Skill, training, and trust are critical
By Bruce Rolfe
While United States Air Force Thunderbird pilots control the plane they fly during air show demonstrations, they emphasize there are many components along with people behind the scenes that help each show be a success.
Training, skill, trust in others and support on the ground are critical.
Whether it’s flying tight maneuvers that can see some planes flying as close as 18 inches from another plane, performing rolls, or passing each other at high rates of speed, relying on others on the team is required for the pilots to put on a good show and remain safe.
The Thunderbird team once again provided a crowd pleasing show in three performances July 4, 5, and 6 as part of the Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival July 2-6 at Battle Creek’s Executive Airport.
While United States Air Force Thunderbird pilots control the plane they fly during air show demonstrations, they emphasize there are many components along with people behind the scenes that help each show be a success.
Training, skill, trust in others and support on the ground are critical.
Whether it’s flying tight maneuvers that can see some planes flying as close as 18 inches from another plane, performing rolls, or passing each other at high rates of speed, relying on others on the team is required for the pilots to put on a good show and remain safe.
The Thunderbird team once again provided a crowd pleasing show in three performances July 4, 5, and 6 as part of the Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival July 2-6 at Battle Creek’s Executive Airport.
Major Tyler Clark, the number 4 slot pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds currently in his second season with the Thunderbirds, said Thunderbird pilots are a unified group that enjoys performing for others and being around each other.
“Camaraderie is crucial, ultimately for success. Really, any team. But especially for the Thunderbirds. I mean, we’re on the road with each other for 250 days out of the year. So those relationships have to be super tight, and also by the nature of the business that we’re in. It’s an incredibly dangerous business, so we also have a lot of deep and grained trust in each other as well,” said Major Clark, who has been in the Air Force approximately 15 years.
He adds there are many people behind the scenes that work hard to make sure an air show demonstration goes smoothly.
Besides the pilots, he said there are 12 officers on the team, which is comprised of over 130 people from over 32 different job types in the Air Force.
Clark said the people who work in plane maintenance are crucial because those people make sure the Thunderbirds are operating correctly and keep the pilots safe.
“Without maintenance, there’s no show. They work around the clock, almost 24/7 to make sure that these jets are ready to go. They’ll be working around the clock tonight, after the shows tomorrow and Sunday as well. And they are the key piece to making this demonstration happen,” said Clark.
“I want every person who would attend this show to know that the only reason why these jets are airborne is because of the Herculean effort of the maintenance team behind it to get these jets ready to go,” said Clark, who is originally from Florence, South Carolina.
Clark said going to air shows growing up, watching some of the stunts the pilots performed got him interested in becoming a pilot. He adds after the popular movie “Top Gun” was released, his interest in flying intensified.
“Anything from the crazy aerobatic stunt pilots to the military jets, a maxed after burner in your face to the large cargo birds doing their low slow passes, that’s kind of where the affection started for me,” said Clark.
“I know it sounds a little cliche, but meld all of that together with military experience in the family and it was a perfect marriage of all of the things I liked. Flying fast, being in the military, serving my country and having fun with a great group of people,” continued the number 4 slot Thunderbird pilot.
Clark said the average number of flight hours for a number 2 through 6 Thunderbird pilot is approximately 1,500.
“Every single demonstration pilot on the team is a qualified combat Air Force instructor pilot from whatever air frame they came from. And I would argue that pretty much everyone has at least 10 years of experience in the Air Force, plus or minus, you know, a year or two here and there, and then anywhere from upwards of 15 to almost 20 years of experience. And that’s position dependent,” said Clark.
He said a pilot can only be a member of the Thunderbirds for two years except the number eight pilot which is a one year position that flows into the two year demonstration team, landing anywhere into the number two through six pilot position.
Clark said since there are generally one to two flying positions that open each year, nominations are sought each year.
Clark said to be a demonstration pilot, an application package has to be submitted in January. If a pilot meets the qualifications, the selection process enters a semifinals and finals phase.
“And from there, we’re just trying to whittle down the list of qualified candidates. There might be a group of several people who are totally qualified to be Thunderbirds.
So then we try to look at it from the bigger picture of like a mosaic. And are you the right tile piece in that mosaic for the upcoming team to fill the position,” explained Clark.
He said when a pilot gets an offer to join the Thunderbirds, it’s quite rewarding.
“A lot of people would argue that when you achieve a goal, it’s like a culmination of hard work. But to me, making the team was really the beginning of a new job, and something that was going to be incredibly challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. But it was also one of the best feelings I ever had when I got that phone call, we would love for you to be the new right wing for the Thunderbirds,” recalled Clark, who said he was the number three pilot when he made the Thunderbird team.
Clark said as a number 4 slot he flies behind and underneath the boss (team’s commander and lead pilot, also known as Thunderbird #1) during a demonstration for the majority of the show.
Clark is also a lead instructor pilot for formations, meaning during the training season he puts together a training plan from scratch with new pilots and potentially a new boss or a different position pilot.
He said a new season is typically made up 50-50 of new pilots on the team and seasoned pilots. Clark said the training starts with basics then progress to leaps, rolls and other maneuvers.
He adds once the show season starts there’s a lot of radio communication between the pilots to make sure the show routine is executed and goes smoothly.
The training and communication is very important considering some of the tight flying maneuvers the Thunderbird pilots fly in. Clark said in some formations pilots can be as close as 18 inches apart, specifically the diamond pass and review.
“What looks like a very simple pass from show left going to the right is almost about a minute of sheer terror for us in the formation because of how close we’re flying,” explained the Thunderbird No. 4 pilot.
Flying at such a close distance to each other makes training, skill and trust very important. There’s no room for mistake.
“Our motto on the team is blind trust, and that is not something that we take lightly. When we have new guys join the team, it’s blind trust, but verify. And that is something that you have to earn. It is not given,” said Clark.
Clark, who participated with the Thunderbirds at last year’s Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival, said performing over the Independence Day weekend brings more energy and a feeling of patriotism when a pilot looks down and sees a large audience cheering.
“I was fortunate enough to come last year as well to Battle Creek. And I will tell you, being here on the 4th of July, you could just feel the energy from the crowd, the people. We’ve got the carnival rides, we’ve got the fireworks, the hot air balloons. We have outstanding air demonstration acts, and it is quite the spectacle and I’m honored to be a part of that,” adds Clark.
While he’s flown many hours with the Thunderbirds, he often refers back to trust in each other as being important. And serving the country is also important to him.
“America’s an incredibly strong country, and we’re really strong because of the people in the unity that we have. And that’s kind of synonymous with our team. We put on a really tight demonstration because of really the trust and the unity that we have together. And when we all worked together, we were able to put these jets into the air.
The number 4 slot pilot adds the power and capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon still amazes him.
Each one of these jets pushing out about 29,000 pounds of thrust and afterburner, flying 18 inches apart at high Gs, doing loops and rolls, and it is going to be one heck of a sight to see,” said Clark.
“Camaraderie is crucial, ultimately for success. Really, any team. But especially for the Thunderbirds. I mean, we’re on the road with each other for 250 days out of the year. So those relationships have to be super tight, and also by the nature of the business that we’re in. It’s an incredibly dangerous business, so we also have a lot of deep and grained trust in each other as well,” said Major Clark, who has been in the Air Force approximately 15 years.
He adds there are many people behind the scenes that work hard to make sure an air show demonstration goes smoothly.
Besides the pilots, he said there are 12 officers on the team, which is comprised of over 130 people from over 32 different job types in the Air Force.
Clark said the people who work in plane maintenance are crucial because those people make sure the Thunderbirds are operating correctly and keep the pilots safe.
“Without maintenance, there’s no show. They work around the clock, almost 24/7 to make sure that these jets are ready to go. They’ll be working around the clock tonight, after the shows tomorrow and Sunday as well. And they are the key piece to making this demonstration happen,” said Clark.
“I want every person who would attend this show to know that the only reason why these jets are airborne is because of the Herculean effort of the maintenance team behind it to get these jets ready to go,” said Clark, who is originally from Florence, South Carolina.
Clark said going to air shows growing up, watching some of the stunts the pilots performed got him interested in becoming a pilot. He adds after the popular movie “Top Gun” was released, his interest in flying intensified.
“Anything from the crazy aerobatic stunt pilots to the military jets, a maxed after burner in your face to the large cargo birds doing their low slow passes, that’s kind of where the affection started for me,” said Clark.
“I know it sounds a little cliche, but meld all of that together with military experience in the family and it was a perfect marriage of all of the things I liked. Flying fast, being in the military, serving my country and having fun with a great group of people,” continued the number 4 slot Thunderbird pilot.
Clark said the average number of flight hours for a number 2 through 6 Thunderbird pilot is approximately 1,500.
“Every single demonstration pilot on the team is a qualified combat Air Force instructor pilot from whatever air frame they came from. And I would argue that pretty much everyone has at least 10 years of experience in the Air Force, plus or minus, you know, a year or two here and there, and then anywhere from upwards of 15 to almost 20 years of experience. And that’s position dependent,” said Clark.
He said a pilot can only be a member of the Thunderbirds for two years except the number eight pilot which is a one year position that flows into the two year demonstration team, landing anywhere into the number two through six pilot position.
Clark said since there are generally one to two flying positions that open each year, nominations are sought each year.
Clark said to be a demonstration pilot, an application package has to be submitted in January. If a pilot meets the qualifications, the selection process enters a semifinals and finals phase.
“And from there, we’re just trying to whittle down the list of qualified candidates. There might be a group of several people who are totally qualified to be Thunderbirds.
So then we try to look at it from the bigger picture of like a mosaic. And are you the right tile piece in that mosaic for the upcoming team to fill the position,” explained Clark.
He said when a pilot gets an offer to join the Thunderbirds, it’s quite rewarding.
“A lot of people would argue that when you achieve a goal, it’s like a culmination of hard work. But to me, making the team was really the beginning of a new job, and something that was going to be incredibly challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. But it was also one of the best feelings I ever had when I got that phone call, we would love for you to be the new right wing for the Thunderbirds,” recalled Clark, who said he was the number three pilot when he made the Thunderbird team.
Clark said as a number 4 slot he flies behind and underneath the boss (team’s commander and lead pilot, also known as Thunderbird #1) during a demonstration for the majority of the show.
Clark is also a lead instructor pilot for formations, meaning during the training season he puts together a training plan from scratch with new pilots and potentially a new boss or a different position pilot.
He said a new season is typically made up 50-50 of new pilots on the team and seasoned pilots. Clark said the training starts with basics then progress to leaps, rolls and other maneuvers.
He adds once the show season starts there’s a lot of radio communication between the pilots to make sure the show routine is executed and goes smoothly.
The training and communication is very important considering some of the tight flying maneuvers the Thunderbird pilots fly in. Clark said in some formations pilots can be as close as 18 inches apart, specifically the diamond pass and review.
“What looks like a very simple pass from show left going to the right is almost about a minute of sheer terror for us in the formation because of how close we’re flying,” explained the Thunderbird No. 4 pilot.
Flying at such a close distance to each other makes training, skill and trust very important. There’s no room for mistake.
“Our motto on the team is blind trust, and that is not something that we take lightly. When we have new guys join the team, it’s blind trust, but verify. And that is something that you have to earn. It is not given,” said Clark.
Clark, who participated with the Thunderbirds at last year’s Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival, said performing over the Independence Day weekend brings more energy and a feeling of patriotism when a pilot looks down and sees a large audience cheering.
“I was fortunate enough to come last year as well to Battle Creek. And I will tell you, being here on the 4th of July, you could just feel the energy from the crowd, the people. We’ve got the carnival rides, we’ve got the fireworks, the hot air balloons. We have outstanding air demonstration acts, and it is quite the spectacle and I’m honored to be a part of that,” adds Clark.
While he’s flown many hours with the Thunderbirds, he often refers back to trust in each other as being important. And serving the country is also important to him.
“America’s an incredibly strong country, and we’re really strong because of the people in the unity that we have. And that’s kind of synonymous with our team. We put on a really tight demonstration because of really the trust and the unity that we have together. And when we all worked together, we were able to put these jets into the air.
The number 4 slot pilot adds the power and capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon still amazes him.
Each one of these jets pushing out about 29,000 pounds of thrust and afterburner, flying 18 inches apart at high Gs, doing loops and rolls, and it is going to be one heck of a sight to see,” said Clark.
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