'Air Force Week' locations selected for 2007

    The United States Air Force announced yesterday the six locations to host "Air Force Week" in 2007.

They are:
Phoenix, Mar 19 - 25
Sacramento, June 4-10
St. Louis, July 2-8
New England, Aug.18-26
Hawaii, Sept. 10-16
Atlanta, Oct. 8-14

     The inaugural Air Force Week took place in St. Louis in August 2006. The success of the St. Louis event prompted the Air Force to begin partnering with other communities for 2007. 
    The Air Force Week program is part of the proactive approach in communicating to the public. "There is so much to tell," said Brig. Gen. Erwin Lessel, Air Force Director of Communications. "Next year the Air Force will celebrate its 60th Anniversary, and I can't think of a better time to emphasize the Air Force's rich heritage and limitless horizons the service has to offer. These week-long events will give people the opportunity to meet the airmen who are selflessly defending America and to thank the public for their support of our Air Force men and women," Lessel said. 
    Each Air Force Week will include community visits and talks by senior Air Force officials, flight demonstration team performances and displays providing an up close and personal look at the Air Force men and women serving on the front lines. 
    "We are mindful of our true obligations to the nation," says Maj. Dave Haworth, the Pentagon's Air Force Week director. "We are a nation at war and the Air Force is engaged in combat operations everyday. When we can though, we want to get our people, our planes, and our amazing stories out to the public. After all, it's 'America's Air Force' and we are grateful for their support and we are proud to serve this great nation," he said.

 

 

Blue Angels announce 2007 show schedule
    The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, has announced their schedule for the 2007 show season. 
    Following winter training, the team will begin its 61st season at Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif., March 10, 2007. It will conclude Nov. 10 at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. 
    The Blue Angels are scheduled to perform 66 demonstrations at 35 air show sites throughout the United States, as they celebrate 20 years of flying the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet. 
    Demonstration sites are selected in support of the objectives of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense. Public performances greatly assist Navy and Marine Corps recruiting and retention goals, enhance esprit de corps among uniformed men and women, and demonstrate the professional skills and capabilities of the armed forces to bolster pride in the American public. 
    "The Blue Angels are fired up and ready for a safe and exhilarating show season," said Cmdr. Kevin Mannix, Blue Angels flight leader and commanding officer. "While we wanted to perform at every air show site, we have a limited number of available performance dates each season. Every venue that requested to host the Blue Angels received the Navy's utmost consideration."
    The Blue Angels are scheduled to perform at the following locations in 2007:

    March: 10, Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif.; 17-18 Davis Monthan AFB., Ariz.;  24, Tyndall AFB, Fla.; 31, MacDill AFB, Fla.
    April: 1, MacDill AFB, Fla.; 14-15, NAS Corpus Christi, Texas; 21-22, MCAS Beaufort, S.C.; 28-29, Vidalia, Ga.
    May: 5-6, Offutt AFB, Neb.; 12, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. ; 19-20, La Crosse, Wis.;
23, U.S. Naval Academy, Md.; 26-27, Millville, N.J.
    June: 2-3, Rockford, Ill.; 9-10, Tinker AFB, Okla.; 16-17, Fargo, N.D.; 23-24, North Kingstown, R.I.; 30, Battle Creek, Mich.
    July: 1, Battle Creek, Mich.; 7-8, Ypsilanti, Mich.; 14-15, McConnell AFB, Kan.; 21, Pensacola Beach, Fla.; 28-29, Bozeman, Mont.
    August: 4-5, Seattle, Wash.; 11-12, Hillsboro, Oregon; 25-26, Indianapolis, Ind.
    September: 1-3, St. Louis, Mo.; 8-9, NAS Oceana, Va.; 15-16, NAS Brunswick, Maine;
22-23, Millington, Tenn.; 29-30, Salinas, Calif.
    October: 6-7, San Francisco, Calif.; 13-14, MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; 20-21, Fort Worth, Texas; 27-28, Muskogee, Okla.
    November: 3-4, Jacksonville Beach, Fla.; 9-10, NAS Pensacola, Fla.
    Although these dates have been approved, they are subject to change. For the most updated schedule information, log on to the team's official Web site at: www.blueangels.navy.mil .

 

Thunderbirds release 2007 show schedule
    The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, "Thunderbirds," has announced its 2007 air show schedule. 
    The team is scheduled to perform more than 68 shows in 21 states and nine European countries.
    The 2007 schedule is as follows: 
    March: 24-25, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.;  31, Point Mugu Naval Base Ventura County, Calif. 
    April: 1, Point Mugu Naval Base Ventura County, Calif.; 14-15, Eglin AFB, Fla.; 21-22, Barksdale AFB, La. ; 28-29, Langley AFB, Va. 
    May: 5-6, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 12-13, McGuire AFB, N.J.; 19-20, Andrews AFB, Md.;
26-27, Wantagh (Jones Beach), N.Y.; 30, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. 
    June: 2-3, Davenport, Iowa; 9-10 Sacramento, Calif.; 16-17, Pittsburgh, Pa.; 23-24, Galway, Ireland; 26, Krzesiny Air Base, Poland; 28, Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania; 30, Ankara, Turkey. 
    July: 1, Graf Ignatievo, Bulgaria; 4, Aviano AB, Italy; 7- 8, Evreux Field, France; 14-15, RAF Fairford, U.K.; 25, Cheyenne, Wyo.; 28-29, Dayton, Ohio. 
    August: 11-12, Niagara Falls, N.Y.; 15, Atlantic City, N.J.; 18-19, Chicago, Ill.; 25-26, Otis Air National Guard Base, Mass. 
    September: 1-3, Cleveland, Ohio; 8, Minot AFB, N.D.; 15, Hickam AFB, Hawaii; 22-23, El Paso, Texas; 29-30, Columbus, Ohio. 
    October: 6-7, Pope AFB, N.C.; 13-14, Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, Calif.; 20-21, Moody AFB, Ga.; 27-28, New Orleans, La. 
    November: 3-4, NASA, Cape Canaveral, Fla.; 10-11, Nellis AFB, Nev. 
    "The entire team is excited to announce our schedule for 2007," said Lt. Col. Kevin Robbins, Thunderbird No. 1, commander and leader. "The Thunderbirds' motto is 'Ambassadors in Blue,' in the truest sense of those words this year we'll be able to bring the message of every hard-working airman to thousands of people around the world." 
    The second-year commander said his team is ready to take the airman's story abroad.
"We are well aware this is a time of conflict for our nation, yet it is important to take the time to display the true nature of our armed forces, both to allies and foes," Col. Robbins said. "We look forward to illustrating the dedication, commitment and humility our airmen display in their jobs each day, both at home and overseas." 
    The Thunderbirds will also commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Air Force throughout their 2007 season. "We are representing six decades of air dominance this year," Col. Robbins said. "The Air Force and Thunderbirds of today uphold the pride and professionalism that millions of airmen have displayed for 60 years." 
    The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron is an Air Combat Command unit composed of eight pilots (including six demonstration pilots), four support officers, four civilians and about 110 enlisted people performing in more than 29 Air Force specialties. 
    The 2007 team includes the world's first female jet demonstration pilot, Maj. Nicole Malachowski, Thunderbird No. 3, right wing, in her second year, and the Thunderbirds' first female solo pilot, Maj. Samantha Weeks, Thunderbird No. 6, opposing solo, in her first season with the team. 
    The remaining pilots for the 2007 season include: Maj. Chris Austin, Thunderbird No. 2, left wing; Maj. Scott Poteet, Thunderbird No. 4, slot; and Maj. Ed Casey, Thunderbird No. 5, lead solo. 
    Rounding out the list of officers are: Maj. Rob Skelton, Thunderbird No. 7, operations officer; Maj. Tad Clark, Thunderbird No. 8, advance pilot/narrator; Maj. (Dr.) Dan Mirski, Thunderbird No. 9, flight surgeon; Capt. Amy Glisson, Thunderbird No. 10, executive officer; Capt. Charles Ploetz, Thunderbird No. 11, maintenance officer; and Capt. Elizabeth Kreft, Thunderbird No. 12, public affairs officer. 
    A Thunderbirds aerial demonstration is a mix of formation flying and solo routines. The pilots perform approximately 40 maneuvers in a demonstration. The entire show, including ground and air, runs about one hour. The air show season lasts from March to November, with the winter months used to train new members.