Thunderbirds

[Leo R.]

What does it take to fly one of these bad boys. Do you have to be a viper driver to be a Thunderbird? From what I can see, this definitely has to be the coolest job in the AF. Also, how long will the Vipers be around as Thunderbirds. Any chance we may see some JSF's or Eagle as the future Thunderbirds?? Peace and Thanks!

 

[THT]

You apply for the assignment. You need to have at least 1000 hours of fighter time, and I think it's a 2 year assignment. I've heard the hiring process can be somewhat political, kind of like getting into a guard unit. You interview, fly with them, etc. Pretty hard assignment to get.

 

[GumbyDarnit]

Three year assignment, you don't have to be a Viper pilot, you do have to be a face man, with a wife with a pretty face, bachelors need not apply, on the road forever, must suck up to the brass, shows must be approved by Wilber Creech (former TAC commander when Christ was a Corporal), fly nothing but fingertip (I saw these guys fly fingertip from Ramstein Germany to Nellis about 11 hours nonstop), etc. etc. etc. If you need your ego stroked daily I guess it's okay, but I had a young buddy who went and did that for all the right reasons (America's Ambassadors in Blue) and even he got worn out on all PR and political dung that goes with being a thunderchicken. My nickel in the grass.

Gumby

 

[JimNtexas]

I knew a guy who would have been perfect for the job. In his offical (black and white in those days) picture, he was the image of Steve Canyon. He was a good stick, had a pretty wife, and was a good diplomat.

Still, everyone mocked him for taking the trouble to apply, and all (correctly) predicted that he wouldn't make it ten minutes into the interview. We were right.

The problem? His callsign was "Technicolor".

He had one blue eye and one brown eye.

Freakish looking guys may not be TBirds.

 

[Apache54]

I have a friend who flies with them (I'll leave out his exact slot for anonymity). When asked about the -16 versus the bird he flew before, he said "The -16 is the best airshow jet in the world"!!!