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Thunderbird performance, message is team effort

  • Published
  • By Monte Miller and Airman 1st Class Amber Kelly-Woodward
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Many little kids look to the skies and dream of one day soaring through the clouds as a pilot.

The same was true for U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds pilot Maj. T. Dyon Douglas, but he never thought he would he be a member of one of the most elite flying groups in the world and at the same time make history.

Although there have been three other African American Thunderbird pilots, Major Douglas is the first African American solo flyer in the group's 55-year history.

"I've always wanted to fly," Major Douglas said. "I didn't think about putting in an application to be a Thunderbird until about three weeks before the deadline.

He added that the process to become a Thunderbird is a long one. One of the requirements was to be a fighter pilot with more than 1,000 hours of flight time.

"The best pilots in the world are not flying airshows," Major Douglas said. "They are out everyday flying missions."

On top of being regarded as an elite flyer, Major Douglas said he gets satisfaction from making people happy just by doing his job.

"Seeing smiles on faces is the best part," he said. "It's nice to be a good role model and share our stories with other people."

Being a Thunderbird pilot is not all glitz and glamour, though.

Their flying schedule of about 70 shows per year keeps the team away from home five days a week.

The Thunderbirds actual show season runs between the months of March and November, but they spend much more of their time practicing for events.

Major Douglas began his historic tour with the Thunderbirds flying the Number 6 jet in November 2007 and will remain on the team until November 2009.

There are eight Thunderbird pilots that rotate on and off the team in two-year intervals.

Major Douglas said has visited Scott Air Force Base a few times in the past, but this is his first visit as a Thunderbird.
His fellow Thunderbird pilot Maj. Scott Poteet, Thunderbird 4, tells the Air Force story of the more than 520,000 Airmen in the Air Force to the world.

"I bring the Air Force to the public on a daily basis with precision and professionalism," said Major Poteet, a Durham, N.H., native.

During a Thunderbird performance, more than two dozen signature moves are executed.

"I enjoy the thrill, we put on our game face for a flawless demonstration. It is a thrill and it is humbling," said Maj. Poteet, whose favorite move is the diamond. "It is an intense workout, we train to fly three feet apart, it requires intense concentration."

With more than 1,900 hours, Maj. Poteet is a senior pilot. Other planes that he has flown include a T-37, a T/AT-38 and a F-16.

Maj. Poteet is one of eight Thunderbirds, but the entire Thunderbird team consists of 130 Airmen.

Although the pilots are the focal point, the aircraft and the Thunderbird message could not fly without their maintenance crew.

"We're always getting ready at our home station, we maintain, inspect, check for safety, wash, wax and make sure everything looks great," said Staff Sgt. Thomas Ellsworth, Thunderbird crew chief.

The flight crew travels alongside the pilots making sure everything is in place for the demonstration.

"They do the show, then we take over, we even work in shifts to continue working on the planes," said Master Sgt. Rodney Woolever, Thunderbird Quality Assurance superintendent.

The combined efforts of the entire Thunderbird crew are what produce airshows, such as what was seen at Scott this weekend.

"My favorite part is the looks of amazement on the kids' faces," said Staff Sgt. Walter Jenkins, Thunderbird electrician. "They love us and we love them."