Most of you will know this but if not……
One of the world’s greatest aerobatics display teams will make a rare UK appearance at this summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
The United States Air Force’s renowned Thunderbirds last appeared in the UK six years ago but have never taken part in the Air Tattoo before.
Formed in 1953, the Thunderbirds are based at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and comprise six F-16 ‘Fighting Falcons’. Unusual for national aerobatics display teams, two of the pilots are women: Major Nicole Malachowski and Capt Samantha Weeks. In 2006, Maj Malachowski became the Thunderbirds’ first ever female demonstration pilot. For the 2007 season, Capt Weeks from 12th Fighter Squadron, based in Alaska, will join her.
The team is famed as much for its theatrical pre-flight ground routine, which is performed with pinpoint accuracy, as it is for its stunning aerial displays.
The Thunderbirds’ performance at the Air Tattoo on July 14-15 will be their only UK appearance next summer and will be part of the airshow’s official tribute to mark the United States Air Force’s 60th anniversary.
Air Tattoo Director Tim Prince said despite having been involved in the airshow for more than 35 years he still gets a thrill out of welcoming new acts to RAF Fairford.
“The Thunderbirds team is one I’ve been particularly looking forward to welcoming for many years and people should not miss this rare opportunity to see them in the UK. They are quite unique in the airshow world, not least for the entertaining ritual they perform before each display. Youngsters, in particular, will be mesmerised.
“They will be but one of the mouth-watering ingredients we are confident will contribute to a memorable tribute to our USAF friends next July.” Special reduced-price Air Tattoo ‘Earlybird’ tickets are available for a limited period, priced £28.50. Under-16s go free. For details, visit http://www.airtattoo.com
By: robmac - 3rd June 2007 at 21:41
It’s definatly worth it!!
It’s the biggest airshow in Europe with the largest gathering of military hardware from all over the world, and frankly, where else would you see that in the UK, apart from Mildenhall. Even Waddy doesn’t cover this much.
I’m going!!
By: Bruggen 130 - 3rd June 2007 at 14:55
RIAT 2007 ADMISSION TICKET in advance £32.50
Adult tickets are valid for either Saturday 14th or Sunday 15th July but for one day only. Under 16’s go free when accompanied by an adult and do not require a ticket.
Here’s the killer!!!
On the gate on the day, entry price is £37.00:D
No this is the Killer, buy one ticket in advance £32.50 PLUS £3.00 admin/ charge, saving £1.50. but saying that where else can you see so much hardware. love to know the total cost of every Aircraft that we will see over
that week, Is it worth It? to bl””dy right It Is:D
Regards Phil.
By: Firebird - 3rd June 2007 at 03:43
£28.50!!! 😮 😮 😮
And that frankly, is still a bargain for a whole days entertainment, which involves watching the consumption of vast quanties of Avtur/Avgas:D especially when you consider the idiots that pay £60+ to spend just a mere 90 mins watching a game of football on a regular basis……..;)
By: J Boyle - 2nd June 2007 at 18:55
The leader of the current Thunderbirds team, Lt Colonel Kevin Robbins, was interviewed a week or so ago on The Daily Show (which we get hot off the satellite here about 24 hours after the USA sees it). Did you catch it John? I was pleasantly surprised to see the colonel had a great sense of humour and took the ribbing from John Stewart very well.
Sorry, I missed it. I don’t watch a great deal of TV lately.
Good to hear he was on and had a bit a humor about it.
A lot of service members have a great sense of humor (an example: I knew a Colonel, who in his younger days as a hard charging fighter pilot, drove his MG (then standard issue for all fighter pilots:D ) onto a patio and into the bar of the Officers’ Mess and asked for curb service, Drive-In resturant style) but from personal experience, I’d have to rate the organization’s overall mentality as “Humor Free”. Pity.
Somedays it was like working for IBM or Xerox…in other words, a bureaucracy that just happened to fly warplanes..
By: planejunky - 2nd June 2007 at 13:15
Nooooooooooooooo!
We want the Turkish guy 😀 😀 😀
Moggy
😀 yeah I remember him well, my how we laughed!! 😀
By: Dave Homewood - 2nd June 2007 at 06:50
If the USAF had a keen sense of humor…and most of it does not….
The leader of the current Thunderbirds team, Lt Colonel Kevin Robbins, was interviewed a week or so ago on The Daily Show (which we get hot off the satellite here about 24 hours after the USA sees it). Did you catch it John? I was pleasantly surprised to see the colonel had a great sense of humour and took the ribbing from John Stewart very well.
By: robmac - 1st June 2007 at 23:20
Prices
RIAT 2007 ADMISSION TICKET in advance £32.50
Adult tickets are valid for either Saturday 14th or Sunday 15th July but for one day only. Under 16’s go free when accompanied by an adult and do not require a ticket.
Here’s the killer!!!
On the gate on the day, entry price is £37.00:D
By: merlin70 - 1st June 2007 at 22:50
£28.50!!! 😮 😮 😮
…£32.50 if you want a soda and fries with it.
By: Bluebird Mike - 31st May 2007 at 17:29
£28.50!!! 😮 😮 😮
By: J Boyle - 31st May 2007 at 17:10
Actually, the theme from The Thunderbirds would go down better in the UK.
If the USAF had a keen sense of humor…and most of it does not…it could turn the corny preflight event into something better suited to UK audiences.
Unfortunately, the whole show is pretty tightly scripted, it would take a general or two (possibly the Chief of Staff) to approve a change.
While I’ve never been a big fan of all the marching and saluting, airshow audiences in the U.S. seem to appreciate it. It’s a little reminder that the team is part of the military, and not just the Red Baron Pizza Stearman Squadron with jets.
By: alanl - 31st May 2007 at 15:20
Wouldn’t it be great if you could sustitute their chosen music for the Germans march from Those Magnificent men…………:dev2:
I can picture it now,’Ladies and Gentleman, the USA of A’s aerobatic team ,The Thunderbirds…………
Alan
By: merlin70 - 31st May 2007 at 14:18
The 4 Canadian F104’s that displayed at Mildenhall and Greenham Common in the ’80s have to get the gold medal for spending more time off the airfield than over it. It was however quite impressive to see holding tight formation throughout their routine.
The Turkish Red Stars commentator spent more time telling the audience about his “sexy good looking pilots” than he did describing the display. Perfect for the Thunderbirds.:D
By: Pete Truman - 31st May 2007 at 09:27
Oops, how could I have forgotten him, yes I’ll go along with that one, could be even more impressive if he did the commentary from a displaying 2 seater, especially if flown by one of the women pilots.
By: Moggy C - 31st May 2007 at 09:22
I know his English was a bit bizarre, but a lot less so than my Turkish.
You couldn’t help but love his genuine, infectious enthusiasm.
I smiled all the way through the display – and the aeros weren’t too shabby either.
Moggy
By: markstringer - 31st May 2007 at 09:18
ladies and gentlemen, Turkish stars please, ladies and gentlemen.
Classic.
By: Moggy C - 31st May 2007 at 09:14
… perhaps they should get the Frecces man to do the commentary, now that would be some combination, we love him.
Nooooooooooooooo!
We want the Turkish guy 😀 😀 😀
Moggy
By: Pete Truman - 31st May 2007 at 09:05
I remember seeing them here and the crowd laughed at this ,not quite quite what the british public are used to.
To me it did’nt enhance the superb flying by the pilots just made the crowd take the pee.:)
It will be nice seeing the display again though.
That must have been at Air Fete 97, and I agree, we were beside ourselves at the ridiculousness of it all, but the Yanks like a bit of a show, bless them.
The problem with the flying is the use of high performance jets like the F-16, fast, furious, close, noisy and exciting it may be, but the slower more agile trainers that the Reds, Patrouille and Frecces use mean a constant presence in the sky infront of you.
The worst ever aircraft used for a display team must have been the Phantoms by the Blue Angels in the 70’s, I saw them at Hucknall in 72 and impressive though it may have been, the Reds, who followed, using Gnats in those days, just aerobatically blew them away.
Anyway, it’s rare to see the Thunderbirds and for those who haven’t, definately worth seeing, perhaps they should get the Frecces man to do the commentary, now that would be some combination, we love him.
By: trumper - 31st May 2007 at 08:29
The team is famed as much for its theatrical pre-flight ground routine, which is performed with pinpoint accuracy, as it is for its stunning aerial displays.
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I remember seeing them here and the crowd laughed at this ,not quite quite what the british public are used to.
To me it did’nt enhance the superb flying by the pilots just made the crowd take the pee.:)
It will be nice seeing the display again though.
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May 31, 2007 at 1:47 am