Thunderbirds ready for tour

Trailing streams of white smoke high above Nellis Air Force Base on Tuesday, the Thunderbirds demonstrated aerial maneuvers for their biggest fans.

Friends and family of the Air Force aerial demonstration team based at Nellis were on hand for the Thunderbirds' yearly review in preparation for their 2008 season.

"To see people's reactions, to see how excited they are, their excitement gets me excited," Maj. Kirby Ensser, the right-wing pilot for the Thunderbirds, said.

Also on hand was Gen. John D.W. Corley, who was there to approve the demonstration for the Thunderbirds' upcoming season. The Thunderbirds will spend the next several months performing across the United States and Canada, beginning Saturday in San Angelo, Texas and concluding at Nellis Air Force Base on Nov. 8-9.

But Lt. Col. Greg Thomas, the 120-member squadron's commander, wasn't too worried about that. The Thunderbirds had spent four months training twice a day to prepare.

"We've been practicing really hard since November," he said. "We're ready."

The Thunderbirds 55th year of existence will bring two firsts: a female solo pilot, Maj. Samantha Weeks, and a black solo pilot, Maj. Dyon Douglas.

"It's a humbling honor," said Douglas. "One of my goals is to show minorities there are other avenues to success. Being a pilot is one they don't necessarily think of."

Weeks added, "We're putting a face out there that's a little bit different."

Weeks' and Douglas' maneuvers include flying their two planes straight at each other, traveling over 500 mph, and turning at the last moment to avoid a collision.

"It takes a lot of trust and teamwork," Weeks said.

The solo maneuvers by Weeks and Douglas are coupled with a diamond maneuver by the other four jets.

The six also perform a Delta maneuver, in which they fly closely together in a formation.

"This was magnificent," said Corley, who gave the Thunderbirds the go-ahead for their 2008 tour.

"This isn't just about precision flying, but perfect flying."

Contact reporter Scott Spjut at sspjut@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0279.