Thunderbirds Resume Training

Photo by TSgt. Sean M. White

Training flights for the Thunderbirds, the US Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, resumed several days after temporary funding for flying hours was restored by US Air Force officials on 15 July 2013. The team is allowed to resume training flights through the end of the fiscal year, but will not resume aerial demonstrations previously scheduled for the 2013 calendar year. The restored flying hours are now allocated to combat aircraft and crews across Air Combat Command’s operational and test units, as well as the Thunderbirds. The demonstration team cancelled participation in airshows and stopped flying in April because of sequestration, the US government’s automatic funding cut that came after Congress failed to reach a budget compromise.