Bob McCarty Writes

U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Justin D. Pyle

When I served as an Air Force public affairs officer years ago, I had the privilege of working with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds on several crowd-pleasing occasions.  Therefore, when I saw the team — formally known as the “U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron” — had released the schedule for its 56th season, I simply had to share it with my readers.

The Thunderbirds 2009 schedule, which includes more than 73 shows, appears below:

Click above to enlarge and print.

March
21-22      Luke AFB, Ariz.
28-29      MacDill AFB, Fla.

April
4-5          Keesler AFB, Miss.
18-19      Ceiba, Puerto Rico
25-26      Langley AFB, Va.

May
2-3          Robins AFB, Ga.
9-10        Branson, Mo.
15-17      Andrews AFB, Md.
23-24      Wantagh, N.Y. (Jones Beach)
27            USAF Academy, Colo.
30-31      Ellsworth AFB, S.D.

June
6-7          Hill AFB, Utah
13-14      Ocean City, Md.
20-21      Dover AFB, Del.
27-28      Helena, Mont.

July
4-5          Battle Creek, Mich.
11-12      Peoria, Ill.
18-19      Dayton, Ohio
22            Cheyenne, Wyo.
25-26      Milwaukee, Wisc.

August
8-9          Vienna, Ohio (Youngstown ARB)
15-16      Chicago, Ill.
19            Atlantic City, N.J.
22-23      Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
29-30      Hillsboro, Ore.

September
5-7          Cleveland, Ohio
12-13      Sacramento, Calif.
19-20      Hickam AFB, Ha.

September 22- October 26, Thunderbirds 2009 Far East

November
7-8          Homestead ARB, Fla.
14-15      Nellis AFB, Nev.

To learn more about the Thunderbirds, click here.