The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, "Thunderbirds," has announced its 2009 air show schedule. In their 56th season, the Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform more than 73 shows in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Far East.
Entering his second season, Lt. Col. Greg Thomas, the team's commander and leader, welcomes the opportunity to again represent the nearly 700,000 active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and civilian Airmen, serving in the United States and overseas.
"The entire team is excited about our 2009 schedule," Colonel Thomas said, who commands the Air Combat Command unit. "This year we are humbled to represent Airmen at locations throughout America and overseas."
Colonel Thomas will join 11 officers and more than 120 enlisted Airmen during the 2009 air show season.
The 2009 air show season marks the first time that an Air National Guard pilot and an Air Force Reserve pilot are part of the elite group. The Thunderbirds also recently completed a swap of their older F-16 Block 32 aircraft for more advanced and powerful F-16 Block 52 airplanes that will debut this season.
"We are focused on making this season thrilling for audiences from Ocean City, Maryland, to the Far East," said Colonel Thomas, who leads a demonstration composed of more than 40 aerial maneuvers and a ground show. "Our team comes from over 30 specialties throughout the Air Force; they are proud to represent their fellow Airmen who continually execute the Air Force mission, which is to Fly, Fight and Win ... in air, space and cyberspace."
US Air Force Thunderbirds 2009 Performance Schedule
This schedule is subject to change without notice.
February
February 1 Tampa, FL - Superbowl XL111 Flyover
March
March 17 Creech AFB, NV http://www.creech.af.mil/
March 21-22 Luke AFB, AZ - Luke Days 2009 http://www.luke.af.mil/
March 28-29 MacDill AFB, FL - MacDill AirFest 2009 http://www.macdill.af.mil/
April
April 4-5 Keesler AFB, MS - Thunder on the Bay http://www.keesler.af.mil/
April 18-19 Ceiba, PR - Puerto Rico Air Extravaganza
April 25-26 Langley AFB, VA - AirPower over Hampton Roads http://www.langley.af.mil/
May
May 2-3 Robins AFB, GA - 2009 Robins Air Show http://www.robins.af.mil/
May 9-10 Branson, MO - Branson Air Show http://bransonairshow.com/
May 16-17 Andrews AFB, MD - Joint Services Open House Air Show http://www.andrews.af.mil/
May 23-24 Wantagh, NY (Jones Beach) - Bethpage Federal Credit Union New York Air Show at Jones Beach http://www.jonesbeachairshow.com/
May 27 USAF Academy, CO - Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony (1200-1245 Local) http://www.usafa.af.mil/index.cfm?catname=AFA%20Homepage
May 30-31 Ellsworth AFB, SD - Dakota Thunder http://www.ellsworth.af.mil/ and http://www.dakotathunder.com/index.html
June
June 6-7 Hill AFB, UT - Air Force Week/Hill AFB Open House & Air Show http://www.hillairshow.com/ and http://www.hill.af.mil/
June 13-14 Ocean City, MD - OC Air Show http://www.ocairshow.com/
June 20-21 Dover AFB, DE - Dover AFB Air Show http://www.dover.af.mil/
June 27-28 Helena, MT - Helena Area Montana Military Open House and Air Show
July
July 4-5 Battle Creek, MI - 2009 Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival http://www.bcballoons.com/
July 10-11 Peoria, IL - Prairie Air Show® 2009 http://www.prairieair.org/
July 18-19 Dayton, OH - Dayton Air Show 2009 http://www.usats.org/
July 22 Cheyenne, WY - Cheyenne Frontier Days Thunderbirds Air Show http://www.cfdrodeo.com/the%20celebration/more%20events/off-park/airshow.aspx
July 25-26 Milwaukee, WI - Milwaukee Air Expo http://www.milwaukeeairexpo.com/
August
August 8-9 Vienna, OH (Youngstown ARB) - Youngstown Air Reserve Station Open House
August 15-16 Chicago, IL - Chicago Air and Water Show
August 19 Atlantic City, NJ - Thunder Over the Boardwalk http://www.atlanticcitynj.com/acairshow.aspx
August 22-23 Selfridge ANGB, MI - Selfridge Air Show http://www.selfridgeairshow.org/home.htm
August 29-30 Hillsboro, OR - Hillsboro Air Show http://www.oregonairshow.com/
September
September 5-7 Cleveland, OH - Cleveland National Air Show http://www.clevelandairshow.com/
September 12-13 Sacramento, CA - California Capital Air Show http://www.californiacapitalairshow.com/
September 19-October 25 Far East Tour
September 19-20 Hickam AFB, HI - Hickam Air Show http://www2.hickam.af.mil/
October
Far East Tour: Note: At this point the cities in the Far East have not been finalized yet except for South Korea (Oct.23-25)
October 23-25 Osan AB, Korea - Osan AB Air Power Day
November
November 7-8 Homestead ARB, FL - Homestead Air Show
November 14-15 Nellis AFB, NV - Nellis Air Show http://www.nellis.af.mil/
Don't forget to checkout our tenth annual Air Show Guide that will appear in the March 2009 issue of Monitoring Times magazine. It will be loaded with the latest frequencies (for US and foreign teams), combined schedules, and radio equipment recommendations to make your air show experience an enjoyable and pleasurable one.
The web version of our March guide won't be posted to the MT website until mid to late April. This is done as a courtesy to our subscribers and readers who pay the freight. So get your copy of the March issue before it sells out when it is released in the last week of February. Better yet, get a subscription and don't miss a single exciting issue of Monitoring Times magazine.