Thunderbirds in Bulgaria 2011

Recognition flights

The US Air Force demonstration squadron Thunderbirds arrived today at Graf Ignatievo airbase to participate in а demonstration on June 25.

The whole aerobatic team arrived at 14'00 local time and after 40min of recognition flights over the airfield, all Thunderbirds F-16s landed. We wait to the June 25, when the team displayed in front of the Bulgarian public.

The third day of the Thunderbirds visit in Bulgaria, the public show day, was unlucky. The poor rainy weather and strong wind forced the team to demonstrate flat show. All six F-16s takes off one by one and rejoin in the air, depriving the Bulgarian public to see, the unique maneuver of the Thunderbirds "loop after take-off". Moreover, after 20 minutes of the air show, the weather conditions become worse and the Thunderbirds cancel the airshow, almost. Only both solos landed, but the main diamond formation remains in the air for about 20 minutes. After that, the weather cleared a while, so the "Diamond" performed a few flat maneuvers and landed.

 

Number 4, slot during recognition flight Thunderbirds line-up at Graf Ignatievo Air Base Thunderbirds leader Col. Case Cunningham enters the cockpit Thunderbirds diamond take off Thunderbirds diamond take off Thunderbirds diamond Thunderbirds Thunderbirds diamond Thunderbirds diamond Thunderbirds solos Thunderbirds delta formation Thunderbirds delta formation performing loop Number 5 at low speed Thunderbirds solos Slot pilot landing Thunderbirds leader Col. Case Cunningham at the cockpit after a practice flight Number 5 flying low at speed about 800km/h Thunderbird's' #5 Single aircraft take off during public day demonstration Low speed during public day demonstration #6 landing in heavy rain during public day demonstration Number 2 landing after public day demonstration was cancelled due to bad weather


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