Dan Cherry. FT. GEORGE G. MEADE (AFNS) -- Since 1953, the Air Force's air demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, have captivated spectators across the world and showed its audiences what the Air Force's aircraft are capable of. Diamond: Historically, as Thunderbirds 1 through 4 lift off, the slot aircraft slips immediately into position behind 1 to create the signature Diamond formation. Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. Vault of Death: Directed by David Elliott. With Sylvia Anderson, Ray Barrett, Peter Dyneley, Christine Finn. We ask everyone to provide his family and friends the space to heal during this difficult time.". By giving your consent, the data will be sent anonymously, thus protecting your privacy. Col. David L. Smith, the Thunderbirds' commander, and his crew chief, Staff Sgt. [9], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}363518N 1154048W / 36.5884N 115.680W / 36.5884; -115.680, 1982 Thunderbirds Indian Springs Diamond Crash, The deadliest Thunderbird accident was the crash of a team support, U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Team, "Misjudgment held 'possible' in fatal Thunderbirds crash", "Air Force finds mechanical failure led to crashes of flying team", "The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, Turn 50, Part One", "Partial Videotape Erasure of 1982 Air Force Thunderbirds Crash (GAO/NSIAD-84-153)", Link access to USAF Mishap Investigation Report re 18 January 1982 "Diamond Accident", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1982_Thunderbirds_Indian_Springs_Diamond_Crash&oldid=1119514540, This page was last edited on 2 November 2022, at 00:14. The Air Force formed the Thunderbirds in 1953. March 12, 1959: Captain C. D.Fish Salmon killed during solo training. Smith ejected from the plane, but his parachute did not deploy. According to his Thunderbirds biography, he was previously a civilian flight instructor, corporate pilot, skywriter and banner tow pilot. The switch saw an alteration of the flight routine to exhibit the aircraft's maneuverability in tight turns, and ended the era of the black tail on the No. The leader of the Air Force Thunderbirds precision flying team died today when his T-38 jet crashed, apparently after it lost power when its engines sucked up several seagulls on takeoff. Major Stephen Del Bagno, an F-16CM pilot assigned to the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, fatally crashed while engaged in a routine aerial demonstration training flight at the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) near Creech AFB, Nevada. Wreckage was strewn across a 1-square-mile area of the desert 60 miles north of Las Vegas. Created 70 years ago in 1953, the USAF Thunderbirds are the third-oldest formal flying aerobatic team (under the same name) in the world, after the French Air Force Patrouille de France formed in 1931 and the United States Navy Blue Angels formed in 1946. 12 March 1959: Capt C. D. "Fish" Salmon, slot pilot, was killed after a collision during formation training near Nellis. The air around the exhaust manifolds shimmered like a mirror from fuel fumes as the huge prop started to rotate. The pilot of a US Navy Blue Angel F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet was killed Thursday when the aircraft crashed in central Tennessee, a Navy official confirmed to Fox News. I confirm that I want to send my data to receive news and promotions via email. The Air Force is constantly evaluating its procedures with regard to flight safety, and the Thunderbirds will incorporate the findings of this report into their procedures and process improvements. Personal Data collected: NonePlace of processing: Ireland Privacy PolicyOpt Out. Broughton was hand-selected by Catledge to replace him, and is the only captain to serve as commander/leader of the team. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Pulling 7 G's in an F-16 -Smarter Every Day 235 SmarterEveryDay 19M views 2 years ago Almost yours: 2 weeks, on us 100+ live channels are. The T-33 served with the Thunderbirds in this capacity in the 1950s and 1960s. But the report said that physical fitness does not protect against the physiological effects of negative-Gs, which can widen blood vessels and result in a loss of blood pressure and lowered heart rate. 9 October 1958: Nineteen men aboard the Thunderbirds' support. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The officers include two new formation pilots, an advance pilot/ narrator, a flight surgeon, and a maintenance lead. Flying high-performance fighter jets is inherently dangerous; when flying in extremely close formation, the danger is compounded. During the Korean War, the 30th attacked North Korean targets with B-29's. This switch was accompanied by a relocation of their headquarters to Nellis AFB, Nevada on 1 June because of maintenance and logistical difficulties of basing the F-100s at Luke, with their first show after the move being held on 23 June. Five T-38s used the same amount of fuel needed for one F-4 Phantom. Jim Jannette, director of public relations for the Thunderbirds. 3 (, 9 May 1981: Capt Nick Hauck was killed in the crash of Thunderbird No. Stephanie Englar at Nellis, said plans were being made for a memorial but a date had not been selected. Personal Information processed: Usage Data; Tracker, Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation, Airshows / Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation, Dario Leone and The Aviation Geek Club, 2016. Scott, the oldest of the brothers, is pilot of Thunderbird 1 and also serves as backup crew on Thunderbird 3. Four crew members were killed when a Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crashed Tuesday in California during a training mission along the U.S.-Mexico border west of El Centro. Fighter jets flew a missing man formation during a memorial service for Del Bagno at his high school in Santa Clarita, California, in April. Del Bagno, whose call sign was Cajun, was an experienced F-35 pilot, whose love of flying, enthusiasm and excitement for his first season with the Thunderbirds was apparent to all. Google uses the Personal Data collected to track and examine the use of this site, compile reports on its activities and share them with other services developed by Google. The team had flown 26 shows by that August. June 2, 2016: Major Alex Turner ejects during a flyover at the United States Air Force Academy graduation ceremony. Pilot #7 is the operations officer and #8 is the narrator and coordinator of the show. In 1986, the Thunderbirds did a fly-by for the re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty in New York City. The report said Del Bagno was known as an inspirational leader who was always positive and put others before himself., The merger between his positive personality and pilot skills made him a perfect fit for the Thunderbirds' mission to recruit, retain and inspire, the report said. Howard Hall, Headquarters, HQ USAF Warfare Center, is named for Maj Joseph C. Howard, a Thunderbird pilot killed when his F-4 Phantom crashed during a show on 4 June 1973. In June 2005, the Thunderbirds selected Major Nicole Malachowski for the No. No other injuries were reported. She will fly as close as 18 inches from the No. Get the best aviation news, stories and features from The Aviation Geek Club in our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. The USAFs beloved flight demonstration team has suffered a terrible loss. [7][8] The cause of the crash was determined by the USAF to be the result of a mechanical problem with the No. A member of his squadron summed up [Del Bagno] as just a beautiful human being.. Lieutenant-Colonel Schow graduated from the USAF Academy in 1978 and earned his Air Force Pilot Wings the year after. Nearing the end the Diamond pulls straight up into the vertical to perform the signature "Bomb Burst," where all four aircraft break off in separate directions while a solo goes straight up through the maneuver and performs aileron rolls until 3 miles (4.8km) above the ground. October 12, 1966: Major Frank Liethen and Captain Robert Morgan killed during a collision of two F-100s. He served as a navigator with the 522nd Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, McClellan Air Force Base, California, and McCoy Air Force Base, Florida, from February 1961 to March 1964. His biography credited him with more than 3,500 total flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft -- the equivalent of more than 87 work weeks of 40 hours each. This is the third aircraft loss in less than 24 months for the team. 6 opposing solo position.[17][18]. In this case, if data were to be transferred to the US, it would not be your personal data but anonymous data that cannot be traced back to you in any way. The museum is located at Nellis Air Force Base and includes a full size F-16 gate guard on display (in full Thunderbird paint scheme).[54][55]. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. [6][Note 1]. Former demonstration-unit members still on active duty were recalled to help rebuild the squadron.[2]. Since 1953, they have flown in front of more than 300 million people.[5]. 6 on June 2, the day he split off for a routine maneuver and crashed into a field during an air show . The service says Maj. Stephen Del Bagno died when his jet went down around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday during a routine aerial demonstration training flight over the remote Nevada Test and Training Range, according to a statement from Nellis Air Force Base, where the Thunderbirds are based. He was assigned to a military command that conducts research and weapon system tests. LAS VEGAS, NV The Air Force Thunderbirds this week selected new officers and pilots who will join the squadron in September for the 2022 and 2023 air show seasons. Only in exceptional cases, the IP address will be sent to Google's servers and shortened within the United States. This team flew together until August 1950, when it was inactivated due to the American commitment to the Korean War. The F-16 was superior to the T-38 Talon that they previously flew. The difference in altitudes at Nellis and Mountain Home may have contributed to the pilot's error. He did not attempt to eject. Air Force Times quotes an official USAF release as stating: While Heard led the team through a highly successful show season, Leavitt lost confidence in his leadership and risk management style Leavitt determined that new leadership was necessary to ensure the highest levels of pride, precision and professionalism within the team.. [9], On 2 April 1984, at the direction of Gen. Wilbur Creech, Commanding General, USAF Tactical Air Command, the two authorized and only known copies of the crash videotape were destroyed, with Creech himself erasing the portion of the master tape that showed the final impact and subsequent fireball of the four aircraft. The aircraft, valued at about $20.4 million, was destroyed. The next year the Thunderbirds performed their first overseas air shows, in a tour of South and Central America, and added a permanent solo routine to the demonstration. 5960. The United State Air Force Thunderbirds were created in 1953. Photo credit: Master Sgt. Maj. Stephen Del Bagno died when his F-16 Fighting Falcon jet crashed during routine trainingon the Nevada Test and Training Range about 10:30 a.m., military officials said. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this blog contents without express and written permission from this site's author/owner is strictly prohibited. Google may use your Personal Data to contextualize and personalize ads in its advertising network. The USAF Air Demonstration Squadron ("Thunderbirds") is the air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force (USAF). Visually cueing off the lead aircraft during formation maneuvering, the wing and slot pilots disregarded their positions relative to the ground. The pilot died in the crash. The Air Force on Thursday identified the Thunderbirds pilot killed in the F-16 crash at the Nevada Test and Training range as Maj. Stephen Del Bagno. '', The city airports director, George Doughty, said that Colonel Smith ''was advised by the tower that there were birds in the area before he took off.''. NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --The U.S. Air Force on Thursday identified the pilot who died whenhis F-16 Fighting Falcon jet crashedduring training over the Nevada desert. The wreckage spread uphill toward the summit, indicating a high-speed impact,. Colonel Smith, of Rossville, Ga., who was 40 years old, had been commander of the team for three years. 2 aircraft during a pitch-up maneuver that resulted in the death of Capt Gene Devlin at Hamilton Air Force Base on 9May. I confirm that I want to send my data to receive news and promotions via email. Please enter valid email address to continue. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations. The Thunderbirds were established 65 years ago and continue to perform in front of millions of people every year. With black smoke billowing from the exhaust and the aircraft losing altitude in a high nose-up attitude, the safety officer on the ground radioed Capt Hauck: "You're on fire, punch out!" Del Bagno then started a descending half-loop maneuver called the Split-S, reaching a maximum of 8.56 Gs after five seconds, the report said. [2] Four T-38As, Numbers 14, comprising the basic diamond formation, hit the desert floor almost simultaneously on Range 65, now referred to as "The Gathering of Eagles Range". The Arrowhead involves maneuvers in tight formation with as little as 18 inches (46cm) fuselage to canopy separation. Greenville, South Carolina, "Thunderbird Ejection Seat", catastrophic loss during pre-season training, National Museum of the United States Air Force, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, 57th Fighter Weapons (later, 57th Tactical Training; 57th Fighter Weapons; 57th Fighter; 57th) Wing, "Four Air Force Thunderbirds killed in crash", "AFHRA United States Air Force Thunderbirds lineage and history", First woman Thunderbird pilot proud to serve, Major Nicole Malachowski and Major Samantha Weeks, Sequestration measures cancel Thunderbirds' appearances past April 1, List of air show accidents and incidents#1981, "Thunderbird pilot ejects as F-16C crashes at airshow", "Thunderbirds fighter jet crashes in Colorado Springs after flyover at Air Force Academy graduation", "Thunderbird F-16 crashes after Academy graduation; pilot unhurt", "Faulty Throttle Contributed to Thunderbirds Crash: Report", "Blue Angels pilot killed in Tennessee crash", "Excessive speed blamed for Thunderbird crash in Dayton", "19 killed in plane crash in southwest Idaho", "Plane crashes into knoll, taking lives of 19 aboard", "2 Thunderbird fliers killed in rehearsal", "Two aerobatic jets collide, 1 falls, 2 die", "Crash of jet kills narrator for precision flying team", "Thunderbird jet crash kills team's leader", "Air Force identifies Thunderbirds pilot killed in F-16 crash in Nevada", "National Museum of the Air Force FactSheet: Four Horsemen", "Visiting the USAF Thunderbirds Museum at Nellis", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_States_Air_Force_Thunderbirds&oldid=1134782923, 24 September 1961: TSgt John Lesso of the Thunderbirds, 4 June 1972: Major Joe Howard, flying Thunderbird No. Personal data that are processed:Tracker; Usage Data. He stated that he erased the tape because it would likely be used for sensationalism purposes and he was concerned about the privacy of the victims' families. The impact point was only 100 feet higher than the takeoff elevation and 50 feet below the summit of the 300-foot hill. The movie is fairly . The aircraft continued to stay airborne for about half a mile before hitting a large oak tree and a barn, then sliding across a field and flipping as it traversed an irrigation canalultimately erupting into a fireball just a few hundred feet from the runway's end. Eric "Miami" Tise, F-16 Instructor/Evaluator Pi 3 (now one of . This practice remained in force through the 1973 season. A five-page report of the mishap was published by Aviation Week & Space Technology in their issue dated 17 May 1982. [3] Only a few minor modifications differentiate a Thunderbird from an operational F-16C. The year 1962 saw the introduction of dual solo routines, and the Thunderbirds went on their first European deployment in 1963, the year after the disbanding of the Skyblazers[ja] (see below). Dwight Roberts, ejected from the flaming jet before it went down. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds have announced five new officer selections for the 2023-2024 air show seasons. By JOHN J. SPETZ. The F-16 that crashed in the Nevada Test and Training Range on Wednesday morning belonged to the United States Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, more popularly known as the Thunderbirds. Although an official inquiry was ordered, Gen. W.L. Eyewitness details fatal plane crash at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport. This can increase the danger when a pilot quickly shifts to high G-forces, which tends to pull the blood to the abdomen and lower extremities and away from the brain. Thanks to the 2009 upgrade to the Block 52, the Diamond now has more than enough thrust to continue to climb straight up into their first maneuver, the Diamond Loop. The first F-16A Fighting Falcon in Thunderbird colors arrived at Nellis AFB, Nevada, on 22 June 1982. David L. Hauck, 34 years old, a native of Mingo Junction, Ohio, who was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base outside Las Vegas, Nev, a spokesman. Despite inclement weather, more than 100,000 people attended the air show, garnering nationwide exposure by Irish media. An Air Force Thunderbird jet crashed today as it attempted to land after a precision flying show for about 80,000 spectators at Hill Air Force Base. Before joining the Air Force, Del Bagno was a civilian flight instructor, corporate pilot, skywriter, and a banner tow pilot. Because the Thunderjet was a single-seat fighter, a two-seat T-33 Shooting Star served as the narrator's aircraft and was used as the VIP/Press ride aircraft. The Air Force on Tuesday released the report on the investigation into the April 4 crash at the Nevada Test and Training Range near Nellis Air Force Base. The accident investigation board found that the push-pull effect of quickly going from -2.06 Gs or twice the equivalent of standing on ones head to 8.56 Gs dramatically lessened his tolerance to G-forces, and substantially contributed to the crash. All rights reserved. ''It skidded about 1,500 feet along the runway. All rights reserved. He is a 2005 graduate of Utah Valley State University, and commissioned from Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. in 2007. A Thunderbirds air demonstration is a mix of formation flying and solo routines. Maj. Del Bagno was 34 years old and lived in Valencia, California. Captain Jerry D. S. Bolt, [USAF Academy] Class of 1964, was killed in an aircraft accident 73 miles north of Nellis AFB, NV on 21 December 1972. [19] Team members made recruiting appearances in the Las Vegas area that did not require travel. The Air Force's premier air demonstration team. Zachary "Zeke" Taylor, F-15C Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, 67th Fighter Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan Thunderbird 6: Capt. No one is injured. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Heavy smoke could be seen coming from an area . By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. June 4, 1972: Major Joe Howard killed during the Transpo airshow at Dulles International Airport. The leader of the Air Force Thunderbirds precision flying team died today when his T-38 jet crashed, apparently after it lost power when its engines sucked up several seagulls on takeoff. The Thunderbirds were formed in 1917 as an operational squadron. Facebook Like button and social widgets (Facebook, Inc.). The squadron exhibits the professional qualities the Air Force develops in the people who fly, maintain and support these aircraft. [1] Four Northrop T-38 Talon jets crashed during operational training on 18 January 1982, killing all four pilots. Apparently Colonel Smith's parachute failed to open and he was fatally injured when he landed in a rocky area. In this file photo, Maj. Stephen Del Bagno, Thunderbird 4/Slot Pilot, preforms preflight checks in his F-16 Fighting Falcon at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 26, 2018. The team flew F-16As, which they continued to fly until 1991 when they switched to the F-16C. Since Heard's release last November, two-year team veteran Lt. Col. Kevin Walsh has led the Thunderbirds. Captain Bolt flew the slot position with the Thunderbird Aerial Demonstration Team. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. The four-aircraft diamond formation demonstrates the training and precision of Air Force pilots, while the solo aircraft highlight the maximum capabilities of theF-16 Fighting Falcon. For a time, if the show's sponsor permitted it, the pilots would create a sonic boom; this ended when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) banned supersonic flight over the continental United States. He had a reputation for exceptional physical fitness and had carried out many high-G maneuvers successfully in the weeks prior to the mishap. Alan Wilson Thunderbirds General Dynamics F-16CM The squadron switched to the F-16 after a devastating accident that occurred in 1982 when four members of the team were killed. Two of the original Skyblazer team members, identical twins C.A. 4 (slot). When he succeeds the bank decides to upgrade the alarm system. Four pilots were killed when their planes went down at Thunderbird Lake. The Thunderbirds were practicing at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, Nevada (now Creech Air Force Base) for a performance at DavisMonthan AFB, Arizona. For two years, Lt.Col. [original research?] Could Have Caused Flame-Out, ''The airplane seems to have flown into a flock of birds,'' a spokesman for General Creach said, ''some of which could have been ingested, which could have caused the engines to lose power or flameout. The 2009 Far East Tour took the team to multiple locations on the western border of the Pacific Rim and included performances in Hawaii, Australia, Malaysia, Guam, Thailand, Japan and South Korea. Nonetheless, the 1982 season was cancelled for the Thunderbirds while they rebuilt the team. 8 ran off the runway and overturned prior to the. Retrieved 30 August 2010. 2022Recurrent Ventures. 1 aircraft's control stick actuator. It looked like all of them hit at the same time. When Quebec City celebrated its 400th anniversary, the Thunderbirds joined the Canadian Armed Forces's Snowbirds, the British Royal Air Force's Red Arrows, and the United States Navy's Blue Angels in a ceremonial flight over Quebec City. Thunderbird 2: Capt. 9 January 1969: Capt Jack Thurman was killed after a mid-air collision in training north of Nellis; the other F-100D returned safely. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein were among those who expressed their grief. Personal Data collected: Tracker; Usage Data. Capt. 6 (T-38A) crashed while performing the hi-lo Maneuver. He flew 47 combat missions during the Persian Gulf War earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals. There's pieces of wreckage all over. "A U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds pilot was killed when his F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed over the Nevada Test and Training Range today at approximately 10:30 a.m. during a routine aerial. The Thunderbirds pilot killed in a fighter jet crash in central Nevada was an experienced aviator who had logged more than 3,500 flight hours, the Air Force said Thursday. Created 70years ago in 1953, the USAF Thunderbirds are the third-oldest formal flying aerobatic team (under the same name) in the world, after the French Air Force Patrouille de France formed in 1931 and the United States Navy Blue Angels formed in 1946. The pilot ejected and was medically evaluated. Lauren Schlichting, 333rd Fighter Squadron evaluating pilot and executive officer, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, to join their team. In 1982, the Thunderbirds suffered a catastrophic loss during pre-season training on 18 January. Cajun Yesterday, we lost one of our own. [5], Col. Mike Wallace, of the Public Information Office at nearby Nellis AFB, home of the demonstration team, said that Major General Gerald D. Larson, the head of an Air Force investigation board, arrived at Nellis that night. He logged more than 3,500 flight hours in more than 30 . As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. in Aeronautics degree on March 23, 2018, just weeks before his death. On Oct. 16, 2018 Air Combat Command (ACC) released an accident investigation board report regarding the F-16 Thunderbird crash which occurred on Apr. GOING SUPERSONIC with U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds! (U.S. Air . It's with great sadness that we inform you that the pilot of that F-16 died in the incident. 26 September 1957: 1st Lt Bob Rutte was killed in solo training at Nellis. Thunderbirds pilot Maj. Stephen Del Bagno temporarily lost consciousness during a high G-force maneuver and was incapacitated right before a fatal crash in April. "Larson and a team of 10 to 15 experts are expected to spend three weeks studying the wreckage of the four T-38s the worst [training] crash in the 28-year history of the Air Force aerial demonstration team. He was in his first season with the Thunderbirds flight demonstration team, after serving with the 58th Fighter Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida as an F-35A stealth jet evaluation pilot. Behind the scenes at Thunderbird training, WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio facebook feed(Opens a new window), WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio twitter feed(Opens a new window), WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio youtube feed(Opens a new window), NewsCenter 7 had rare access to Thunderbirds just weeks before crash, PHOTOS: Thunderbird flips on its top at Dayton Air Show, As a community, we are just crushed; Southern Ohio township mourns loss of 4 in murder-suicide, At least 1 person injured after being hit by Dayton police cruiser, Reality star Honey Boo Boo inside speeding car involved in chase with deputies in Georgia, Sedan crashes into Springfield home, damages utility poles, wires, Dayton breaks 70-year-old rainfall record following storm; Cincinnati, Columbus receive record rain, EEOC Statement for WHIO-TV and WHIO-AM/FM. 6 (, 20 August 2005: The Thunderbirds temporarily grounded themselves pending an investigation into a minor mid-air incident during the, 2 June 2016: Major Alex Turner, flying Thunderbird No. It was awarded nine Presidential Unit Citations in World War II. The F-16 was not overdue for any inspections, and there was no indication of any recurring maintenance problems or any mechanical, structural or electrical failure that would have contributed to the crash. / CBS/AP. Present-day USAF Thunderbirds carry the lineage, history, and honors of the 30th on active duty. In mirror formations, one Thunderbird must be inverted, and it is always number 5. >> MORE:NewsCenter 7 had rare access to Thunderbirds just weeks before crash. July 2002 - January 2004, Thunderbird Opposing Solo Pilot, Nellis AFB, Nev 12.