Free Republic

You probably can expect a "woke" campaign that will demand the U.S. Air Force rename its Thunderbirds exhibition flying team, those pilots who take America's jets into the skies and fly wingtip to wingtip at hundreds of miles per hour to promote the nation's military expertise. That's according to an editorial in the Denver Gazette, which recently highlighted the fact that the Thunderbirds were providing an aerial demonstration flyover, as they usually do, at the graduation at the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. It explains that Colorado has created a commission to banish such names from the state....

Salute to America this Independence Day. https://twitter.com/Scavino45/status/1279568154600124416   

The US Navy Blue Angels and US Air Force Thunderbirds performed a very rare joint flyover above New York City, Trenton, Newark, and Philadelphia on April 28, 2020 to honor health care and essential workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.The teams departed from NAS Pensacola in Florida and were refueling mid-flight by four KC-10 Extenders before returning back to Pensacola.Flyovers will continue around the country under the name Operation America Strong. https://youtu.be/1JESy0CnYPw 

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds have released a map that shows the route they and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will follow for a flyover on Tuesday, April 28. The “America Strong” flyover by the military precision flying teams is meant to be a salute to health care workers during the coronavirus pandemic and a sign of national unity. The flyover begins at Joint Base Maguire-Dix-Lakehurst at 1:45 then goes over Levittown and Trenton before heading south for three loops over the Philadelphia region around 1:55 p.m. The flyover then heads south over Wilmington at 2:15 p.m. President Trump announced...

In the coronavirus task force briefing Wednesday, President Trump said that the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds would be doing flyovers of major American cities in honor of "American medical workers" — and that on July Fourth he would bring back the Independence Day celebration held last year on the National Mall. "I'm excited to announce that in the coming weeks, the Air Force Thunderbirds – are incredible – and the Navy Blue Angels, equally incredible, will be performing air shows over America's major cities," Trump said. "What we're doing is we're paying tribute to our...

Air Force Thunderbirds to Join Royal Air Force Red Arrows, F-35s & F-22s in Historic Aerial Parade over the Hudson River Six F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft from the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, will join the Royal Air Force Red Arrows, a formation of F-35A Lightning IIs and a formation of F-22 Raptors during an aerial parade over the Hudson River at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 22, 2019. Viewers can expect to see multiple iconic aircraft formations flying by the Manhattan skyline in a sequenced display of teamwork and airmanship. A 6-ship Thunderbird Delta...

Link only.

An Air Force F-16 jet crashed Wednesday at Nellis Air Force Base outside of Las Vegas, defense officials told Fox News. The status of the pilot, or pilots, was not immediately clear. In a statement, the Air Force said, “Emergency responders are on the scene. As soon as additional details become available, they will be provided. The accident is under investigation." The jet crashed around 10:30 a.m. during routine training at Nevada Test and Training Range, officials said.

The U.S. Air Force is grieving the loss of one of its own after a Thunderbirds training flight went tragically wrong. A Thunderbird pilot crashed during a demonstration at Nellis Air Force Base just outside of Las Vegas. The team says it was a routine flight and are now looking into what could have caused the crash. The accident came just a few days before the team was scheduled to perform at the March Field Air & Space Expo at March Air Reserve Base in California. In light of the tragedy, the performance has been canceled.

The commander of the Air Force Thunderbirds has been relieved of command due to loss of confidence in his leadership, the service announced. With the season complete, Brig. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt, 57th Wing commander, relieved Lt. Col. Jason Heard of overseeing the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, Air Combat Command said in a release.

DAYTON, Ohio -- A military plane that was practicing for an air show in heavy fog has crashed at an airport in Ohio, officials said Friday. CBS affiliate WHIO-TV reports an F-16 Thunderbird crashed and overturned shortly before 1 p.m. at the end of a runway at Dayton International Airport. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds confirmed crew members were "conducting a familiarization flight" and "there was a mishap upon landing."

UPDATE @ 2:38 p.m. From Thunderbirds Facebook page: “The United States Air Force Thunderbirds were conducting a single-ship familiarization flight on Friday June 23, 2017. Upon landing there was a mishap at the Dayton International Airport with an F-16D Fighting Falcon at approximately 12:20 p.m. Emergency services are on the scene. We will provide more information as it becomes available.”

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – A plane is on its top at the Dayton International Airport. The incident happened shortly before 12:30 pm at the Dayton International Airport where aircraft and crews are practicing for the Vectren Dayton Air Show. The Thunderbirds posted a statement on Twitter about the incident: USAF Thunderbirds were conducting a familiarization flight June 23. There was a mishap upon landing at 12:20 p.m. More info to come. — Thunderbirds (@AFThunderbirds) June 23, 2017 Montgomery County dispatchers tell 2 NEWS a plane has run off the end of the runway and is now upside down. Wright-Patterson Air...

At 87 years old, famed astronaut Buzz Aldrin is still breaking barriers and having a damn good time doing it. The USAF Thunderbirds invited the icon for a ride in their F-16D while they starred in the Melbourne Air & Space Show over the weekend. Aldrin now holds the record of being the oldest person to ever fly with the USAF Flight Demonstration Team. Melbourne is located south of Cape Canaveral—where Buzz blasted off to the moon in a Saturn V rocket in 1969 as part of the pioneering Apollo 11 crew. Just a few years earlier he rocketed into...

Thunderbird jet crashed Thursday after a flyover of the academy's commencement, which was attended by President Obama, the US Air Force said.

The pilot has been identified in the crash.

Local news reporting a Thunderbird crashed and the pilot safely ejected.

Sylvia Anderson, the co-creator of Thunderbirds, who was best known for voicing Lady Penelope in the hit TV show, has died aged 88. The producer and writer devised the Supermarionation puppet series, one of Britain’s most fondly-remembered children’s TV shows, with husband Gerry Anderson in the 1960s. Her character in the science-fiction series — an aristocrat who moonlighted as an agent for the secret organization International Rescue — became known as much for her pink suit as her pink Rolls Royce, chauffeured by Parker the butler. …

As a combat pilot, Air Force Col. Jack Broughton was celebrated for bravery and tactical brilliance during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He received promotions and important assignments and seemed headed to become a general. But a high-profile court-martial during the Vietnam War for allegedly violating the rules of engagement that ruled certain targets off limits ended his career. After leaving the Air Force, Broughton was free to speak out about what he saw as the incompetence of President Lyndon Johnson and Defense Secretary Robert McNamara in micromanaging the war. Pilots couldn't bomb an enemy outhouse without their approval, Broughton...

A fossil found in South Carolina has revealed a gigantic bird that apparently snatched fish while soaring over the ocean some 25 million to 28 million years ago. Its estimated wingspan of around 21 feet is bigger than the height of a giraffe. …