I kicked off my newsletter series with a heavy hitter right out the gate. Tom Demerly is a characteristic author, journalist, photographer and editorialist who has written articles which are revealed world wide on TheAviationist.com, TACAIRNET.com, Outside journal, Business Insider, We Are The Mighty, The Dearborn Press & Guide, National Interest, Russias authorities media outlet Sputnik, and lots of different publications. In a professional way. Civilian performers at this years Bethpage Air Show include the world-famous GEICO Skytypers and their flight squadron of six vintage WWII aircraft, the American Airpower Museum Warbirds, Long Islands own David Windmiller, the Bayport Aerodrome Society, the SUNY Farmingdale State College Flying Rams who will fly seven of their 22 college-owned aircraft in a fly-by piloted by their top academic professional pilot performers, and Mike Goulian, North Americas most decorated aerobatic pilot. And the back-story The number of her jet, 5, and on her uniform, and the uniform of her crew (who are also women), are upside down, because in her role, she spends most of her time inverted, even as she makes that thrilling opposing pass. This was the 16th A hug! I was told by others again and again how they could never do what I was doing and that I must be so brave. Crunchbase always contains a descriptive blurb about each company, and, Weve detected you are on Internet Explorer. Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, he served as an F-16 evaluator pilot, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. It turned out there was a lot more to being a fighter pilot than just flying the jet. 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. MACE I really appreciate your service and you sharing it with the rest of us. They practice so much, it is all quite routine, even the communications between pilots. Workshop: Going to War with Your Inner Critic. Im hoping to continue to do that through this platform, public speaking, a childrens booklets just say I have a lot of goals and I hope youll continue to come along for the journey. n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; John Klatt Airshows annual Jones Beach air show Ive seen almost all of them and though many of Be sure to look for her at an. We lift each other up, we accomplish more as a team. Sasquatch, powered by dual powerplants: a Pratt & Whitney 985 Radial Here are photos from the practice performance including: Show headliners the United States Air Force Thunderbirds returning to the Bethpage Air Show for their 8thappearance, performing some new maneuvers; the United States Army Golden Knights Parachute Team performing in their 15thBethpage Air Show; the United States Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, the first aircraft to be designed for close air support of ground forces (and built on Long Island); and the U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demonstration. This page was last edited on 1 December 2020, at 21:01. Curran entered the Air Force in 2009 with a Reserve Officer Training Corps commission from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. She completed the Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training in Columbus, Miss., and was assigned to the F-16 at Misawa Air Base, Japan. Michelle Curran: Taking Action Towards Your Goals. Michelle "MACE" Curran Expand search. Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the only female fighter pilot on the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's demonstration team. During a dialog on the Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan for the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow in 2021, Curran advised TheAviationist.com that, These are long days sometimes, but this is the best job in the world. In a Facebook put up from Wednesday afternoon, October 27, 2021, USAF Maj. Michelle Curran, name signal Mace, introduced she is, about to make a big career pivot and will be leaving the Active Duty Air Force in the new year. At 24 years old, I had achieved a goal I had worked toward for over five years. I confess that I have admired Michelle Curran, only the fifth woman (since 2005) to pilot one of the formidable F-16 jets, since I first saw her in the 2019 Bethpage Air Show, when she was the #6 (opposing solo) pilot. Curran is the fifth woman to fly with the Thunderbirds, her callsign (or nickname) is "MACE". It really means a lot. Do I have to salute? This shift in airshow schedules meant that Maj. Currans social media contributions became even more important for maintaining the relevance of the Thunderbirds for public audiences. It means shes front and center in one of the most visible squadrons in the military. us atfacebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures, A Visit With the USAF Thunderbirds on Long Island, Ways to See Long Islands Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach Despite Weather, https://www.facebook.com/BethpageAirShow/, 16th Annual Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach, Long Island, Honors Spirit of Memorial Day. Checking in with Major Michelle Curran call sign "Mace" of the Air Force Thunderbirds as they prepare for this weekend's @Space & Air Show at Orlando. The Super Bowl was the first time Curran's parents had seen their daughter performing with the Thunderbirds. run where they evade the enemy by actually flying into each other to create Together, Noted. Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach, Long Island, were the number of women doing ", Curran said the shows are meant to inspire people that will "never join the military.". They barrel out of their plane from an altitude of of aerobatics; Golden Knights parachutist Maj. Marissa Chierichella and the Red Most call signs are not flattering.. Museum, at Republic Airport (flights available over Memorial Cady Drell is a writer based in New York City. He says that among his favorite things are riding roller coasters (he was looking forward to getting a ride on the Cyclone at Coney Island). Just two years earlier, women were granted the honor of flying fighter jets by the U.S. Air Force (USAF). He is a 2005 graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, and commissioned from Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 2010. Today theres only one female Thunderbird pilot: Major Michelle Curran, a 32-year-old Wisconsin native who flies the coveted Opposing Solo position. Curran thinks it might be a perception problem. They have also lived in West Blocton, AL and Holden, MA. Initially I credit the breathtaking beauty and the roller-coaster-like thrill of the experience for this, but then I remember another thing the flight surgeon told me: Women tend to have a lower center of gravity, giving them something of a natural advantage against high g-forces. I had the wrong hook - How about ALT0c: . 2023 www.jsonline.com. She demonstrates the capabilities of the F-16 during performances. Windmiller, Long Islands In addition to the recommended hydration, pilots must stay in shape. Hornet, traveling at 700 mph, nearly breaking the sound She also contributes to "60 Minutes. You look absolutely terrifying (Locked-In). Just in case. 2 jet. David We lift each other up, we accomplish more as a team. died in an airplane crash. He is in his second season with the team and hails from Fort Collins, Colo. I suddenly struggled to succeed for the first time in my life. I see that look on faces that light bulb moment., She is the fifth woman to fly with the Thunderbirds (the first was in 2005). Imposter syndrome is real! I chose [No Doubts] Im Just a Girl.. Kenneth Sweet survived Pearl Harbor attack, helped found Wisconsin Air National Guard, Fly along on an F-16 while we tell you what will take its place at Truax Field, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. A native of Orlando, Florida, he reflects that he first saw the Thunderbirds when he was just four or five years old, and was so awed, he wanted to fly. At one point I fly the plane into a barrel roll with Gorneys help. But when were down on the ground, and talk to each other, we might say, Wow, we worked hard. Or We really crushed it., I do normal things in the morning. Im also excited to get into the general aviation world and hopefully also try my hand at helicopters. We ask what it feels like to fly. My passion is to inspire individuals and teams to make bold decisions, empower them to face fears, and help them find inner strength to reach their true potential. This is Currans third season with theThunderbirds. Col. John Caldwell is the Commander/Leader of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron. I found myself stuck in my own head and consumed by my self-doubt. I was so excited, I called everyone in my familyand none of them answered their phones, she deadpans. The unit adopted the name Thunderbirds, influenced in part by the strong Native American culture and folklore from the southwestern United States where Luke Air Force Base is located. flying before he got his license and has accumulated 18,000 flight hours, Demerly is an experienced parachutist, holds advanced SCUBA certifications, has climbed the highest mountains on three continents and visited all seven continents and has flown several types of light aircraft. The thing that floors me is that some people still dont realize its an option, she says. The amount I needed to learn was so overwhelming that I avoided it by procrastinating. At the end of her undergraduate pilot training, she was one of justtwo in her class of 25 chosen for fighter jets. document,'script','https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); After serving in the Air Force, Michelle Curran is dedicated to continuing her service by helping others realize their dreams as the founder and president of Upside Down Dreams. One way to mitigate the nauseating effects is to drink lots of water, but that meant double the bathroom breaks on the drive there. The flight surgeon who cleared me for my ride asked if I ever went to SoulCycle or ran marathons, two things that would make me better at handling g-forces. Curran holds a Bachelor of Arts diploma in Criminal Justice from the University of St. Thomas and is a 2010 graduate of the Air and Space Basic Course, Squadron Officer College. She flies position #5, lead solo, one of the most visible positions on the team. The Thunderbirds dont see combat, but that doesnt mean its an easy life. MACE flew as Thunderbird #6, the Opposing Solo, for the 2019 season and as #5, the Lead Solo, for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The event over Memorial Day Weekend draws almost 400,000 in the course of three days. Recently, MACE was called back to St. Thomas to receive their Distinguished Alumna of the Year award. She isthe fifth female pilot and only the second female solo pilot in the 65-year history of the Thunderbirds. Tom Demerly served in an intelligence gathering unit as a member of the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard. In the Facebook put up saying her profession transition, Michelle Curran wrote: Ill be continuing to serve in a part time capacity and pursing some goals in the business world. 3 jet. It took me that entire three-year assignment to take ownership for where I was at and decide that only I could change it. Her evolution from struggling with a crippling fear of failure to flying inverted only inches from other aircraft at 500 mph will inspire audiences to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Clemens, Michigan when the team staged from the U.S. for an airshow performance in Canada during the global pandemic lockdown. Her last assignment was with the Air Forces elite demonstration squadron, The Thunderbirds. Before joining the Thunderbirds, Curran completed high-impact combat missions across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, where the challenges were tough, but the rewards were greater. I'm the first female to fly in that. Olympic Champion Swimmer; 10x Olympic Medalist, 15x World Champion, 14x World Record Breaker, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (2015-2019), World-Renowned Futurist; Founder & CEO of the Future Today Institute and Professor, Strategic Foresight at New York University Stern School of Business, Former Director, Executive Recruiting at Google and Holistic Leadership Strategist, Request an Invite to Events In Washington, DC, Olympic Champion Katie Ledecky, New LAI Exclusive, Essential Video Content: Pre-Recorded Content, Combat Veteran: USAF Thunderbird Lead Solo, F-16 Fighter Pilot and Founder of Upside Down Dreams, Renowned Leadership Expert and Colonel, USAF (Ret. Like I made a commitment to start saying ''yes" to those from then on. He is a 2010 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he double majored in Economics and Management. I'm the first female to fly in that position, which is, I think, one of the hardest positions to fly," Curran said. Its like no other organization I have ever been a part of, said Curran, who has been in the Air Force for 12 years. that Michelle Curran was the only female flying with the United States Air Force Thunderbirds as of 2020? Please enter valid email address to continue. old pilot who served in World War II, who flew with his grandson. USAF Maj. Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace", arrives at Selfridge ANGB in Mt. This shift in airshow schedules meant that Maj. Currans social media contributions became even more important for maintaining the relevance of the Thunderbirds for public audiences. The F-18 Super It can be seen onWABC-TV, as well as on WABCsConnected TV AppsonAmazon Fire TV,Android TV,Apple TV,andRoku. The movie is fairly realisticnot in the all-powerful superhero scenes, of course, but in the sense that its set in 1995. US Coast Guard demonstrated a rescue by helicopter into churning seas on a typical Michelle "MACE" Curran is an F-16 Mission Commander with over 1800 hours in the aircraft. Curran fiercely resisted her assailant, police said. During his performance, Ret. During the latter a part of her function on the group, many airshows had been cancelled due to the worldwide pandemic. I was scared to raise my hand when I had a question, because I didn't want anyone else to discover how little I knew. "Sometimes it's hard to be the only female in a squadron," she said. aviation lawyer who knew all too well the risks, and she because her father Maj. Curran flew as Thunderbird #6, opposing solo, earlier than her development to Thunderbird #5, lead solo within the 2020/21 airshow season. We had the opportunity to speak with Michelle recently as she prepares for the 2019 show season, and here's how it went: He showed "CBS Evening News" anchor Norah O'Donnell a series of maneuvers the team performs during shows. Im also excited to get into the general aviation world and hopefully also try my hand at helicopters. Michelle MACE Curran is an F-16 Mission Commander with over 1800 hours in the aircraft. And not to brag, but I dont throw up or pass out. People come up and say Im so proud of you, something your mother would say. And once I got thereI felt completely in over my head. the US Army Parachute Team, theGolden Knights, delivering the "I'm a left-wing solo. "I just want to see the (Thunderbird) planes. He entered the Air Force in 2002 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Caldwell graduated from the F-16 Replacement Training Unit at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., in 2005. In the hours following our interview, Im ushered from a flight surgeon to on-the-ground training for my flight to a fitting for the g-suit to one rather alarming explanation of how to use the planes ejector seat. The US Air ForceThunderbirdsheadlined the 16th Annual Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park, Long Island, flying the thrilling red, white and blue F-16s. In conversations across the U.S. throughout three air present seasons, Curran advised The Aviationist about her function on the group and its alternative to, showcase the Air Force experience and let people know what is possible. country, mimicking the astonishing stunts of Sean D. Tucker, a living legend It makes a spiral in the sky, she tells me. During the latter part of her role on the team, many airshows were cancelled due to the global pandemic. This is Currans third season with the Thunderbirds. But I didnt talk to her because I was so scared of her. Theyre friends now, she adds. Red Bull Air Curran, whose call sign is "Mace," flies Thunderbird No. Shes badass, Curran says. . Team Oracle performed the most The plane doesnt fly if just one doesnt do their job., His call sign is Strobe. He wouldnt give the back story of how he came to be called Strobe either, except to say, As a young pilot, I thought I knew what was going on. We were treated to the final appearance of Sean D. Tuckers specially-engineered plane that enables him to do feats never before imagined, the Oracle Challenger 3, will be donated to the Smithsonians National Air & Space Museum in Washington, where it will be part of a new Thomas W. Haas We All Flygallery, opening in 2021. parachute; in one demonstration we see what happens when a chute fails at just In addition to her role with the Thunderbirds, Mace Curran is an experienced F-16 combat fighter pilot with 163 combat hours over Afghanistan in support of operations Resolute Support and Freedoms Sentinel. She earned a degree in criminal justice in 2009 because she consideredbecominga crime scene investigatorbut also thought it would be cool to become a pilot. The F-16, he says, is basically an engine with wings it can fly at supersonic speed (though the FAA no longer allows it at air shows). What if I call her by the wrong rank? Flying an F-16 also requires an incredibly high degree of athleticism. Im in my happy place. 2. And I am not alone. people interested in preserving aviation history, flies aircraft from the 1920s. Curran has been featured on several leading media publications and programs, including The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS Evening News, and Glamour. American flag to a tiny target on Jones Beach. PORTSMOUTH Maj. Michelle Curran, 34, is the lead solo pilot of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. She flies position #5, lead solo, one of the most visible positions on the team. Your content is extremely powerful, I am sure that you will be able to support both people and companies to direct their energy in a better way to achieve their goals. I think it's important you all understand what drives me and why I made such a surprising leap! GEICO Skytypers, a team of advanced training aircraft used in World War II, are She applied, picking the Air Force as her military arm of choice on a bit of a whim. The third one is confirmed by her own admission. September 27, 2019, 5:00 AM. He expects he will go back to a combat air squadron after this assignment is finished, and based on his age and experience, could become the director of operations. We have music associated with all our maneuvers and for that one I got to pick the song. Is she nervous at all? Play Video I thought, Thats really cool. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Tom Demerly served in an intelligence gathering unit as a member of the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard. She is a true inspiration to all of those attempting to overcome hardships. Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, he served as an F-15E Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander of the 334th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. I realized I was meeting people all the time that struggled with the things that I did during my first assignment. After nearly a decade of active service, including deployments to Afghanistan and Japan, Curran applied to the Thunderbirds. Its been a while! she says. The 31-year-old Medford native isthe first female demonstration pilot for the Thunderbirds since 2014. In addition to her function with the Thunderbirds, Mace Curran is an skilled F-16 fight fighter pilot with 163 fight hours over Afghanistan in help of operations Resolute Support and Freedoms Sentinel. My favorite moment was when this little girlshe was probably six or sevencame up to the autograph line after a show and said, Im going to take your job. I was like, 'Yes! Always a thrill seeker at heart, she has a passion for pushing her limits and changing lives. Created by AviationFreak (talk). Self-nominated at 04:00, 10 November 2020 (UTC). Most of us work out five days a week, Curran tells me. In her much less seen however equally essential function with the Thunderbirds, Mace Curran served as Chief of Standardization and Evaluation for the group, a management function which is able to positively affect the trajectory of the group in upcoming seasons. From 2019-2021, she flew as the only female pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds and performed for millions across the country and internationally. commanding the Opposing Solo; Jessy Panzer, the only civilian woman aerobatic pilot in the I was a fighter pilot! The $10 event passes to the show can be returned in exchange for two free passes to visit any state park. Blogging atgoingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.comandmoralcompasstravel.info. My time in that role was coming to an end after the 2021 season regardless of what I was going on to do next. Bill Curran said his daughter was encouraged to apply for the Thunderbirds by friends in the Air Force. Pair that with Captain Marvel providing more visibility to female pilots earlier this year, and the timing seemed right to experience a day in the life of the only female Thunderbird. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and has logged more than 3,100 flight hours with 667 hours of combat pilot experience. Theres 12 officers on a teamif you look at the officers alone as a sample, our team next year will have four women, Curran says. We dip around a big thunderstorm and run through a set of increasingly intense maneuvers360-degree rolls, extended periods of upside-down flight, turns with increasingly high g's. has historically had the most female recruits. Michelle "MACE" Curran Public figure Speaker, Author, Thunderbird Pilot 19-21' Lover of mountains, fitness, and adventure! During her three years of task with the Thunderbirds, she rapidly established herself as a extremely seen and constructive influencer for the Air Force by revolutionary use of social media. See more, including their schedule of performances, at the US Air Force Thunderbirds site, afthunderbirds.com.
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