Thunderbirds Perform in Honolulu

Thunderbirds Perform in Honolulu

The Thunderbirds will be performing high speed aerial maneuvers, fast passes, barrel rolls, and inverted tricks in Honolulu this Thursday, on September 13, 2007 over the Waikiki area. The free show is part of many other events happening all Air Force Week. There is even a limited edition Aloha shirt, that depicts the Air Force's 60th anniversary logo, PACAF headquarters at Hickam Air Force Base and the aircraft P-38, F-4, and F-86." [afnhawaii.net]

The United State Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron exhibitions are "performances of extremely difficult aerial maneuvers. Images of the F-16 Thunderbirds, including the six plane delta formation and the signature "bomb burst" images are provided by Pacific Air Forces and are able to be downloaded.

The United States Air Force's 60th anniversary, is coming to Honolulu, one of six US cities to host Air Force's commemorations. The Air Force Thunderbird's supersonic aerial demonstration exhibition is to take place along Waikiki's coastline for 45 minutes at 9 a.m. and again at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 13. Safety restrictions during the upcoming show includes a no surf-zone underneath the performance area, map link here. At 2:30 p.m. the Thunderbirds will do a fly-by over the USS Arizona. There is a Saturday show at 2:30 p.m. on September 15.

According to Thunderbirds FAQ's, there are three types of aerial shows, flat, low and high - depending on the cloud ceiling and there must be at least, five miles of visibility.

1947 is when the U.S. Air Force began as a separate service branch. The Thunderbirds are based in Nellis AFB, Nevada and was named according to the local indigenous lore of the southwest United States. When in flight, " ... the earth trembled from the thunder of its great wings. From its eyes shot bolts of lightning. Nothing in nature could challenge the bird of thunder ..." [thunderbirds.airforce]

The F-16 Thunderbird is able to withstand nine times the gravity of earth. How does the pilot withstand such acceleration against the force of gravity? Most people even - with a pressurized pilot's suit would pass out, that's why there are g-forces are calculated for extreme roller coasters in order to avoid having the riders gray out or go blind during the ride.. Blacking out occurs at about five g's, the Power Tower extreme roller coaster is rated at four g's accelerating to 50 mph in three seconds. A skydiver will experience 3-4 g's when the parachute opens.

Pilots undergo intensive G-force training and with a combination of an anti-G suit and straining muscles to force blood back into the brain. There is also a negative g, where all the blood is pooling inside the skull. and human capacity is limited to -2 to -3 g's, known as a 'red out'. eyeball capillaries burst under the increased pressure.