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Date: 6/15/2018
WESTOVER ARB – The single F-16 that flew into Westover this week is the harbinger of this year’s Great New England Air and Space Show.
Major Branden Felker, a member of the Air Force’s celebrated precision flying unit, The Thunderbirds, flew into Westover to meet with officials from the 439th Air Wing and others in preparation for the unit’s appearance at the air show on July 14 and 15.
SMSgt. Andrew Biscoe, the acting chief/superintendent of the 439th AW Public Affairs office, said Felker’s arrival “signals the start of the something exciting coming in July.”
Biscoe noted the Thunderbirds have not appeared at an air show at Westover since 2008 and the air show’s date was determined this year by the availability of the Thunderbirds.
He added Felker, who is the advance pilot and narrator for the Thunderbirds, came to double-check details about the layout and logistics of the base and the air show.
Felker said the unit would fly in 56 shows in 30 locations during its 2018 season that runs from late March through November. The team, stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, will spend the rest of the year rehearsing and organizing for the next season.
Felker spoke with the press on the base’s runway while his crew chief, TSgt. Ken Cordova was making inspections to the plane. Biscoe explained Felker’s F-16 was the only one in the unit with two seats.
The Thunderbirds’ mission is to “try to showcase the pride and precision of what we do in the Air Force every day,” Felker said.
There are more than 120 personnel in the unit including pilots and support, he explained. The support staff represents 28 different job specialties.
Felker is in his first year as a member of the unit. He explained there is a lengthy and comprehensive application process for both officers and enlisted men and women to be considered for the team. The pilots have a rotation every year to ensure continuity.
Felker is an Air Force Academy graduate who has flown in fighters more than 2,000 hours with assignments with NATO and the Air Force Reserves.
He said on the Thursday preceding the air show, the unit will arrive in the area to practice. “You’ll hear and see us,” he said with a smile and recommended many people will be able to see the pilots perform from their back yards.
He explained the weather during the show dictates the kind of performance the unit can stage. If there is a low ceiling of clouds they will perform “a flat show.” What the pilots like to present though is “the high show.”
For more information on the air show, go to http://greatnewenglandairshow.com.