Thunderbirds announce 2010 schedule Published Dec. 10, 2009 By U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, "Thunderbirds," has announced its 2010 air show schedule. "We are humbled to have the opportunity to travel the U.S and Canada this year, representing the 700,000 Airmen in America's Air Force," said Capt. Jason McCree, USAFADS public affairs officer. Lt. Col. Case Cunningham will join the team as commander and leader for the team and fly the No. 1 position. Other officers beginning their first season with the team are Thunderbird No. 3, Capt. Chad Shenk, right wing; Thunderbird No. 6, Capt. Aaron Jelinek, opposing solo; Thunderbird No. 8, Maj. John Gallemore, advance pilot and narrator; Thunderbird No. 9, Capt Thom Bowden, flight surgeon. The new team members will join returning officers Thunderbird No. 2, Maj. John Baum, left wing; Thunderbird No. 4, Maj. Sean Gustafson, slot; Thunderbird No. 5, Maj. Rick Goodman, lead solo; Thunderbird No. 7, Lt. Col. Derek Routt, operations officer; Thunderbird No. 10, Capt. Petrina Hanson, executive officer; Thunderbird No. 11, Maj. David Lemery, maintenance officer; Thunderbird No. 12, Captain McCree. The Thunderbirds, originally known as the 3600th Air Demonstration Unit, out of Luke AFB, Ariz., was activated May 25, 1953. The demonstration squadron is an Air Combat Command unit composed of eight pilots, including six demonstration pilots, four support officers, four civilians and about 110 enlisted people performing in more than 29 Air Force specialties. The Thunderbirds' aerial demonstration is a mix of formation flying and solo routines. The pilots perform about 40 maneuvers in a demonstration. The entire show, including ground and air, runs about one hour. The air show season lasts from March to November, with the winter months used to train new members. The team's 57th show season is scheduled to take them to more than 65 shows in 27 states and Canada. The Thunderbirds' 2010 schedule is as follows: March 20-21: Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz. 27-28: Maxwell AFB, Ala. April 10-11: Eglin AFB, Fla. 17-18: Lakeland, Fla. 24-25: Barksdale AFB, La. May 1 Dyess AFB, Texas 2 Altus AFB, Okla. 8-9 Shaw AFB, S.C. 15-16 Columbus AFB, Miss. 22 Grand Forks AFB, N.D. 26: U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. 29-30 Janesville, Wis. June 5-6 Ocean City, Md. 12-13 Quebec City, Canada 19-20 Tinker AFB, Okla. 26-27 North Kingstown, R.I. July 10-11 Gary, Ind. 17-18 Duluth, Minn. 21 Cheyenne, Wyo. 24-25 Fairchild AFB, Wash. Jul 31-Aug 1 Rockford, Ill. August 7-8: Moffett Field, Calif. 14-15: Abbotsford, Canada 21-22: Westfield, Mass. 25 Atlantic City, N.J. 28-29 Brooklyn (Coney Island), N.Y. September 4-5 Martinsburg, W.V. 11-12 Coraopolis (Pittsburgh), Pa. 18-19 Whiteman AFB, Mo. 25-26 McConnell AFB, Kan. October 2-3 Salinas, Calif. 9-10 Little Rock AFB, Ark. 16-17 El Paso, Texas 23-24 Houston, Texas 30-31 Cocoa Beach, Fla. November 6-7 Lackland AFB, Texas 13-14 Nellis AFB, Nev.
