How Do You Ride With The Air Force Thunderbirds?
You’ve seen them streak across the sky at air shows, or caught the footage from a cockpit camera, and you think you’d like to take a ride with the Thunderbirds. The US Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron (USAFADS), as the Thunderbirds are more properly known, was formed to make people yearn to soar into the “wild, blue yonder”-and your dream can come true if you meet the strict requirements. Step 1 Be where the Thunderbirds are. To ride with the Thunderbirds, you’ll need to find one of the air shows at which they’re scheduled to appear. The USAFADS travels around the country during the air show season, which lasts from March through November. Check out the yearly schedule at the Thunderbirds website to find an air show appearance near you, or one you can travel to. Step 2 Work in local media or be a celebrity. The Thunderbirds’ air show appearances are designed to serve as an Air Force recruiting tool. At every air show, a few rides are open to members of the media, who can use the po
