"Thunderbirds tell the story"

http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20070...0906-1075r.htm

Thunderbirds tell the story
By David C. Lipscomb
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published May 18, 2007

Hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops fighting for freedom abroad will
be honored at home this weekend at the 48th annual Joint Services Open
House at Andrews Air Force Base.
"They can't be at air shows. They're in Iraq or on the ground with
the Army," said Cpt. Elizabeth Kreft, spokeswoman for the Air Force
Thunderbirds, the precision flight team headlining this year's event.
"We're telling their story of why they serve."
Lt. Col. Kevin Robbins, leader of the six-pilot team of F-16s who
was asked to join the Thunderbirds by his wing commander, said he is
more concerned about representing the service members fighting for the
country than with pleasing crowds.
"I didn't join the Air Force to fly air shows," Col. Robbins said.
"My favorite thing is representing" pilots in the field.
The event, which coincides with Armed Forces Day tomorrow, begins
today and ends Sunday. Events today are open only to Defense
Department personnel. Events tomorrow and Sunday are open to the
public.
The open house features some of the world's best military and
civilian pilots and showcases the armed forces' latest technology.
This year's acts include Red Bull aerobatic pilot Kirby Chambliss,
the Army's Golden Knights parachute team and stunt pilot act Team
Oracle.
Career stunt pilot Sean Tucker, 55, of Team Oracle, said more than
four decades of experimenting with physics is what makes him able to
appear to defy it.
"It's only taken me 41 years to become an overnight success," Mr.
Tucker said.
Doing stunts sometimes only 25 feet from the ground, the Salinas,
Calif., native twists, turns and even "cartwheels" his custom biplane
through air to dazzle crowds.
Always pushing his plane to the limit, during a practice run last
week he recorded a maximum of 91/2 times the force of gravity.
Mr. Tucker said he has logged about 20,000 hours or about 27
straight months in the cockpit and practices three times daily to
perfect his routine.
"No matter how good they say I am, I don't believe them," Mr.
Tucker said. "You have to be the best in the world to make a living
out of this."
Paying homage to the lost practice of barnstorming, the Geico
Skytypers will entertain crowds with a dogfight-themed show and giant
messages in the sky visible from miles away.
Flying six of 11 remaining 1940s-era SNJ-2 Navy fighter planes,
the Skytypers comprise a show team and a skytyping team that perform
daring stunts and "print" messages in the sky with letters sometimes
as tall as the Empire State Building.
Skytyper flight leader Larry Arken said the messages, which last
for several minutes, stick with people and fans frequently remind him
of messages they saw years prior.
Mr. Arken, 38, originally from New York City, leads formations for
teams of handpicked pilots who all must have at least 8,000 hours in
the cockpit to be selected.
Mr. Arken has been flying for 30 years and is a captain for
American Airlines.
"It's very rewarding to be able to put a smile on people's faces,"
he said.
All the action won't be in the air, however.
Patrons can expect to sit in the cockpit of some of the country's
most advanced military planes, tanks and helicopters.
The U.S. Postal Service will also be offering a sneak preview of
two new stamps to be released in June depicting Air Force One and
Marine One, the president's jet and helicopter.
After World War II, the military began using air shows as
recruiting tools, which led to the founding of the Navy's Blue Angels
in 1946 and the Thunderbirds in 1953.
The groups were created to showcase new military technology and
skilled pilots to draw new recruits.
The Thunderbirds performed at Andrews' first open house in 1959.
The event was timed to coincide with Armed Forces Day, set aside as
the third Saturday in May by President Truman in 1950.