Thunderbirds’ new team for next performance season set

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Oct. 19, 2000 | 10:41 a.m.

The Air Force Thunderbirds on Wednesday named the officers on the 2001 air demonstration team, which is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base.

Returning in his second year as team leader will be Lt. Col. John Venable.

Flying the left wing position will be Capt. Doug Larson, formerly assigned to the 61st Fighter Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Maj. John Greene returns as right wingman.

Capt. Rick Boutwell, the 2000 left wing pilot, will fly the slot position, behind the leader in the diamond formation.

Joining the Thunderbirds in a solo position will be Capt. Shawn Pederson, formerly assigned to the 90th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.

Continuing member Maj. Kevin Mastin will perform in the lead solo position.

Maj. Glen Lawson is joining the team as the advance pilot/narrator. He was formerly assigned to the 89th Flying Training Squadron, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.

The 2000 narrator, Maj. Ken Edwards, will become the Thunderbirds' operations officer, who handles scheduling of training flights and performances. Capt. Jeff Heyse, who was the executive officer for the 99th Air Base Wing at Nellis, will become the Thunderbird executive officer, who handles administrative matters.

Capt. Dede Halfhill is the team's new public affairs officer. Halfhill was previously the public affairs officer for the 347th Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Ga.

Other returning members include Capt. Jay Flottmann as flight surgeon and Capt. Stacey Hawkins as maintenance officer.

The Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron is an Air Combat Command unit comprising eight pilots -- including the six demonstration pilots -- four support officers, four civilians and about 110 enlisted people serving in more than 25 career specialties.

A Thunderbird air demonstration is a mix of six aircraft that perform formation flying and solo routines to demonstrate the training and precision of Air Force pilots and the maximum capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The Thunderbirds have flown before more than 310 million people at more than 3,500 air demonstrations in all 50 states and 60 foreign countries.

The current team continues to perform through Nov. 12. To view the schedule online, visit the group's website (nellis.af.mil/ thunderbirds).