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Forum:	Space Explorers & Workers
Topic:	USAF Thunderbirds and NASA astronauts

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Your Reply: HTML is ON UBB Code is ON Smilies Legend	[QUOTE]Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: [B]Thunderbirds / Space.com video <center><iframe width="400" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_EGbA8KB55g?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center>[/B][/QUOTE]
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<table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="600"><TR><td bgcolor="#000000"><TABLE BORDER=0 cellpadding=4 border=0 cellspacing=1 WIDTH="100%"><TR bgcolor="#660000"><TD COLSPAN=2><CENTER>T O P I C     R E V I E W</CENTER></TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#494949"><TD valign=top>randy</TD><TD>Were any NASA astronauts members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds air demonstration squadron?</TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#333333"><TD valign=top>micropooz</TD><TD>Bill Pogue and Lacy Veach were.</TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#494949"><TD valign=top>Robert Pearlman</TD><TD>Buzz Aldrin will fly with the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, at the <A HREF="http://airandspaceshow.com/" TARGET=_blank>Melbourne Air and Space Show</A> in Florida on Sunday (April 2), reports the Associated Press. <BLOCKQUOTE>Now 87 years old, the retired Air Force colonel will be the oldest person to fly with the Thunderbirds, known for their rigorous physical requirements.</BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#333333"><TD valign=top>Robert Pearlman</TD><TD>From Buzz Aldrin on Twitter: <BLOCKQUOTE>Getting suited up!</BLOCKQUOTE> <center><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/review/thunderbirds_aldrin01-lg.jpg" target="AirLock"><img src="http://www.collectspace.com/review/thunderbirds_aldrin01.jpg" width="400" height="300" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/review/thunderbirds_aldrin02-lg.jpg" target="AirLock"><img src="http://www.collectspace.com/review/thunderbirds_aldrin02.jpg" width="400" height="300" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/review/thunderbirds_aldrin03-lg.jpg" target="AirLock"><img src="http://www.collectspace.com/review/thunderbirds_aldrin03.jpg" width="400" height="300" border="0"></a></center></TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#494949"><TD valign=top>Robert Pearlman</TD><TD>From Buzz Aldrin on Twitter: <BLOCKQUOTE>Now a safety briefing with a bunch of hotshots.</BLOCKQUOTE> <center><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/review/thunderbirds_aldrin04-lg.jpg" target="AirLock"><img src="http://www.collectspace.com/review/thunderbirds_aldrin04.jpg" width="400" height="300" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/review/thunderbirds_aldrin05-lg.jpg" target="AirLock"><img src="http://www.collectspace.com/review/thunderbirds_aldrin05.jpg" width="400" height="225" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/review/thunderbirds_aldrin06-lg.jpg" target="AirLock"><img src="http://www.collectspace.com/review/thunderbirds_aldrin06.jpg" width="400" height="300" border="0"></a></center></TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#333333"><TD valign=top>Robert Pearlman</TD><TD>From the Thunderbirds and Buzz Aldrin on Facebook Live:<center><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAFThunderbirds%2Fvideos%2F10155185706209246%2F&width=400&show_text=false&height=225&appId" width="400" height="225" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true">

cspg

quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Buzz Aldrin will fly...

As a passenger, not as a pilot.

mmcmurrey

Well he is a pilot and you can fly it from the back seat...

David C

quote:
Originally posted by cspg:
As a passenger, not as a pilot.

No one, not even a current Blue Angel or ordinary active duty USAF F-16 squadron pilot is going to jump into a Thunderbirds airplane and pilot a public display. Buzz is still doing pretty well to sit through a formation fighter display at his age.

mjanovec

I strongly suspect this was just a demonstration flight and not the actual performance flight for the airshow.

For most air shows that the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels visit, they will do a demonstration flight with a member of the local media or a celebrity as part of their promotional efforts. For these flights, they will often take it easy on the passenger. If the passenger is young and healthy, they may pull a few moderately high G turns which sometimes results in the passenger blacking out briefly (always hilarious for media replays). But I have a strong feeling that the pilot was told to take it easy with Buzz and not fly too aggressively. The point here was to make Buzz look good.

ejectr

Wow! I'd like to do this at 67, never mind 87!

I'm a pilot but who gives a darn who's flying. I'm sure if there are controls in the back, he'll take the stick for awhile.

David C

Sure, we've all let passengers have a go, but that doesn't make them "the pilot." Of course, as pointed out, Buzz is a pilot. Good point that it's probably not the actual show or full rehearsal. Still doing well at his age.

OV-105

Looks like he got more than the normal media/VIP flight.

I have been at air shows where the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels flew pilots in their number 7 jet who were interviewing for the teams and got to see what it was like. I also saw the Blues fly a show in their A-4's with only five aircraft because they grounded a pilot.

Robert Pearlman

From Buzz Aldrin on Twitter:

Good to get back in the cockpit!

Robert Pearlman

From the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds:

What an awesome day! Retired Air Force Col. and astronaut Buzz Aldrin flew in the diamond formation over Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. In 1969, Buzz Aldrin broke barriers and set foot on the moon. He is a true American hero and pioneer. We are proud of his accomplishments and the legacy he represents every day.

Robert Pearlman

U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds photos

Robert Pearlman

U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds photos

ColinBurgess

Did Buzz ask if he could get out first?

Grounded!

It was a good day to be in Melbourne, or at KSC. There is something quite uplifting about seeing one of my childhood heroes still seeking out adventure in the manner that Buzz does. He is 20+ years my senior, but I know I could not keep up with him. I should have headed south this weekend instead of pruning fruit trees in Vermont. Get your ass to Mars!

Robert Pearlman

Thunderbirds / Space.com video

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