Show Season

The Thunderbirds have the privilege and responsibility to perform for people all around the world, displaying the pride, precision and professionalism of American Airmen. In every hour-long demonstration, the team combines years of training and experience with an attitude of excellence to showcase what the Air Force is all about.

The sharply choreographed, drill-style ground ceremony kicks off the demonstration by showcasing the attention to detail and esprit de corps that defines our enlisted members. As the jets take to the skies and fly only a few feet from wingtip to wingtip, the crowd gets a glimpse of the awesome skills and capabilities that all fighter pilots must possess. The solo pilots integrate their own loud and proud routine, exhibiting some of the maximum capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon – the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter jet.

In 2012, we will be taking that show on the road all over the contiguous United States, plus a couple of stops in Alaska and Canada.

Here’s this year’s complete schedule:

March 17: Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.
March 31 & April 1: Lakeland, Fla.
April 14-15: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
April 21-22: Barksdale AB, La.
April 28-29: Fort Lauderale, Fla.
May 5-6: Shaw AFB, S.C.
May 12-13: Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
May 19-20: March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
May 23: Colorado Springs, Colo. – U.S. Air Force Academy graduation flyover
May 26-27: Hill Air Force Base, Utah
June 2-3: Rockford, Ill.
June 9-10: Ocean City, Md.
June 16-17: North Kingstown, R.I.
June 23-24: Indianapolis, Ind.
June 30 & July 1: Battle Creek, Mich.
July 7-8: Gary, Ind.
July 21-22: Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
July 25: Cheyenne, Wyo.
July 28-29: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
Aug. 4-5: Hillsboro, Ore.
Aug. 11-12: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
Aug. 17: Atlantic City, N.J.
Aug. 25-26: Brunswick, Maine
Sept. 1-2: Davenport, Iowa
Sept. 8-9: Sacramento, Calif.
Sept. 15-16: Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
Sept. 22-23: Salinas, Calif.
Sept. 29-30: McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
Oct. 6-7: Fort Worth, Texas
Oct. 13-14: Daytona Beach, Fla.
Oct. 20-21: El Paso, Texas
Oct. 27-28: Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
Nov. 3-4: Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla.
Nov. 10-11: Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.