Heather Skold: Honorary Thunderbird
Their sound, unmistakable; their razor-sharp precision, jaw-dropping.
A triumphant entrance to the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation, the Thunderbirds roar through the skies of Southern Colorado, forcing even the most seasoned sight-seer to stop in traffic.
But lest you think the Thunderbirds merely consist of six F-16 jets and their pilots, this elite team is comprised of 120 people, representing 25 different career fields: maintenance, field support, supply, public affairs, medics, and financial personnel. They spend 200 days on the road, putting on air shows to demonstrate the depth and breadth of the Air Force.
Quite the exemplary recruiting tool.
“We are just a reflection of what’s out there,” says Maj. Scott Petz, pilot of Thunderbird No. 8.
“There’s no draft, so people have to know about the opportunities that are available in the Air Force,” explains Capt. Sara Harper, with the crew’s public affairs.
Just to qualify to be a Thunderbird pilot, applicants must have logged 750 flight hours. Most have been in the service for nearly ten years, and have flown multiple combat sorties.
Just for this “Honorary Thunderbird” to get the opportunity, I had to complete four hours of briefings before stepping foot in the F-16.
First, I received a background on the Thunderbirds, then a medical briefing, G-suit fitting, emergency parachute how-to, and explanation of the aerial maneuvers I would get to experience.
By this time, my excitement was crossing the line into the nervous category — exacerbated especially knowing that my pilot, Maj. Petz — is nicknamed Cheetah.
Strapped in tightly in the second seat of the F-16, Maj. Petz and I taxied to the end of the runway.
This was the moment I knew my life would be forever changed.
We gained speed quickly, angled straight for the sky, climbing to 16,000 ft. within ten seconds. The G forces then would just be a taste of what I’d experience later in our flight.
Maj. Petz gave me a glimpse at what their team experiences regularly during performances: 4- and 8-point turns, aileron rolls, loops, barrel rolls, and inverted flight. Plus, the coveted — and physically taxing — 9Gs.
In between maneuvers, Maj. Petz gave me a chance to recover. This inexperienced flyer was feeling the effects of the G strain on her body (thanks to the Thunderbirds crew, they packed plastic bags for me to use during flight… which came in handy)! We raced through the clouds, zig-zagging east of Pueblo, then to the backside of America’s Mountain, past Cripple Creek, and over Manitou Springs.
Perhaps the most physically taxing: a 360-degree turn on our side, pulling 7.5 Gs. As thrilling as is was, and despite my attempts at utilizing the “hook breath” — a fast intake of air after releasing the epiglottis — my system didn’t entirely agree with it (you can read between the lines here).
What’s for sure: flying F-16s is not for the faint of heart (or stomach…).
Hats off to the fine men and women who are able to make flying look so effortless.
For more information on the Thunderbirds’ practice schedule, click here.
