Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Conrad Nelson, from the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, secures Brendan Lyons, Tucson community hometown hero, in Thunderbird 7, an F-16 Fighting Falcon, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 11, 2016. Lyons was nominated as a hometown hero to fly with the Thunderbirds because of his commitment to safety and his passion to make Tucson a safer community for cyclists and motorists. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Massey/Released)

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Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Brendan Lyons, Tucson community hometown hero, uses a mirror to practice securing an oxygen mask to a helmet prior to his flight in an F-16 Fighting Falcon, from the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 11, 2016. Lyons was nominated as a hometown hero to fly with the Thunderbirds because of his commitment to safety and his passion to make Tucson a safer community for cyclists and motorists. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Massey/Released)

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Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

U.S. Air Force Maj. Kevin Walsh, U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron pilot and operations officer, launches Thunderbird 7, an F-16 Fighting Falcon, with Brendon Lyons, Tucson community hometown hero, in the rear seat at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 11, 2016. Lyons was nominated as a hometown hero because of his commitment to safety and his passion to make Tucson a safer community for cyclists and motorists. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Massey/Released)

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Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Brendan Lyons, Tucson community hometown hero, sits in Thunderbird 7, an F-16 Fighting Falcon from the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 11, 2016. Lyons was nominated as a hometown hero to fly with the Thunderbirds because of his commitment to safety and his passion to make Tucson a safer community for cyclists and motorists. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Massey/Released)

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Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

U.S. Air Force Maj. Kevin Walsh, U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron pilot and operations officer, taxis Thunderbird 7, an F-16 Fighting Falcon, with Brendon Lyons, Tucson community hometown hero, in the rear seat at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 11, 2016. Lyons was nominated as a hometown hero because of his commitment to safety and his passion to make Tucson a safer community for cyclists and motorists. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Massey/Released)

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Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Brendan Lyons, Tucson community hometown hero, waits to be fitted with a G-suit harness by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Conrad Nelson, from the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, prior to his flight in Thunderbird 7, an F-16 Fighting Falcon, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 11, 2016. Lyons was nominated as a hometown hero to fly with the Thunderbirds because of his commitment to safety and his passion to make Tucson a safer community for cyclists and motorists. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Massey/Released)

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Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Brendan Lyons, Tucson community hometown hero, listens to a briefing about the aircrew flight equipment he will be using during a flight in a U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbird, an F-16 Fighting Falcon, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 11, 2016. . Lyons was nominated as a hometown hero because of his commitment to safety and his passion to make Tucson a safer community for cyclists and motorists. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Massey/Released)

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Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Paul Rosales, aircrew flight equipment specialist with the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, right, shares a laugh with Brendan Lyons, Tucson community hometown hero, as he adjusts the fit of a helmet at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 11, 2016. Lyons was nominated as a hometown hero to fly with the Thunderbirds because of his commitment to safety and his passion to make Tucson a safer community for cyclists and motorists. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Massey/Released)

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Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Brendan Lyons, Tucson community hometown hero, works with U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Paul Rosales, aircrew flight equipment specialist with the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, to ensure a secure fit of a helmet and oxygen mask at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 11, 2016. Lyons was nominated as a hometown hero to fly with the Thunderbirds because of his commitment to safety and his passion to make Tucson a safer community for cyclists and motorists. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Massey/Released)

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Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

U.S. Air Force Maj. Kevin Walsh, U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron pilot and operations officer, launches Thunderbird 7, an F-16 Fighting Falcon, with Brendon Lyons, Tucson community hometown hero, in the rear seat at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 11, 2016. Lyons was nominated as a hometown hero because of his commitment to safety and his passion to make Tucson a safer community for cyclists and motorists. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Massey/Released)

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Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

U.S. Air Force Maj. Kevin Walsh, U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron pilot and operations officer, taxis Thunderbird 7, an F-16 Fighting Falcon, with Brendon Lyons, Tucson community hometown hero, in the rear seat at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 11, 2016. Lyons was nominated as a hometown hero because of his commitment to safety and his passion to make Tucson a safer community for cyclists and motorists. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Massey/Released)

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Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron aircrew watch as Brendon Lyons, Tucson community hometown hero, speaks about his experience immediately after his flight in Thunderbird 7, an F-16 Fighting Falcon, with Maj. Kevin Walsh, Thunderbird pilot and operations officer, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 11, 2016. Lyons was nominated as a hometown hero because of his commitment to safety and his passion to make Tucson a safer community for cyclists and motorists. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Massey/Released)

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Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Published March 15, 2016
By Senior Airman Chris Massey
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --

Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

Tucson hometown hero soars with the Thunderbirds

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