EVENTS

Thunderbirds Reach Out to Irish People: Salthill Air Show, Galway: June 22, 2007. 

The U.S. Air Force precision flying demonstration team visited Ireland for the first time to participate in the Salthill Air Show, Galway.  While in Ireland, the pilots reached out to the Irish community and met with two different student groups and a group of mentally challenged adults. 

The pilots answered questions about the planes and the challenges they face as members of the Thunderbirds.  The questions covered a broad range of areas including technical questions such as “how long does it take to prepare for take off?” and some more general questions such as “how does someone get selected to be a part of the Thunderbirds team?” 

The pilots also took the opportunity to explain some of the humanitarian missions in which they had played a part.  One of the pilots talked about the work he had done airlifting supplies to needy people affected by the tsunami which hit the Indian Ocean.