BILOXI, Mississippi — For the first time in more than three years, the unmistakable red, white and blue jets of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will roar above Biloxi in 2023.
The Thunderbirds, formally known as the 3600th Air Demonstration Unit, released their 2023 schedule this week and it includes performances in Biloxi on April 29-30. While details were not released, it’s presumed the Thunderbirds will serve as the centerpiece of a two-day air show at Keesler Air Force Base, which last played host to the Thunderbirds in May 2019.
Now in its 69th year, the unit was formed in May 1953 at Luke AFB in Arizona, just six years after the U.S. Air Force was designated as its own branch of military service.
According to the Air Force, a Thunderbirds air demonstration is a mix of formation flying and solo routines. The four-aircraft diamond formation demonstrates the training and precision of Air Force pilots, while the solo aircraft highlight the maximum capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
The pilots perform approximately 30 maneuvers in a demonstration. The entire show runs about an hour and fifteen minutes. The show season lasts from March to November, with the winter months used to train new members.
Officers serve a two-year assignment with the squadron, while enlisted personnel serve three to four. Replacements must be trained for about half of the team each year, providing a constant mix of experience.
The squadron performs approximately 75 demonstrations each year and has never canceled a demonstration due to maintenance difficulty. More than 300 million people in all 50 states and 58 foreign countries have seen the Thunderbirds in more than 4,000 aerial demonstrations.
What many may not realize is the Thunderbirds are also considered a part of the USAF combat force. If needed, the team’s personnel and aircraft can be integrated into a fighter unit at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The F-16s flown by the Thunderbirds are only slightly modified and can be made combat-ready in less than 72 hours.
The Thunderbirds’ 2023 season kicks off Feb. 19 at the Daytona 500 in Daytona, Fla., and concludes Nov. 4-5 in Punta Gorda, Fla. The full schedule can be found on the Thunderbirds Facebook page.
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