that they even went to the effort of placing the name of the Hometown Hero on the aircraft just below the cockpit canopy. Everyone watched the process of prepping the bird for flight.

With two aircraft support personnel in place, it’s a well choreographed dance that occurs as the pilot prepares to launch. I’ve been to many air shows over the years, but I’ve never been so close as to be able to see the preflight process in progress. The photo above wasn’t taken with a telephoto lens. We stood maybe less than 30 feet from the aircraft as it was readied for flight. A crew of 24 professionals tend to the mechanical and other aviation specialties for the duration of the show and its preparatory requirements.

Once the Hometown Hero flight launched, we were all invited to get close-up with the venerable F-16 jets. Ladders were set up on each side of the aircraft so that two guests could view in the cockpit and ask questions of one of the expert ground crew members. The questions came fast and furious and the team members answered them patiently. We were allowed all the time we needed to have everyone get their chance to look in the cockpit and ask any questions that came to mind.

There was plenty of time for everyone to get a photo with Captain Michael Brewer, including the old man, yours truly. Captain Brewer is a true war hero and veteran with over 315 combat hours over Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve. This year is his first year as a member of the precision flight team, pilot of Number 3 and flies the Right Wing position. After about an hour or so, the unmistakable sound of an F-16 filled the air. Hometown Hero Niemeyer and Operations Officer Lt. Col. Eric Gorney returned from their flight, announcing themselves with a fly-over. As they were returning, so it was also our time to say goodbye to the ground crews and Captain Brewer. The gallery of images below features images captured during our visit to the Thunderbirds flight line. As usual, most browsers will allow you to click on an image to enlarge it and scroll through the gallery.

John Steiner

Fargo, North Dakota.

Other than the blue sky, I could almost have left this image in color, and it would still have almost qualified as a “Monochrome Monday” photograph. The image above was captured at the Fargo Air Sho in 2015 where Miss Mitchell was a featured performer.

Miss Mitchell still flies and has an illustrious history serving in Italy and North Africa in World War II. This post is the confluence of three themes. One of the photo challenges I participate in on Facebook this week is #historic. Obviously, Miss Mitchell meets that criteria. It’s obviously Monday, so Monochrome Monday applies as I converted this image many months ago to monochrome via Lightroom. Finally, Ben Huberman’s Daily Post feature is “Shine“. The reflections on the nose of Miss Mitchell clearly demonstrate the shiny, highly reflective aluminum finish.

Some historical facts about Miss Mitchell include an unblemished wartime career with no fatalities in over 130 missions, an uncommon record. Built by North American Aviation, about 9,000 aircraft were built. Today, only about 30 survive, unlike Miss Mitchell, many no longer fly and live in museums around the country.

Powered by two 1,700 horsepower Wright R-2600 engines, the aircraft can climb to its service ceiling of 24,000 ft. (7315 m). A full load of fuel can carry Miss Mitchell 1,350 miles (2172 km) at a cruise speed of 230 mph (370 kph). Most of these facts were gleaned from the website maxair2air.com (more photos and details about Miss Mitchell can be found here.)

John Steiner