![]() By this time, every pilot will have completed about 100 flights. Nevertheless, the first demonstration for every season is not held until the end of March. They train from November to March and by the end of February they are already ready for the show season. Officers in the "Thunderbirds" serve for 2 years while the rest of the team serve for 3 or 4 years. Each new member of the squadron must also pass a 21-day training course which contributes to their better integration into the team. The commanding officer of the squadron will select the three new pilots who are then approved by the commander of combat aviation in the USAF. The assessment flights include close formation flying and some basic combat maneuvers. Three demonstration pilots change every year. At the end of this assessment, the best are selected. ![]() Pilot candidates are assessed using the three F-16D aircraft. From within all candidates, semifinalists are selected to join the squadron at the end of the season for additional assessment and evaluations during practice flights. All candidates for the "Thunderbirds" must have at least 3 years (but no more than 12 years) of military service. The pilot candidates for the Thunderbirds aerobatic team must have at least 1000 flying hours on a jet fighter and must be current on the F-16. The #9 is the team's flight surgeon, #10 is the chief of the headquarters, #11 is the chief of support and #12 is the public relations (PR) officer. Each of these pilots is a fighter pilot in the squadron but only the first six participate in the airshow. Pilot #7 is the operations officer and #8 is the narrator and coordinator of the show. Pilots #2 to #6 are demonstration pilots: #2 is the left wing, #3 is the right wing, #4 is the slot, # 5 is the lead solo and #6 is the opposite solo. Thunderbird #1 is the leader and commander of the squadron. The twelve officers all use the "Thunderbird" call-sign with their applicable number. In total, the squadron consists of 120 personnel - 12 officers, 4 civilians and 104 NCOs. The squadron's home base is Nellis AFB, near Las Vegas. In total, the "Thunderbirds" use 12 F-16s nine are C-models (6 used for the displays and the rest in reserve) and three two-seat D-models. Also known as "America's Ambassadors in Blue", the team flies with six F-16C/D Block 52 aircraft. The "Thunderbirds" are the United States Air Force Demonstration Squadron.
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