First Female Thunderbird

Posted By Blackfive

Tony in Boulder sends the link to this story via CNN of Major Nicole Malachowski who landed her dream job on the USAF Thunderbirds:

Thunderbirds fulfill her lifelong need for speed

(first woman on USAF demonstration team)

 

By Alex Quade

CNN

WICHITA, Kansas (CNN) -- Air Force Maj. Nicole Malachowski says she always has wanted to fly -- and fly fast. She got her private pilot's certificate before she got her driver's license, and she's been soaring ever since.

When Congress changed the rules in the early 1990s, allowing women to fly combat missions, her future was sealed. Now at 31, Malachowski is the newest member of the Air Force's Thunderbird demonstration squadron -- the first woman on any U.S. military high performance jet team.

"People talk about glass ceilings or breaking barriers," she said. "I don't even understand those concepts. Those words have actually never existed in my life."

She pointed to her name on the side of her F-16. "I'm so glad I live in a country where at 5 years old I can say, 'Hey I'm going to grow up and be a fighter pilot,' and here it is."...

Major Malachowski also has 200 hours flying combat missions in support of our ground troops.  Be sure to read the whole piece.  There's also a nice video too.

---

Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
Join us!

Comments

First Female Thunderbird

Tony in Boulder sends the link to this story via CNN of Major Nicole Malachowski who landed her dream job on the USAF Thunderbirds:

Thunderbirds fulfill her lifelong need for speed

(first woman on USAF demonstration team)

 

By Alex Quade

CNN

WICHITA, Kansas (CNN) -- Air Force Maj. Nicole Malachowski says she always has wanted to fly -- and fly fast. She got her private pilot's certificate before she got her driver's license, and she's been soaring ever since.

When Congress changed the rules in the early 1990s, allowing women to fly combat missions, her future was sealed. Now at 31, Malachowski is the newest member of the Air Force's Thunderbird demonstration squadron -- the first woman on any U.S. military high performance jet team.

"People talk about glass ceilings or breaking barriers," she said. "I don't even understand those concepts. Those words have actually never existed in my life."

She pointed to her name on the side of her F-16. "I'm so glad I live in a country where at 5 years old I can say, 'Hey I'm going to grow up and be a fighter pilot,' and here it is."...

Major Malachowski also has 200 hours flying combat missions in support of our ground troops.  Be sure to read the whole piece.  There's also a nice video too.

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341bfadb53ef00d8346418e869e2

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference First Female Thunderbird:

» Bill's Bites -- 2006.10.02 from Old War Dogs
The webmaster's blog-within-a-blog. Continuously updated, newest items at the top. Please click here to learn more about The Phoenix Project, then click here to see a selection of Old War Dogs merchandise. All sales proceeds go to support The Phoenix [Read More]