Thunderbirds take show down under

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt Randy Redman
  • USAFADS/PA
TOWNSVILLE AIR FORCE BASE, Australia --  On the first mention of Australia, a flood of images comes to mind such as kangaroos, koalas... even the "Crocodile Hunter." Now the Aussies can add more images to their dictionary; six red, white and blue F-16s flying in perfect formation through the skies.

The U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds, took to the skies of Australia, Sept. 26, showcasing the power and precision that embodies Air Force Airmen worldwide. Flying wingtip-to-wingtip formations and breathtaking solo maneuvers, the Thunderbirds wowed a crowd of more than 70,000 spectators lining the beach in Townsville and filling the balconies of hotels for miles around.

"When I was 12, I actually had a Thunderbirds replica model," said Jason Bitossi, a local man who enjoyed the Thunderbirds' recent visit "down under" with his son Kyle.

The Thunderbirds typically travel from mid-March to Mid-November in the continental US, and only travel overseas semi-annually. Thanks to other worldwide requests, it's been more than a decade since the Thunderbirds have performed on the world's only land mass that is a country, continent and an island all at once. However, the air show was about much more than the aerial demonstration. While hundreds of man-hours went into the planning and execution of the show, the relationship between America and Australia goes back much further.

"Many people don't realize that Australia is the only ally that has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with America in every conflict dating back to World War I," said Maj. Tony Mulhare, the Thunderbird's Advance Pilot/ Narrator. "This air show is an opportunity to strengthen bonds that date back nearly a century."

Indeed, right now there are Australian soldiers, sailors and airmen deployed to locations throughout the Middle East in support of coalition forces. The Royal Australian Air Force has provided fighter jets as well as combat airlift capability during the War Against Terror and the Iraqi War. The RAAF also provided a location in Australia for the Thunderbirds to park the jets and perform scheduled maintenance.

Townsville Air Force Base welcomed the public with an open house on Sunday, providing a unique opportunity for locals and tourists alike for a hands-on experience. In addition to the Thunderbirds, RAAF aircraft on static display included the F-111, F-18, and the DHC-4, Caribou, a tactical transport aircraft that will be retiring from active duty in the RAAF shortly.

"It's such a thrill to be able to meet the pilots we saw flying yesterday," said Miranda Ryan, a camp counselor who brought more than 20 children out to the base to get up close and personal with the pilots and support personnel.

The Townsville Air Show is the second stop on the Thunderbirds' Far East tour following two performances in Hawaii. The six-week tour also includes stops scheduled for Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and Korea. For more information about the team, log onto www.airforce.com/thunderbirds.