Thunderbird Solo

[@LeeSmith1976]

Lt. Col. Wright, In 1999, the T-Birds flew in Jackson, MS at Sky Parade. I was in the audience there and the following Monday, started my enlistment process in the USAF. Now 13 years later, I'm an avionics Tech. on F-16/MQ-1 RPA's because that show inspired me to make more out of life. I'm submiting a package to become a Thunderbird, and I never got the chance to say thank you for the inspiration. You guys have much more of an influence than you can possibly imagine. Thank you!

[@tbirdsolo]

Lee, how did your application to the Thunderbirds go?

[@llamaskg]

I watched this as a baby and watching it in 2019 is full of memories

[@tbirdsolo]

To settle a dispute I read in the comments... The maneuver was the Calypso Pitch (before it was named the Reflection Pass). As you can see, when I roll inverted my map case lid comes open and allows everything to fall out onto my canopy. #6, Joker, sees it happen (because, yes... we can see each other very clearly) and says, "Looks like a garage sale in there." To which I respond... with the bird. Appropriate at the moment. wilbur - Lead Solo - 1999-2000

[@myapparelchestsupport2906]

😂😂

[@darrellparkhill]

0:45 Folks, you are witnessing the absolute BEST slow roll in the business...

[@tbirdsolo]

+Darrell Parkhill Thanks Darrell! I spent a long time on that maneuver even though very few people appreciate the complexity and difficulty of it. When I took over the profile it was flown as an arcing maneuver with an apex up around 500'. That was even more boring. So I practiced over 6 months to flatten it out at 150'. It was very difficult to keep it flat while smoothly blending the flight controls to prevent kinking the smoke trail. All the while fighting ground rush at 450 knots during the middle half of the maneuver. It's still flown flat today, but from my observations, many of the solo pilots still struggle with it to make it perfect. It's a testes tester.

[@CHECK6-963]

Like butter

[@richtrinko6727]

No kidding! He maintained tight altitude and threaded that runway all the way! Awesome flight skills!

[@tbirdsolo]

Solos rule. The guy in the seatbelt scene went on to graduate top of his class in pilot training and now flies the F-22 Raptor.

[@inkyjane]

I first saw this video 7 years ago and ive just returned to my aviation craze and this video is a masterpiece, thanks!

[@tbirdsolo]

Glad you enjoy it! Sure wish I had the cameras then that the pilots today have. They can take some incredible footage. But you gotta add some imagination to it too!

[@inkyjane]

@@tbirdsolo its alright for a clip from the 2000’s and the quality sure adds to the nostalgia.

[@8739785]

Holy crap the precission of those snap rolls are insane. Amazing pilots. That on where the pilot snapped hard left, stayed a split second, snapped rolled inverted, then snapped back to the right and then right side up, just wow

[@isolabella]

Awesome video. Love the sense of humor too. Thanx for posting.

[@rsprout1]

Incredible flying and then at 1:20 man, I about broke a rib laughing! That is AWESOME!!!

[@mrkhubrt]

Very nice video! You guys truly are the best and I know that this part of your service to your country was icing on the cake! Most of us can only imagine what that kind of flying actually feels like...

[@tbirdsolo]

Yes,... this is my video. I made it as a going-away video for my teammates in 2000... Something each of us did before leaving.

[@woodman0131]

You rock! I took the liberty of using this clip in FOD training I developed for my employer. Our people love it! Thank you!

[@tbirdsolo]

D Wood you’re welcome! Glad to see it’s still being enjoyed and being put to good use!

[@bro_duck]

It's funny watching all of your stuff go to the top of the canopy haha.

[@tbirdsolo]

Battle Creek was an awesome time and you guys were hosts second to none! I'm still in touch with several people from that show over the '99/'00 seasons. I have to agree... I think we flew a better show back then too. But we were a lot more experienced than the team today... typically 1000 hours per pilot more experienced. The guy in my back seat was our Flt Surgeon (#9), but he has since gone to pilot training and is now flying F-15s in England. I'll tell Fifi that TalonDriver said Hey.

[@StrikerVTB5]

LOL tbird solo...this video never gets old. I have a feeling it will continue to stand the test of time. Long live Phase II and all shit hot SOLO's! You're still "The King of the Slow Roll" my friend.

[@KuostA]

Fantastic video, really hope you could put together another video with some more fantastic cockpit footage!

[@elliotkoh]

Nice vid, especially the last blooper part of not strapping in tight, ha ha. Real classic. Sad thing though u guys couldn't come to Singapore to perform occassionally though. You have a huge fan base here. I had to travel once a year to catch u guys perform in the States but it was worth every cent.

[@MrThatsYe]

literally everything about this video is great

[@tbirdsolo]

afbound, thanks for your message. i'm an '87 grad from USAFA that had dreams of becoming a tbird since age 7... and it happened for me -- so it can happen to you too. Aim High and hit the sky. wilbur (solo '99/'00)

[@n8sbug]

This is the best video I have seen in a long time,... To the pilot: You, my friend, are awesome.

[@OmaChaseWill]

Understood. I will take you on your word. Very cool video indeed and thank you for your service.

[@SGSFC11]

Okay just making sure I dont say this to the wrong guy: You had the most badass job on the planet and id like to be there in a few years.

[@Templemain]

These pilot's must be seriously fit people as well as being unbelievably well coordinated. Takes years to be this good.

[@fight2flyphoto]

I love this video... during the McChord AFB Air Expo in July of this year I captured a couple of shots of debris on the canopy during the inverted passes by the #5 pilot that made me think of this video. :)

[@fight2flyphoto]

The T-birds (like the Blue Angels) have two solo pilots who do opposing passes as well as some "unique" formation passes. This is done while the Diamond formation sets up for their passes.

[@drive2xs]

To translate the military speak in to cilivian Foreign Object Debris (FOD) or loose objects is something the USAF tries to limit very much both in and around aircraft, which really makes this video quite funny. Especially, seeing a high profile unit such as the T-Birds with FOD violations. In the T-Birds defense they do push their aircraft hard through the manuver sets. Thanks for posting, Tbirdsolo!

[@tomcatpilot13]

@blueagle84 so ur saying u never seen someone give the bird while ther thumb is extended? and if ur saying its a sign..who is he showing it to? #6 cant see it becuz #5 is inverted

[@Corktip14]

Song 2, by Blur, excellent song, excellent vidéo, thanks a lot!

[@AUTMUSENETWORK]

who is the pilot in this video i might know this guy

[@texasfathead]

tbirdsolo, Brilliant, FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY! Thank you very much.

[@J_JetClips]

awesome video, sir. great choice of music. If I remember right, the author of this video has a couple a2a kills in the F-16.

[@allaroundanddown]

I believe the sign at 1:20 is him giving the bird, when all the papers falls on to the cockpit, the #6 pilot said, "nice yard sale." the opposing solo saw it all.

[@lukepevensie]

i'll see you guys at vegas. thunderbirds rock

[@N21X]

Good times! Excellent video.

[@AmJaxineer]

Love this video, even though its old thanks for putting it up. Im the #5 for the FSX Thunderbirds. Watching videos learning the demo and the parameters to fly them. Thanks again for your service. Cheers.

[@RenegadeRussell]

The FOD issue is common in all fighter aircraft. The lapbelt scene at the end on the other hand is a new problem. It looks funny when the lapbelt came undone but a military pilot from Canada crashed his jet not long ago when the same thing happened during a training flight. An investigation has shown that the Lap Belt used in both the F-16 and the Canadian CT-114 is failing due to problems with the latch assembly. Canada has since grounded the aircraft until the problem is solved.

[@herobutface1]

whats the white stick thing at the end with crap on it? im thinking its something to do with not throwing up but idk.

[@DJ12Ema]

yeah i see them too!! what is the songs?

[@NorthAlabamaAdventures]

lol taste the rainbow dude. I wish you guys where coming closer to AL this season.

[@Jawazplebs]

Great clip!and the song... Perfect!! and Yes when i give this vid link my friends in Indonesian airforce said 'so funny! and it happened to them too' not a problems... anyway, permission to download this clip sir!? if i have yours. if not i just put it on my bookmark. 5stars! vid alltheway!. Thanks and Godbless.

[@OmaChaseWill]

If true very cool...however as the internet is "so trustworthy" if you indeed were the viper driver, what does the digital BU and BIT switches do on your FLCS panel?

[@Hunter2431252]

Its a Fighter or a Supermarket ??? Thats crazy !!!! Nice Video

[@siouxperb5570]

No, the F-16 is still in a vertical climb executing aileron rolls. I believe that maneuver is done at full military (non-afterburner) power

[@lukepevensie]

what's that thing wrapping around his shoulders

[@ShastyMcNastey]

Awesome, I've always wanted to get a shot of that, do you have them posted anywhere?

[@UndeadInsanity]

@MrCameronBosco aah. So he doesn't use his ailerons?

[@lukepevensie]

hey wibur i heard that you are flying the albatross with another thunderbird nice job on the calypso pass. you shuld do a l-39 thunderbird show

[@Gh0sTPro]

Being on the back seat of the leading solo jet during a show .. is this an impossible dream or what :/

[@tbirdsolo]

drive2xs... glad you enjoyed the video. you're right... we tried to avoid FOD at all costs. But sometimes the velcro on the map case just wouldn't hold up!

[@uumm3]

lol who was that with the lap belt thats so good!

[@lukepevensie]

how did you do the minimum radius turn. i couldn't do it on my multirole fighter game when i went high speed after so many immelmans.

[@kdittyr]

I was there on the first day (Saturday) it was cool, wasn't it?

[@yxeaviationphotog]

Hey Wilbur.....how close are the solos during the Calypso Pass near the beginning of the video?

[@UndeadInsanity]

0:48 How do they do that without losing altitude?

[@bamuel007]

hey, whats the song title of this music??? im trying to find it

[@watscrick]

Awesome video! But I'm still amazed at all the "stuff" that slams up against the top of the canopy when they go inverted. Kinda funny, actually.

[@kylesd21]

Dang dude that was frekin awsome

[@NavyChaps1]

Holy Cow, great video!

[@tbirdsolo]

Generally, as the #6 became more comfortable with the maneuver, he would get closer thereby making the tail-on-tail "hit" easier. By the time this clip was recorded, Joker probably had wingtip overlap so our fuselages were maybe10 feet apart.

[@Alyzita363]

w0ow.! i went to see them yesterday here @ Puerto Rico.! xD it was great.!

[@tbirdsolo]

oh, okay. yes, i was a tbird. i made this video when i left the team in 2000. obviously, i had several instances of fod in my cockpit, so i made the video to center around that... hopefully, in a humorous way. the "unstrapped" guy was our flight surgeon on his very first sortie with us. he is in my backseat on this sortie and this clip is from the routine fod check that i would do every sortie to check for loose items in the cockpit. little did i know that my back-seater would be the fod!

[@sxergio]

hey man can you tell us what is the name of the song?

[@tbirdsolo]

I don't remember if we did the Houston show in 2000. I'd have to go back and check our old schedule. FOD = Foreign Object Debris (or Damage)

[@lukepevensie]

tbirdsolo is flying as the leader for patriots, the slot pilot is another former thunderbirds pilot

[@texasfathead]

What song is that? anybody know.

[@jsohc]

Yeah, they're called leading edge flaps, and they're automatically repositioned depending on the maneuvers you're doing.

[@200149908]

whats this song called

[@AUTMUSENETWORK]

is it pete mcCAffry

[@prceXtu]

What is the name of this song ?

[@elliotkoh]

Oh, wat's the name of the song btw?

[@yxeaviationphotog]

Thanks for the response Wilbur!

[@GotRailz]

Haha, i guess the guy with the Lap Belt is also cockpit FOD.

[@tbirdsolo]

A Thunderbird will typically log 1000 hours in the F-16 during his/her tour with the team.

[@bennybh]

Hexjumper did you by any chance belong to a nice old forum called UKAR many moons ago...?

[@NorthAlabamaAdventures]

Was that a skittle? Awesome video.

[@guitarspeare]

such skills! Awesome!

[@MrThatsYe]

LOL AT: 0:38 1:10 God I love Thunderbirds, they have humor and skill and everything.

[@molley17]

wat is fod in cockpit ??

[@MrLilfighter23]

bad ass!

[@AUTMUSENETWORK]

yes

[@crankworx42]

not exactly. it makes it so they cant see the ground because they will have a higher tendancy to drift towards it. it also increases ammount of blood flow and oxygen to the brain.

[@tbirdsolo]

Not a fake vid. But it's cool that you think it is. It's a collection of clips from the 2000 season. Many are from Vandenburg AFB... hence the same rwy area. I didn't post this for safety awareness either... it's just a fun video... and it shows what sometimes happens in the cockpit that the crowd is never aware of. Believe me... my safety nor the safety of the spectators were never compromised.

[@luiartemis]

must be the best job in the world!!!!!!!! I Love jets!:)

[@terrenceholton3745]

Coolest video clip on KZbin!

[@serkankan86]

super video

[@ShastyMcNastey]

United States Air Force Thunderbirds wear blue g-suits. That is what I found about the Thunderbirds, that was from the last two years (2007-2008) All I know about is the Air Force because that is what I'll be doing real soon, and I don't waste my time learning about the other services!! (jokingly of course :D)

[@tikkihut58]

1HEX, I do not see what you find wrong with this tbirds video compilation. If there had been anything done wrong during "any" practice demo's or air show demo's that this or other five pilots deemed unsafe or flirting w/ danger it would have been brought up & dealt with during their flight de-briefing. I am sure Thunderbirds carry on a intense/detailed pre-flight & post flight de-briefing like the Blue's do.

[@tbirdsolo]

lol. good one. i have no clue. that was 13 years ago for me and the flcs test only occupied my attention for less than a minute at the beginning of each flight. If it failed, I had it fixed. If it passed, I pressed. You could stump the dummy on a lot of other switches in the cockpit... I only flew the viper for 3 years with the tbirds... no combat ready time.

[@SGSFC11]

Wait so you actually flew these things?

[@tbirdsolo]

Thanks,... and best of luck to you.

[@Twiggy163]

They do : in the canopy. Come on man, it's fun XD

[@lukepevensie]

hey wilbur, are you allowed to eat on a fighter jet or it's against the air force policy

[@ShastyMcNastey]

LOL! haha, practically is. He just gives it the bird...priceless.

[@viperdriver82]

@Crayola076 He has to use his left hand to flip him off .....his right hand is on the stick

[@radamanthys1]

i saw the Thunderbirds in Guatemala, i liked it, hey i want to be in the back seat, jejeje

[@prceXtu]

Thanks...

[@IronHearse]

whats with the hand gesture at 1:20???? its like hes swearing at someone xD

[@wpw2k]

he looked funny when his lap belt wasnt secured LOL!

[@ShastyMcNastey]

Thats just common FOD in the cockpit, although it is more than normal. I think the pilot just noticed it and flicked that off because the pilots cannot see each other in that maneuver.

[@eazymoneyracing]

Thats funny stuff. I am going to give the Doc so much crap next time I seem him. See ya in precontact...

[@bzubrod]

I dunno about the thunderbirds but the blue angels do NOT wear G-Suits becasue the inflation of the suit could move their wrist and cause them to screw up and they fly at such tight tollerences that they can not afford to have any movement. Part of their requirements for acceptance are withstanding max G's without a G-Suit, they get tested twice a year on it.