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Frank Buckley, Jessica Holmes and Mark Kriski were live from the Tournament of Roses House in Pasadena. They watched in awe as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds rehearsed their Rose Parade flyover with six F-16s soaring in formation along the Colorado Blvd. parade route.

Beneath a rousing flyover of decades-old warbirds, 1,024 newly commissioned second lieutenants graduated Wednesday from the Air Force Academy - saluting the military's past while looking to its future. Air Force Secretary Michael Donley, in one of his last acts as the Air Force's top civilian, implored the cadets to tackle the service's many challenges, a lingering war, fiscal uncertainty and the "scourge" of pervasive sexual assaults during the ceremony at Falcon Stadium. "Each of you is responsible for the character of this Air Force, and its reputation," Donley said. "And I therefore charge you to serve with integrity, and...

We recently learned that the Blue Angels, the USAF Thunderbirds, the Golden Knights and all the Military Demo Teams have cancelled their entire Airshow season due to the Sequester. The Military will not take part in Airshows in any way – not static displays, not flying, nothing. This information has sent the Airshow Industry back to their drawing boards to see how they can move on from here. The Military Demonstration Teams are an enormous draw for these events. Military Teams can increase attendance by up to 30% while bringing many attendees from long distances which increase tourism for their...

'Gerry Anderson, creator of the Thunderbirds and Joe 90 puppet superhero TV shows, has died at the age of 83, his son has announced. Anderson had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease since early 2010, and his condition had worsened in the past six months, Jamie Anderson said. Gerry Anderson also created Stingray and Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. Thunderbirds was filmed on Slough Trading Estate in Berkshire and was first broadcast in 1965. Jamie Anderson announced the news on his website, saying his father had died peacefully in his sleep at noon on Wednesday. His other creations included UFO, Space:...

Got this from a friend in the Aggie network and it is confirmed. Of course you never heard this from the press. It did appear in one paper. http://www.gazette.com/articles/air-139088-thunderbirds-presidential.html Received this from a retired U.S.A.F. fighter pilot who flew F-105’s in Vietnam with my brother Ted: From an Academy grad - 204 missions over North Vietnam in an F-4. I just wanted to pass on a little info in case some of you were not aware of this. Yesterday was the Air force Academy graduation ceremony. My friend from Texas had just arrived and we drove down the road to...

People frequently mock Yuma and the desert southwest for the intense summer heat. This year they will envy us.In a few short days we will be able to witness the performace of the US Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon and Drum and Bugle Corps. Then it is just a short drive to see the US Navy Blue Angels at the NAF El Centro open house. Finally, in mid-March, we will host the USAF Thunderbirds at the MCAS Yuma open house. As an added bonus, we will see the US Navy Leapfrogs and the US Army Golden Knights also featured at...

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for a Hometown Hero to fly with the Thunderbirds at the 30th anniversary of the California International Airshow, October 2-3, 2010. This "Hometown Hero" is someone who has gone above and beyond to do something for his or her community. If this describes someone you know, then continue reading and then scroll down the page and fill out their name and information, plus tell us why they should awarded the "Hometown Hero Flight" with the Thunderbirds. Nominations will be accepted until July 16th. Five finalists will be chosen by the California International...

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE - You could hear them coming long before you could see them, but that didn't stop people from looking up whenever they heard the distinctive roar of several jet engines. The Air Force Thunderbirds arrived Thursday afternoon to get a feel for how their performance flights will go during ShawFest this weekend. The eight-member Thunderbird squadron has not performed in Sumter since 2005. But they will once again fly over Shaw Air Force Base as part of ShawFest 2010. Other than the Thunderbirds, the Army Golden Knights and the Navy FA-18 Super Hornet demonstration team will...

After a three-year hiatus, the big air show returns to Tucson this weekend. Aerospace & Arizona Days 2010, expected to be the biggest entertainment event of the year in Southern Arizona, is at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. More than 100,000 spectators are expected to make their way onto the base Saturday and Sunday for a high-flying lineup that stars the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds in their first show of a 73-show season. Professional aerobatic pilots will be up in the air, and we'll get up-close looks at C-17s, F-18s and A-10s (the famed Warthogs, based at D-M). Scores of other...

1/15/2010 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) -- A Thunderbird pilot killed in Southeast Asia and listed as missing in action for more than 40 years returned to the location of his last Air Force assignment Jan. 14 for a celebration of his life among a sea of family and peers. "Today, we welcome Maj. Russell C. Goodman home," said Brig. Gen. Russell J. Handy, the 57th Wing commander during a funeral service with full military honors at the Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron hangar at Nellis Air Force Base. "We welcome him home to the United States, welcome...

When I was a kid, one of my favorite TV shows was the "Thunderbirds," a "Supermarionation" series about the Tracy family and their International Rescue team. There would be trouble somewhere in the world, and, from their secret island base, the IR crew would fire up their jets and rush to the rescue. "Thunderbirds Are GO!" That picture came to my mind when I read this THREAD from Pied Piper Pitt, in which he issues the "Go" order to his DU crew. "DUmmies Are GO!" I think Pitt fancies himself as Jeff Tracy or Scott Tracy, or maybe as...

There is finally closure to a mystery that spanned four decades. A Vietnam combat veteran's remains were identified and the family can now lay him to rest

The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, "Thunderbirds," has announced its 2010 air show schedule. The team's 57th show season is scheduled to take them to more than 65 shows in 27 states and Canada. The 2010 schedule is as follows: March 20-21: Davis Monthan AFB, AZ 27-28: Maxwell AFB, AL April 10-11: Eglin AFB, FL 17-18: Lakeland, FL 24-25: Barksdale AFB, LA May 1 Dyess AFB, TX 2 Altus AFB, OK 8-9 Shaw AFB, SC 15-16 Columbus AFB, MS 22 Grand Forks AFB, ND 26: USAFA, CO 29-30 Janesville, WI June 5-6 Ocean City, MD 12-13 Quebec City, Canada...

What a great day to live near Republic airport on Long Island.. Canadian Snowbirds just flew over for their Friday practice run for the show on Saturday and Sunday... Thunderbirds will buzz my house around 2 pm!! Going down to the airport tomorrow. They do a stunt before they land for the airport crowd. We rotate every Memorial Day with the Blue Angels...

The air-show season is on us again, a chance for people outside the aviation industry to get an up-close look at aircraft old and new, both in static displays on the ground and in fancy aerial displays up above. A regular feature of air shows across the country is the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, better-known as the Thunderbirds.

BILOXI — The Thunderbirds in the sky plus free admission and parking could easily draw 70,000 spectators Saturday and Sunday for the first air show at Keesler Air Force Base since Hurricane Katrina. Thunder on the Bay will be just that, with the Thunderbirds, the Air Force demonstration team, returning to the Coast for the first time in 15 years. Other military aircraft and some of the best stunt flyers in the world will perform almost nonstop the two days. Gates open at 9 a.m. and the Thunderbirds perform at 3:20 both afternoons.

Join us for Luke's "Thunder in the Desert" 2009: March 21 and 22: Luke's "Thunder in the Desert" 2009 Open House is a two-day event at Luke Air Force Base and one of the most diverse air shows in America. The U.S. Air Force's Aerial Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds, will bring their special brand of high-flying excitement to this year's show as well as numerous other aircraft and ground displays, exhibits, and attractions. General admission to "Thunder in the Desert" is free. No tickets are available for purchase or required for general entry. Off-base parking will be available for a...

Travis Air Expo 2008 The Travis Air Expo is free and open to the public. Gates will open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. both days.The Travis Air Expo will be broadcast live on AM 890 within two miles of the base.Due to heightened security measures, some items are prohibited at this year's Expo. For a list of these items and other security concerns, click here.Some Things You Will See at Travis Air Expo 2008 USAF ThunderbirdsThe U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, performs precision aerial maneuvers demonstrating the capabilities of Air Force high performance...

CARSON CITY, Nev., June 10, 2008 – Throughout his Air Force career, Nevada Air National Guard pilot Maj. Derek Routt has distinguished himself by emphasizing basic character traits such as integrity and work ethic. Air Force Maj. Derek Routt illustrates his enthusiasm for flying in an F-16 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., in 2005 during a Red Flag Exercise with 64th Aggressor Squadron. Photo courtesy of Tyson V. Rininger, TVR Photography  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. They promise to be the same attributes Routt upholds this fall when he becomes the first National Guard pilot to take...

The flying hotel Thunderbird 2: The 700ft super-airship that will gently float you around the worldLast updated at 23:32pm on 1st February 2008  With its fins and whale-like shape, it resembles Thunderbird 2. But, unlike the huge International Rescue rocket in the puppet series, this gigantic airship won't be roaring off in a blast of flame and smoke to any international emergencies. Instead, its designers say it will gently lift 40 passengers into the sky for a serene cruise of the world. Scroll down for more...   Uplifting: Manned Cloud's deisgners say it will offer eco-friendly holidays    The...