{"id":32401,"date":"2021-04-17T14:02:25","date_gmt":"2021-04-17T14:02:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/04\/17\/thunderbirds-shake-up-aerial-show-for-2021-return\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:24:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:24:43","slug":"thunderbirds-shake-up-aerial-show-for-2021-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2021\/04\/17\/thunderbirds-shake-up-aerial-show-for-2021-return\/","title":{"rendered":"Thunderbirds shake up aerial show for 2021 return"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Thunderbirds are back in 2021 with new tricks to perform, after the coronavirus pandemic forced the aerial demonstration team to go dark for most of its 2020 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the first time in four decades that the team of six F-16 Fighting Falcons has changed its routine, the Thunderbirds said this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWith the cancellation of the 2020 air show season, the team focused its efforts on saluting first responders and enhancing the aerial demonstration for fans,\u201d the team said in a video posted to social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Condensed into a 50-minute show instead of 90 minutes, the new routine\u2019s formations aim to tell a story of patriotism, American ingenuity, teamwork and inspiration, the service said. Performers hope the show will evoke emotion and better entertain audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As part of the revamped maneuvers, Thunderbirds pilots will add a \u201cstinger break cross,\u201d where one jet loops away from a few others in a plume of smoke, and a \u201clow bomb burst with hit,\u201d where five planes \u201cexplode\u201d in a starburst pattern, then zoom back toward each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former Disney employees weighed in on how to script the show to keep crowds engaged again and again, in part by cutting repetitive moves out of the program, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/40169\/thunderbirds-brought-in-disney-to-help-create-new-shortened-air-show-routine\">The Drive reported Tuesday<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A ground show put on by maintainers is now a more visual experience for the audience as well, adding more physical movement to the routine rather than relying on words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s a more streamlined version of the drill, and \u201cshowcases the rapid generation capabilities of maintenance personnel supporting Air Force fighter aircraft during alert situations and combat,\u201d the Thunderbirds said in a Friday release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fresh moves debut this weekend at the Cocoa Beach Air Show in Florida on April 17-18. After a quiet 2020, the Thunderbirds now have appearances scheduled through the end of 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe best action is going to be right there on the show line,\u201d Thunderbirds commander Col. John Caldwell said. \u201cThe crowd will feel the thunder in their chest by hearing the jets roar, seeing the speed, seeing the motion, and seeing the precision of our team while flying 18 inches apart and project the power, pride, and professionalism of the U.S. Air Force to the American public.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Thunderbirds 2021 air shows<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 April 17-18: Cocoa Beach, Florida \u2013 \u201cCocoa Beach Air Show\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 May 1-2: St. Joseph, Missouri \u2013 \u201cSound of Speed Airshow &amp; 139AW Open House\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 May 8-9: Barksdale AFB, Louisiana \u2013 \u201cDefenders of Liberty Air &amp; Space Show\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 May 26: Colorado Springs, Colorado \u2013 \u201cUSAFA Graduation 2021 Flyover\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 May 29-30: Wantagh, New York \u2013 \u201cBethpage Airshow at Jones Beach\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 June 5-6: Smyrna, Tennessee \u2013 \u201cThe Great Tennessee Air Show\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 June 19-20: Ocean City, Maryland \u2013 \u201cOC Air Show\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 July 10-11: Dayton, Ohio \u2013 \u201cDayton Air Show\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 July 17-18: Binghamton, New York \u2013 \u201cGreater Binghamton Air Show\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 July 24-25: Milwaukee, Wisconsin \u2013 \u201cMilwaukee Air &amp; Water Show\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 July 28: F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming \u2013 \u201cCheyenne Frontier Days\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 July 31-August 1: McMinnville, Oregon \u2013 \u201cOregon International Air Show\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 August 18: Atlantic City, New Jersey \u2013 \u201cThunder Over The Boardwalk Air Show\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 September 4-6: Cleveland, Ohio \u2013 \u201cCleveland National Air Show\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 September 11-12: Portsmouth, New Hampshire \u2013 \u201cPease Open House\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 September 18-19: Reno, Nevada \u2013 \u201cNational Championship Air Races\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 September 25-26: Mather, California \u2013 \u201cCalifornia Captial Air Show\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 October 2-3: San Juan, Puerto Rico \u2013 \u201c2021 Puerto Rico International Air Show\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 October 9-10: Houston, Texas \u2013 \u201cWings Over Houston Air Show\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 October 16-17: Sanford, Florida \u2013 \u201cCentral Florida Air &amp; Space Show\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 October 23-24: Lancaster, California \u2013 \u201cLos Angeles County Air Show\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 October 30-31: Salinas, California \u2013 \u201cCalifornia International Air Show\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2666 November 6-7: Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona \u2013 \u201cThunder and Lightning over Arizona\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"fb-root\"><\/div>\n<script async=\"1\" defer=\"1\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v14.0\" nonce=\"5z4qFN9p\"><\/script><div class=\"fb-video\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AFThunderbirds\/videos\/494367251936987\/&amp;locale=en_US\"><blockquote cite=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AFThunderbirds\/videos\/494367251936987\/\" class=\"fb-xfbml-parse-ignore\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AFThunderbirds\/videos\/494367251936987\/\">2021 Aerial Demonstration Update<\/a><p>For the first time in 38 years, we\u2019ve updated and redesigned our aerial and ground shows! \n\nFollowing the cancellation of several shows during the 2020 show season and our support to America Strong, the Thunderbirds leadership focused its efforts on enhancing our performance for optimal crowd experience for the 2021 show season. \n\nLearn more about these changes below and see the debut it in person at 2021 Cocoa Beach Air Show this weekend April 17-18, in Cocoa BeFlorida! \n\nIf you can\u2019t make it to the show, you can view our performance live at Air dot Show here: https:\/\/air.show\/livestream! #thunderbirds #airforce<\/p>Posted by <a href=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/AFThunderbirds\">Air Force Thunderbirds<\/a> on Tuesday, April 13, 2021<\/blockquote><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This is the first time in four decades that the team of six F-16 Fighting Falcons has changed its routine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":26166,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":88,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[143,29,116,15,35,88],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3446],"class_list":["post-32401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-good-news-report","category-home","category-left-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-military"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"LG4KGI5XLZDLRPXHGZWVO27ZPI","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-air-force\/2021\/04\/17\/thunderbirds-shake-up-aerial-show-for-2021-return\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Thunderbirds shake up aerial show for 2021 return - Military Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This is the first time in four decades that the team of six F-16 Fighting Falcons has changed its routine.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Thunderbirds shake up aerial show for 2021 return\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This is the first time in four decades that the team of six F-16 Fighting Falcons has changed its routine.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2021\/04\/17\/thunderbirds-shake-up-aerial-show-for-2021-return\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Military Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-04-17T14:02:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-07T20:24:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rachel S. 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