THUNDERBIRDS RETURN TO TINKER
“Shifty” Heard brings more than 3,000 flight hours and 788 hours of combat experience to his role as commander of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds.
The Air Force’s precision flying team will headline the Star Spangled Salute Air Show May 20-21, celebrating the 75th anniversary of Tinker Air Force Base.
Lt. Col. Jason Heard flies the Thunderbirds’ No. 1 jet and commands the 120-person squadron, based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
Heard, from Sugarland, Texas, studied petroleum engineering at the University of Texas and was commissioned in 1999 after graduation.
Officially the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds made their 2017 season debut with a flyover at Super Bowl LI in Houston.
The Thunderbirds have 74 precision flying demonstrations planned at 38 events in 2017,
including a return to Oklahoma on Sept. 19 for the Altus Air Force Base Air Show.
The Thunderbirds fly red, white and blue F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets. As pilot of the No. 1, or lead aircraft, and squadron commander, Heard is known in the unit as “Boss.”
Thunderbirds pilots are designated Nos. 1-6. The leadership team’s other officers, designated Nos. 7-12, serve in executive, maintenance, operations, medical and public affairs capacities.
No. 2 Maj. Ryan Bodenheimer occupies the left wing, No. 3 Maj. Nate Hofmann occupies the right wing, and Maj. Nick Krajicek flies in the No. 4 “slot” in precision formations.
Maj. Alex Turner flies the No. 5 jet and Maj. Whit Collins flies No. 6 in solo demonstrations of the F-16’s capabilities as the workhorse fighter of the U.S. Air Force.
The Thunderbirds have been flying the F-16 in their hourlong shows since 1983.
According to the Thunderbirds’ website, Heard led an F-15E squadron in combat as an expeditionary squadron commander before joining the Thunderbirds.
This season’s Thunderbirds pilots are among more than 300 Air Force officers who have served in the squadron. Officers serve two-year tours of duty.
Three of the six demonstration pilots typically are newcomers each year.
The Star Spangled Salute Air Show is part of Tinker’s observances marking its 75th anniversary. Tinker officially was activated March 1, 1942, as the Oklahoma City Air Depot.
Admission to the Star Spangled Salute is free. Gates open at 8 a.m. each day, with aerial demonstrations from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Besides the Thunderbirds, aerial acts include:
• Team Tinker flying the KC-135 Stratotanker refueler and E-3 Sentry and E-6 Mercury airborne command posts.
• The U.S. Air Force Wings of Blue parachute team.
• A B-2 Stealth Bomber flyby on Saturday.
• Vietnam search and rescue re-enactment.
• C-17 Globemaster III transport plane.
Static, or on-theground, displays planned for the weekend include:
• E-2 Hawkeye, E-3 Sentry and E-6 Mercury command and control posts. • B-1 Bomber. • B-52 Stratofortress long-range bomber.
A Kid Zone with inflatables and activities will be available with purchase of a wrist band.
Security forces K-9 team capabilities will be demonstrated, exotic sports cars will be on display and recruiters from Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines will be on hand.
Entrance to the parking areas and shuttle rides will be free. On-base driving is restricted.