The United States Air Force Thunderbirds are a fan favorite at the Pacific Airshow.
They’re back after a one-year absence, as the show celebrates its 10th anniversary.
The Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcon planes touched down at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos on Tuesday afternoon, as preparations continue for the three-day show that starts Friday in Huntington Beach.
Two U.S. Air Force Thunderbird jets arrive to to the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos on Tuesday.
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)
Six of the jets will be flying as part of the Air Force Demonstration Squadron, which features a four-plane diamond formation and two solo planes.
“The flying is very unique compared to the combat air force,” said Maj. Brandon Maxson, a Southern California local from Ontario who is flying the No. 3 right-wing plane in the diamond. “The F-16 that you see behind me is combat capable within 72 hours. The paint job is obviously different than the gray ones that you might see go to combat. The gun is actually replaced with our smoke system, so we’re able to use the smoke for the demonstration. Other than that, it is a F-16 that you’d see in the combat air force.”
Maxson, in his second of three seasons with the team, is excited to be flying in Huntington Beach for the first time. Last year, there were no military planes at the show due to the federal government shutdown.
Lt. Col. Tyler Keener sits on the cockpit in his F-16 Fighting Falcon during the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird arrival to Los Alamitos on Tuesday.
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)
He’s been flying for a bit more than a decade now. His call sign is “Crime” — “You gotta find me at the bar to hear the story,” Maxson quipped.
The planes flew down the California coast on Tuesday, Maxson said, doing a photo mission over Big Sur.
Crews from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds gather near their F-16 Fighting Falcons in advance of the Pacific Airshow on Tuesday.
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)
During their Pacific Airshow performance, the planes will typically fly up to 0.95 Mach — more than 700 miles per hour — during high-speed passes.
“We’re super excited to be here,” Maxson said. “Huntington is one of our favorite shows. It’s close to home for us in Las Vegas, so we get a lot of family and friends that come out. We love flying over the water. If the winds are right, the air is super smooth, so it allows us to fly within a foot of each other at times during the demonstration.”
The city of Huntington Beach has advised residents to expect loud jet noise in Surf City and surrounding areas through Sunday, and to only call 911 for a life-threatening emergency.
Maj. Brandon Maxson arrives in his F-16 Fighting Falcon during the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird arrival to Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base on Tuesday.
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)