Source: USAF Maj. Michelle Mace Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team, USAF Maj. Michelle Mace Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team - Click To Share. From 2019-2021, she flew as the only female pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds and performed for millions across the country and internationally. The thing that floors me is that some people still dont realize its an option, she says. It was something that had popped into my mind from time to time, but I had never set it as a goal because I didn't think I was good enough. He has logged more than 5,800 total flight hours and 1,050 hours in the F-15E, including more than 315 combat hours over Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve. It can be seen onWABC-TV, as well as on WABCsConnected TV AppsonAmazon Fire TV,Android TV,Apple TV,andRoku. During his performance, Ret. The fighter is flown by the United States Navy and Marines. "There was still definitely a surreal moment, while holding short of the runway, where I was in a bit of disbelief that I had actually been selected and was about to take off for my first flight.". The City of Boston is seeking artists to redesign these . Since transitioning out of the military, she has founded her company, Upside Down Dreams, and is committed to empowering men and women of all ages to overcome obstacles and the fear of failure. Curran is in her third year on the air forces elite demonstration team usually, the special assignment only lasts two years, but because of COVID-19, the tour is extended and now is the lead solo pilot. Safari Club International on Twitter 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. 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". 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. flying before he got his license and has accumulated 18,000 flight hours, 5,000 ft. (they have a spare chute). cbsnews.com Female Thunderbird pilot inspiring others to chase their dreams The 31-year-old Medford native isthe first female demonstration pilot for the Thunderbirds since 2014. Flying an F-16 also requires an incredibly high degree of athleticism. 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. I'm just getting started! Her favorite maneuver is the vertical roll. Have a question? 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. The Thunderbirds dont see combat, but that doesnt mean its an easy life. At one point I fly the plane into a barrel roll with Gorneys help. The original plan was to livestream the rain date of Sunday, May 30, 2021. Early life [ edit] He has logged more than 1,700 flight hours, including more than 280 combat hours over Iraq and Syria in support of Operations Inherent Resolve. Maj. Curran is broadly referred to as a member of the U.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. There are people at almost every air show that are like, I didnt even realize women could fly in combat aircraft., Its clear this rankles a bit. 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! December 31, 2019 / 4:08 PM Most thrilling is when the two opposing The second best result is Michelle Lee Curran age 40s in Ocala, FL in the Silver Springs Shores neighborhood. She flies position #5, lead solo, one of the most visible positions on the team. Maj. Curran flew as Thunderbird #6, opposing solo, earlier than her development to Thunderbird #5, lead solo within the 2020/21 airshow season. It really means a lot. No matter how confident and independent we appear to be, we all face pressure to fit in, be liked, and meet the expectations of others. As a living museum they have a variety of antique aircraft flying on the Eventually she was selected. EQO37 - Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the | Facebook Source: "Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the only female fighter pilot on the Thunderbirds." AviationFreak 01:11, 28 November 2020 (UTC) The meaning behind the stars on Thunderbird jets, Biden awards Medal of Honor to Green Beret for heroism in Vietnam, K9 veteran receives hero's welcome on flight, Black Vietnam veteran's nearly 60-year wait for Medal of Honor is over, Recovering service members lost 70 years in an Alaskan glacier, Navy veteran turns an act of kindness into a mission. Contact us by clicking the button below. Subscribe to this newsletter, follow me on here, and click the bell in the upper right corner of my profile to get notified when I post daily. They barrel out of their plane from an altitude of It hits me when I step out to the jets. He is a 2005 graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, and commissioned from Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 2010. do. He reflects that he is just a standard Air force fighter pilot, flying every day, multiple times a day to master maneuvers. Except for the pretty paint and smoke, the maneuvers the Thunderbirds fly are the same for what are used in their combat training. that each were afraid of flying initially, he because his father was an Like us at facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures. Police at the time . Michelle is one of few women in aviation history to fly with the elite fighter pilot squadron, the Thunderbirds, and is known by her call sign "Mace". View Michelle Curran's business profile as Member at U.S. Air Force. During a conversation at the Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan for the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow in 2021, Curran told TheAviationist.com that, These are long days sometimes, but this is the best job in the world. Created by AviationFreak (talk). Template:Did you know nominations/Michelle Curran - Wikipedia The Saturday performance was cancelled due to weather, but the rehearsal footage is being livestreamed on WABC . And once I got thereI felt completely in over my head. "Its definitely changing., Currans not sure yet what shell do when her time with the squadron is over, but common next careers for Thunderbirds include flying F-16s in active duty, taking on a leadership role, or making the shift into commercial airlines. USAF Maj. Michelle "Mace" Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team She isthe fifth female pilot and only the second female solo pilot in the 65-year history of the Thunderbirds. Demerly is an skilled parachutist, holds superior SCUBA certifications, has climbed the very best mountains on three continents and visited all seven continents and has flown a number of kinds of gentle plane. Curran, whose call sign is "Mace," flies Thunderbird No. That decision to change my mindset completely changed my trajectory. The thing that makes it great are the people I serve with- everyone, the team I work alongside every day. She first saw the squadron during her F-16 training, when they came to her base. For the best Barrons.com experience, please update to a modern browser.GoogleFirefox This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. She was applying to scholarship programs when her father suggested looking into the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). 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. In her less visible but equally crucial role with the Thunderbirds, Mace Curran served as Chief of Standardization and Evaluation for the team, a leadership role which will positively impact the trajectory of the team in upcoming seasons. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. New York City Air Show for Coronavirus: Meet Thunderbirds Pilot 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. It shows the impact we are having, she says. When all six [of the Thunderbirds] come together, if the air is smooth, were all firing on all cyclinders, its a cool feeling. Workshop: Going to War with Your Inner Critic. "We're just bursting with excitement," said Bill Curran. solos race at each other at combined speed of 1000 mph. I had the wrong hook - How about ALT0c: . Workshop: Going to War with Your Inner Critic. Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the only female fighter pilot on the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's demonstration team. Stay connected. In a Facebook post from Wednesday afternoon, October 27, 2021, USAF Maj. Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace", announced she is, "about to make a big 1 Comment Richard Aubrey says: Show organizers instead held the first Bethpage Virtual Air Show which enabled fans to experience performances straight from the pilots cockpits. 2023 www.jsonline.com. famous by the barnstormers of the 1920s and 1930s, and is based on a 1929 Waco, MACE I really appreciate your service and you sharing it with the rest of us. Though she wasn't really interested in football. In conversations around the U.S. during three air show seasons, Curran told, about her role on the team and its opportunity to, showcase the Air Force experience and let people know what is possible. This is Currans third season with theThunderbirds. Prior to commissioning, he flew as a commercial flight instructor, cargo pilot and airline pilot. I realized I was meeting people all the time that struggled with the things that I did during my first assignment. I had never truly experienced failure, I hadn't developed grit, and my identity was wrapped up in my achievements. Is she nervous at all? Since Curran began . Thunderbirds' second female solo pilot coming home for Milwaukee show 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.