The Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, commonly known as the Thunderbirds, have announced incoming officer selections for the 2011 demonstration season.

“Each person and position is carefully selected based on the individual’s record of performance, capabilities in their particular field and a demonstrated commitment to excellence that matches the Airmen we represent every day,” said Lt. Col. Case Cunningham, the squadron commander/leader and Thunderbird No. 1, in an Air Force news release.

Pilots selected for the team who currently fly a different airframe will undergo several months of F-16 familiarization training before they begin practicing the aerial demonstrations with the Thunderbird pilots.

Those selected are:

Capt. Ryan Riley, an F-16 pilot stationed at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, who will join the team as the left wing for the squadron as Thunderbird No. 2.

Capt. Nicholas Holmes, an F-16 pilot stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., who will serve as the slot for the squadron as Thunderbird No. 4.

Capt. John Williams, an F-15 pilot stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., who will take over as the opposing solo, Thunderbird No. 6.

Lt. Col. Jason Koltes, an F-16 pilot serving at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, who will join the team as the operations officer, Thunderbird No. 7.

Capt. Joshua Hawkins, stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, who will become the new executive officer, as Thunderbird No. 10.

Maj. Jason Moore, currently stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., who will serve as the maintenance officer, Thunderbird No. 11.

Selection of the next public affairs officer, Thunderbird No. 12, is delayed until late summer due to the deployed status of one of the finalists.

Staff report from the Air Force Times on Tuesday Jun 22, 2010

1. Luke Air Force Base F-16 Fighter Pilot Instructor Captain Hubbard Selected for Thunderbirds
2. Luke AFB Pilot Selected to Fly F-35 Lightning II at Eglin AFB
3. Luke Air Force Base Serves as the “School House” for Air Force Fighter Training

5/28/2010 – LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. — Enlisted service members with promotion testing in their near future can take advantage of a free and convenient flashcard study tool recently developed by one of Luke Air Force Base’s own.

First Lt. Brian Reese, 56th Mission Support Group Commander’s Action Group chief, is the co-founder of TestSoup, a Web site and mobile application devoted to helping individuals prepare for standardized tests.

Although the Web site charges a small fee for civilians ($9.95 for GMAT, GRE, or ACCUPLACER flashcards), Lieutenant Reese said the Air Force Professional Development Guide flashcards are free for Airmen.

“Airmen have enough things to worry about at work, home and while deployed,” Lieutenant Reese said. “I believe they should have a better way to study.”

Lieutenant Reese thought of the idea to create this tool when he was studying for the GMAT.

“I was very frustrated with the other systems on the market because I needed to review important core concepts” he said. “I wanted something quick, easy and convenient that didn’t cost a lot of money — TestSoup is the answer.”

Airmen interested in using this tool can either register with TestSoup.com directly or connect with Facebook account user name and password to save time, Lieutenant Reese said.

“Once Airmen log in, they will have access to more than 2,500 flashcards,” he said. “The system is user friendly with options to study by chapter, skip to different chapters of the PDG, and flag cards for review. Page numbers appear after the question so Airmen can find the underlying concept in the PDG textbook.”

Charles Dittell, 56th Force Support Squadron flight chief, previously an educational service officer, said he is really excited about TestSoup.com.

“Not only will this Web site give Airmen an excellent, free tool to use for Weighted Airman Promotion System testing, but it can also help them when they decide to start college or begin preparing for a graduate program,” Mr. Dittell said. “I can definitely see this concept catching on with K-12s, universities, Air Force and Defense Department — especially since people can study both online and on-the-go.”

Lieutenant Reese said promotion flashcards for senior NCOs and mobile applications for iPhone and Android should be available by late summer. The Blackberry application is already up and running.

To try out the program, click the following link: www.testsoup.com

1. Luke Airmen guest of NASCAR’s Crown Royal #17
2. Missouri Guard sending two airmen to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
3. Special Tribute Event to Celebrate the Legacy of Arizona’s Tuskegee Airmen

Maj. Josh "Dog" Wood, 56th Operations Support Squadron weapons chief, was selected to fly the new F-35 Lightning II Joints Strike Fighter. He was one of five pilots selected out of approximately 150 candidates. (U.S. Air Force photo/Justin Oakes)

Maj. Josh Wood, current 56th FW Weapons officer, will soon be departing Luke AFB and no longer fly F-16s, but the next generation aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

With Air Force bases across the globe submitting recommendations, Major Wood is one of five pilots selected out of approximately 150 candidates to fly the F-35.

“First off, I’m extremely humbled and it means the world to me,” said Major Wood. “I can’t describe what an unbelievable opportunity this is.”

Major Wood has spent 10 years in the Air Force and has been stationed at Luke since July 2008. He has more than 1,430 flight hours in an F-16 and approximately 1,650 total flight hours.

The future F-35 pilot attributes his selection to something a little more than a decade of experience and more than a thousand hours of flight time.

“It was the right combination of luck, timing, superior leadership and God’s sovereignty that allowed me to be chosen,” Major Wood said. “Coming to Luke also played an integral part. I was afforded the opportunity to be both a basic F-16 instructor and a weapons officer at the largest F-16 base in the world. And both positions were selection criteria for the F-35 program.”

The F-35 Lightning II and the F-16 Fighting Falcon share several similarities that will make the transition easier, Major Wood said.

“Both are single engine, multirole aircraft that share stick and hands-on throttle likeness,” Major Wood said. “The cockpit of the F-35 was heavily influenced by and bears a strong resemblance to the F-16.”

But what Major Wood is looking forward to are not the similarities, but the differences in technology and enhancements in capabilities the new Joint Strike Fighter offers.

“A new helmet-mounted display system, electro-optical targeting system and a distributed aperture system are just a few of things I’m looking forward to getting my hands on,” Major Wood said.

A synthetic aperture system provides pilots with a unique protective sphere around the aircraft enhancing situational awareness, missile and aircraft warning, day and night vision and fire control capability.

“Through the use of this new aircraft, we will be able to bridge the gap from current threat to capability,” Major Wood said. “We will have the ability to go anywhere and continue making our mark on air dominance and supremacy.”

In four weeks Major Wood departs for a one-year short tour at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, before moving to Eglin AFB and begin flying the new F-35.

Seeing how I’m a Tallahassee, Fla., native, the location couldn’t better, Major Wood said.

“We also have grandparents in Florida. And for the first time ever, we’ll be stationed less than 1,000 miles from home,” Major Wood said. “We are all very excited and this is a positive thing all the way around. The entire family is excited to be a part of this effort.”

by Justin Oakes
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

1. LUKE AFB SELECTED AS PREFERRED LOCATION FOR F-35 PILOT TRAINING CENTER
2. Luke Air Force Base F-16 Fighter Pilot Instructor Captain Hubbard Selected for Thunderbirds
3. John McCain confident Luke Air Force Base will receive the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz.: It’s not every day the morning starts with a phone call from a NASCAR driver, but that’s exactly how a 56th Maintenance Group Quality Assurance inspector began work April 8 here.

Staff Sgt. Damon Thurman’s supervisor handed him the phone and Matt Kenseth, driver of the No. 17 Crown Royal Black car, was on the other end, inviting him to be his honorary pit crew member for the Subway Fresh Fit 600 April 10 at the Phoenix International Speedway.

“I didn’t know what to say,” Sergeant Thurman said. “I don’t get overly excited, but I think this is pretty cool.”

As the recently-announced winner of the 2009 Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Thomas N. Barnes Award, which named the Air Force’s crew chief of the year, Sergeant Thurman was selected as Matt Kenseth’s honorary pit crew member and represented Luke Air Force Base.

On race day, Sergeant Thurman was welcomed in Matt Kenseth’s suite by the driver himself. Along with his guest, Staff Sgt. Charlton DuBose, a 56th MXGQA inspector, Sergeant Thurman had a front-row seat to all the action including a personal tour of the transporter and pit area, brushing shoulders with drivers, standing with the pit crew, and watching the race from the pit box with the crew chief.

Sergeant Thurman, a NASCAR fan since age 10, has attended a number of races, but none compared to this checkered flag chase.

“I enjoy going to races, and this has been extraordinary because I’ve never been in the infield nor had such an interactive, first-hand experience,” he said. “Being in the pit box, seeing the strategy and race data analysis as it occurs during the race was really cool. You see it’s a lot more than just driving around in circles as some people would say. You see the pit stops on television and they seem fast, but when you’re right there, you find out just how fast they are.

Each year Crown Royal holds a “Your Name Here 400″ program, whereby the grand-prize winner is the namesake for the spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway. This years race honors service members by having a military-themed contest in which all nominees demonstrate the core values of the military in performing a selfless act which made them a hero.

“The Crown Royal team was overwhelmed by the heroism of each and every service member who entered the ‘Your Name Here’ contest, and we are honored to have this opportunity to thank them for their service to our country,” said Rob Mason, the Crown Royal senior brand manager.

In keeping with the theme, Crown Royal and Mr. Kenseth’s team are also recognizing service members at races throughout the season, choosing Sergeant Thurman for the Subway Fresh Fit 600.

“I feel honored to have been selected and am grateful to Crown Royal and Matt Kenseth,” Sergeant Thurman said.

“He’s very humble, diligent and cares about his fellow Airmen,” said Master Sgt. Bryan Presley, 56th Maintenance Group Quality Assurance chief inspector. “It’s very easy to work with Sergeant Thurman; he always has a positive, can-do attitude and never shies away from a challenge.”

Sergeant Thurman expressed what an incredible experience it was.

“I never thought I would reap any recreational benefit from winning, but this was an awesome experience,” he said. “It sure beats the yard work I had planned.”

News Source: Auto Talk on April 22, 2010

1. Luke AFB Airmen invents study tool
2. MSgt. Manuel Gonzalez, 756th AMS to join the USAF Thunderbirds
3. New Command Chief at Luke AFB is Ready to Serve

The Thunderbirds, the Air Force’s F-16 aerial demonstration team, recently selected Captain Hubbard, 62nd Fighter Squadron instructor pilot, as their newest member.

She will be Thunderbird 8, meaning she will narrate the Thunderbirds’ performances. She will also serve as the advance pilot.

“It’s awesome,” she said. “I’m overwhelmed with excitement, honor and responsibility that come with being the No. eight. As the advance pilot, I’m the first person to show up at a location, the first to meet the media and the first person to meet kids and talk to them about what I do.”

Captain Hubbard says she is excited to interact with all the friends and family of the people she is going to meet.

“I’m looking forward to hearing people’s stories, listening to the mothers and fathers talk about their deployed Airmen,” she said. “Essentially what we do is represent those deployed Airmen.”

After getting letters of recommendation, watching the team at a performance and two initial rounds of interviews, the Thunderbirds picked her over four other pilots after a final interview.

“The question that always came up was why I wanted to be a Thunderbird,” she said. “I want to showcase the Air Force. I want to be part of an awesome team that represents our Air Force, seven days a week, in or out of uniform.”

Becoming an Air Force Thunderbird is not bad for someone who never flew in an aircraft until they were 17-years-old.

“I sat in the window of the plane and couldn’t take my eyes off of looking outside,” she said. “My family was laughing because I was 17 years old acting like I was five. After that I knew I wanted to be in aviation.”

She had family members who worked for a major airline producer in Seattle, Wash., but did not have any family who spent their career in the military. Her grandfather took her to aircraft museums, which she says pointed her toward making aviation a career.

“I did aeronautical engineering at the University of Washington and loved the design, aerodynamics and propulsion,” she said. “I absolutely loved the science and math part of it. The more I did it though, the more I realized I wanted to do a spin off of that, which was a little more hands on.”

A friend waiting to head to pilot training suggested she show up at the university’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps detachment. Her response was, “What’s a detachment?”

“I went and joined without signing my name anywhere and fell in love,” she said. “I loved the teamwork, family atmosphere and focus on the team succeeding.”

Captain Hubbard says she has always liked to be challenged, which is why she enjoyed being an instructor pilot so much. Her next challenge will have her with the team for two years.

According to the Thunderbirds Web site, they have more than 35 performances lined up through the end of 2010. The team’s most recent show at Luke AFB included performing in front of more than 215,000 people.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for me to go out and share what the Air Force does with the rest of the world,” she added.

Luke Air Force Base’s Capt. Kristin Hubbard’s almost eight-year Air Force career includes stops in Canada, Korea, Alaska, Guam and Jordan among other places. Her next stop could have her visiting all those spots in one-eighth of that time period.

Courtesy of 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs on March 9, 2010 (by 2nd Lt. Ryan DeCamp)

1. Luke AFB Pilot Selected to Fly F-35 Lightning II at Eglin AFB
2. LUKE AFB SELECTED AS PREFERRED LOCATION FOR F-35 PILOT TRAINING CENTER
3. Luke Air Force Base Serves as the “School House” for Air Force Fighter Training

After 20 years of service, eight at Luke, Master Sgt. Manuel Gonzalez, 756th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron production superintendent, has been selected to join the Thunderbirds for a three-year controlled tour at Nellis AFB, Nev., in April.

“It is a pretty common goal for maintainers to be part of the Thunderbirds during their career,” Sergeant Gonzales said. “The opportunity presented itself, so I took advantage of it and applied for the assignment. I was very fortunate to have my leadership support me, because I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Service members at the 308th Aircraft Maintenance Unit are proud of their superintendent and know exactly how high of an honor it is to be selected for the Thunderbirds.

“Thousands of Airmen apply and only a very small percent of those are selected,” said Master Sgt. Ricky Soctomath, 756th AMXS section NCO in-charge. “Being a maintainer for the Thunderbirds is the most prestigious job in the Air Force for a crew chief.”

Sergeant Gonzales said he doesn’t know what his duties will be with the Thunderbirds yet but will find out after a 21-day introduction program that he needs to pass in order to officially be part of the team.

“It’s going to be long hours,” he said. “The first year will be a lot of training, but the following two years should be quite an experience. I should be traveling about 220 days a year with a tour in either Europe or Asia each year.”

After the tour, Sergeant Gonzales said he plans to stay on active duty.

“I already have my 20 years of service in, but it has always been my goal to be a chief master sergeant,” he said.

Courtesy of 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, February 5, 2010 (by A1C Melanie Iannaggi)

1. Behind the Scenes Video of the USAF Thunderbirds
2. Luke Air Force Base F-16 Fighter Pilot Instructor Captain Hubbard Selected for Thunderbirds
3. Luke Airmen guest of NASCAR’s Crown Royal #17

1. Aerospace & Arizona Days 2010 at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson
2. Davis County Commission Letter Supports F-35 Squadron to Hill Air Force Base
3. Operation Unified Response: Airmen from Hawaii provide relief for Haiti