Thunderbirds Head to Virginia to Prepare for 2020 Season to Resume

The United States Air Force Thunderbirds have spent the last several weeks flying training sorties both over the Nevada Test and Training Range and Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. This comes after several months of few to no demonstration practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to the cancellation of a majority of the team’s 2020 show season.

The Thunderbirds were scheduled to begin their 2020 show season back in March, traveling across the country week-to-week conducting demonstrations in front of hundreds of thousand of fans. However, just days before their season was set to begin, shows were forced to start cancelling events due to COVID-19. The team took an operational pause to prioritize safety before coming back together for Operation America Strong. For several weeks, the Thunderbirds traveled the country conducting flyovers of U.S. cities, saluting healthcare workers and COVID-19 responders.

After several weeks of demonstration sorties, the Thunderbirds are now headed to Joint Base Langley-Eustis this week in Hampton, Virginia for a review from Air Combat Command. General Mike Holmes, Commander of Air Combat Command, will watch the team perform in order to ensure the team is able to safely resume the 2020 season in front of fans. Each winter, Commander Holmes watches the team perform and certifies the new team before they’re allowed to conduct their first public demonstration. The extended absence from demonstration flying due to COVID-19 led to the need for a mid-season review.

As of now, the Thunderbirds are set to resume their 2020 season July 22 at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Only 10 shows remain on the team’s 2020 schedule, which runs through mid-November.

For the latest updates regarding the Thunderbirds’ week at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, as well as the entire 2020 show season, be sure to follow us on social media. Head on over to the App Store to download our mobile app, and stay tuned to our website.