By: Alaysia Curry and Daylun Armstrong
September 7, 2021
On May 25, 1953, the Thunderbirds were born as the Air Force’s official air demonstration team.
At schools across the country, the team takes time to interact with students, but for the last two years, they could not due to the global pandemic. However, they are back in schools educating young minds.
The Thunderbirds performed their annual air show in Cleveland this past weekend (September 4-6), but before this, they decided to stop by Brooklyn High School last Friday morning to talk to the senior and junior classes about the behind-the-scenes of what they do.
There is a lot of work, schooling, and training to become a part of the Airforce (Thunderbirds). Many enroll in the U.S. Air Force Academy which is extremely selective.
The U.S. Air Force Academy is a four-year program which allows students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in science.
As a Thunderbird, one does not necessarily have to become a pilot in order to contribute to the team. There are so many other roles that keep the show going, such as being a DJ (controlling the music and effects at shows), paperwork/administration, helping to design choreography (Last weekend’s show was their first show redesign in 38 years.), and so much more that makes the show run smoothly and to ensure everyone’s safety.
The Thunderbird team discussed the importance of resilience, failure, growth, and how all of that made them stronger not only as people but as a team (family as they called themselves).
*FUN FACTS:
- Home base is located in Nevada.
- They made three gas stops (in mid-air) on their way to Cleveland.
- They tested their planes over the Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport.
- In the 1980s, there was an ongoing joke about the number five solo pilot plane always being upside down, so the Thunderbirds began to stick with it and started using it often in their brochures.
On behalf of BHS, we would like to thank the Thunderbird team for taking time out of their morning to come talk to us and for continuing to bring their one-of-a-kind air shows to Cleveland.
{For information, visit The United States Air Force Academy and The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.}
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 