Air Force Thunderbirds To Dazzle Springs

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, will turn heads skyward during several flights over the Colorado Springs area from Sunday to Wednesday.

The Thunderbirds are scheduled to arrive at Peterson Air Force Sunday at about 10:30 a.m. Before landing, the team will conduct aerial surveys of the Air Force Academy.

Monday morning at 8 a.m., the team will practice flyovers of the Air Force Academy Stadium as a rehearsal for the graduation day hat toss. At 2 p.m., the team will practice their aerial performance over the Academy. In the event of inclement weather on Monday, the team will fly this schedule on Tuesday.

Directly following the Air Force Academy graduation Wednesday, the team will perform the hat toss flyover and their aerial performance.

For the safety of the general public certain roads will be closed on the Academy during the performance practice on Monday or Tuesday and the performance Wednesday.

Stadium Drive will be closed from Pine Drive to Parade Loop from noon to 3 p.m. Monday and 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Wednesday. During these times the east ends of Community Center Drive and Academy Drive will also be closed.

In addition to road closures, the Santa Fe Trail on Academy property will be closed.

These closures are mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure the performance area is free of all personnel.

The general public is reminded not to stop along Interstate 25 or on other roadways to watch the performances. The public may view the performances from open areas on the Air Force Academy by presenting a valid drivers license to enter the base.

The Thunderbirds perform precision aerial maneuvers demonstrating the capabilities of Air Force high performance aircraft to people throughout the world. The squadron exhibits the professional qualities the Air Force develops in the people who fly, maintain and support these aircraft.

Source: U.S. Air Force news release