Accompanied By Silver Wings Parachute Demonstration Team

The United States Air Force Thunderbirds will perform at the annual Wings Over North Georgia Air Show, taking place Oct. 12-13 at Rome, GA's Richard B. Russell Regional Airport. At the Wings Over North Georgia show in October, the Thunderbirds jet team will be flying their six signature red, white and blue F-16 Falcons, accompanied by the Silver Wings, the U.S. Army's parachute demonstration team based out of Fort Benning, GA.

"We are extraordinarily proud to have been chosen as a performance site for the Thunderbirds after our first year," said JLC Airshow Management President John Cowman. "Only a few places in the country receive this honor, and I am proud to bring this opportunity to share the Thunderbirds with the people of Atlanta, Chattanooga, North Georgia, and Northeast Alabama."

The Thunderbirds were officially activated June 1, 1953, as the 3600th Air Demonstration Unit at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. In addition to their responsibilities as the Air Force's premier jet demonstration team, the Thunderbirds are part of the U.S. Air Force combat force. If required, the team's personnel and aircraft can be rapidly integrated into a fighter unit at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Because the aircraft are only slightly modified, they can be made combat-ready in less than 72 hours.

The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, which will be demonstrated at Wings Over North Georgia, represents the full range of capabilities possessed by the Air Force's tactical fighters. This highly maneuverable, multi-role fighter has proved to be one of the world's best precision tactical bombers and air-to-air combat aircraft. The only modifications needed to prepare aircraft for air demonstrations are a smoke-generating system and the addition of Thunderbird colors.

In addition to the Thunderbirds and Silver Wings performances, the weekend's activities will also include the Smoke-n-Thunder Auto Show, the Aerostars Aerobatic Flight team, the U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight Team, and many other family-friendly activities and demonstrations.

The performance of both teams could be in jeopardy if sequestration takes effect March 1.

(Thunderbirds image from file)

FMI: http://wingsovernorthgeorgia.com, http://afthunderbirds.com