2006 Thunderbirds team includes first female pilot

The High Profile, Public Awareness and Demonstration Flying Team, The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, announced today, it's first female pilot.


6/16/2005
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFPN) -- U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, “Thunderbirds,” officials announced their new pilots for the 2006 demonstration season which includes the first female demonstration pilot in the 52-year history of the Thunderbirds.

Capt. Nicole Malachowski, of the 494th Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, joins the team as the first female demonstration pilot on any U.S. military high performance jet team.

Story here.
Related stories at CNN, and Iraq War Today.
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Fact Sheet here.


Thunderbird up close
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon
from the Air Force Thunderbirds speeds past observers at the
Air Force Academy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Alex Worden)