Thunderbirds, Golden Knights coming to Shaw Published Dec. 8, 2009 By Public Affairs 20th Fighter Wing SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Spring 2010 will bring more than flowers and a million shades of green to the Midlands as the United States Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration squadron brings their internationally acclaimed flying display to Shaw May 8 and 9. Every year the Thunderbirds perform up to 88 air demonstrations around the world. More than 280 million people in all 50 states and 57 foreign countries have seen the red, white and blue jets in more than 3,500 aerial demonstrations. The Thunderbirds squadron is an Air Combat Command unit composed of eight pilots (including six demonstration pilots), four support officers, three civilians and more than 130 enlisted personnel performing in 25 career fields. A Thunderbirds air demonstration is a mix of formation flying and solo routines. The four-aircraft diamond formation demonstrates the training and precision of Air Force pilots, while the solo aircraft highlight the maximum capabilities of the F-16, the same jet Shaw's 20th Fighter Wing employs. The pilots perform approximately 30 maneuvers in a demonstration. The entire show, including ground and air, runs about an hour and fifteen minutes. The season lasts from March to November, with the winter months used to train new members. Also already committed are the United States Army's Golden Knights parachute team. They annually reach a third of the nation by performing spectacular live parachute demonstrations for the American public, manifesting the "Band of Excellence" as displayed by all U.S. Army Soldiers around the world. The Golden Knights have performed more than 15,000 shows in all 50 states and 48 countries, reaching more than 20,000 people per show. The full show consists of four separate maneuvers, which demonstrate the maneuverability of the human body while falling at speeds in excess of 120 mph. It will be five years since the Thunderbirds visited Shaw. Shaw's free, two-day event, known as "Thunder Over the Midlands" or "Shaw-Fest," will feature flying and ground participation by all five branches of the United States Armed Forces and historical military aircraft, and much, much more. Details will be released as the weekend draws nearer. Visit www.shaw.af.mil often for the latest information. Prospective vendors seeking contracts should contact Ronald Alexander at 803-895-5392 or at ronald.alexander@shaw.af.mil. Prospective aircraft or other exhibitors should contact Dan Tindall at 803-895-1052 or at daniel.tindall@shaw.af.mil. For other information, call the 20th Fighter Wing public affairs office at 803-895-2019.