Thunderbirds ready for 2006, hiring

  • Published
  • By Capt. Angela Johnson
  • Thunderbird Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (ACCNS) --  The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron will complete a historic season in 2006. The team will perform more than 70 demonstrations in 27 states. It will also be making history with the first female demonstration team pilot in the United States.

Capt. Nicole Malachowski from Las Vegas, Nev., will be flying in the number three position as the right wing and will help the team to represent the more than 530,000 Airmen throughout the U.S.

In preparing for the upcoming season, the team is also looking to hire seven new officers for the 2007-2008 seasons. Each January, the team solicits applications for new officers. This year, there are seven positions opening: three demonstration pilots, an operations officer, executive officer, maintenance officer and a public affairs officer. Officers serve two years on the team in their position.

The demonstrations pilots perform aerial demonstration maneuvers to exhibit the capabilities of high performance aircraft and supports Air Force recruiting and retention programs. Applicants must be qualified for aviation service and have a minimum of 1,000 hours of first pilot and instructor pilot flying time in jet fighter or trainer aircraft and have been qualified in fighter aircraft. They must also have not more than 12 years of active commissioned service by Dec. 1.

The operations officer is the second in command and runs daily operations and scheduling. This officer must be a major and serves as safety observer and evaluator for air demonstrations, and flies celebrity, media, and orientation flights. To be the operations officer, applicants must be qualified for aviation service and have a minimum of 1,000 hours first pilot and instructor pilot flying time in jet fighter or trainer aircraft and have been a qualified in fighter aircraft.

The executive officer supervises executive support, information management, budget and personnel selections as well as manages overall squadron operations. The exec also serves as the squadron commander during the commander's frequent deployments. Applicants for this position must be a pinned on captain by Nov. 1 and squadron section commander or executive officer experience is desired.

The maintenance officer oversees approximately 90 aircraft maintainers and is responsible for keeping the squadron's fleet of 11 F-16s mission ready. To apply for this position, an officer must be fully qualified in the 21A3 Air Force Specialty Code and a major or major select by Nov. 1.
The public affairs officer oversees the thunderbird publicity programs and specialists to include photography, graphic arts, recruiting and broadcasting. Applicants for this position must be a fully qualified 35P3 and a pinned on captain by Nov. 1.

Air Force officers interested in applying can contact the team’s executive officer at Nellis Air Force Base. For details on requirements contact Capt. Todd Randolph at DSN 682-9584 or Tech. Sgt. Rebecca McKlintock at DSN 682-2279.

The team is assigned to the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force base and made up of eight pilots (six demonstration pilots), four support officers, four civilians and more than 120 enlisted in 28 career fields. Between March and November, the Thunderbirds average nearly 70 demonstrations, keeping them on the road more than 220 days.

The Thunderbird diamond formation, flying an average distance between 18 inches and 3 feet apart, represents the skills and training of every U.S. Air Force pilot.

Thunderbird solo pilots' job is to highlight the capabilities and max perform the F-16C Fighting Falcon to the world.

Aircraft maintainers ensure the Thunderbirds' fleet of 11 F-16s are mission capable and the pilots strap themselves into a safe and reliable aircraft every time. Without their dedication, attention to detail and long hours of preparing for the performance, the demonstration may not be possible, said Maj. Sloane.

There are also 30 people behind the scenes supporting the Thunderbird mission in operations, communications, administration, supply and public affairs.
For more information, go to http://www.airforce.com/thunderbirds.