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. It's so important for others to hear your struggles. 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. parachute, and sailing down at 60 mph to the target. Despite the pandemic, Maj. Curran and the Thunderbirds effectively leveraged social media to maintain visibility of the team across all media channels. 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. 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". These are not breathable, she adds, tugging at her flight jumpsuit. Curran defined what it is to be a modern Air Force officer for many outsiders, providing a valuable insight into the Air Force experience and showcasing the opportunities of an Air Force career. and Jack Links Beef Jerky teamed up to create a one-of-a-kind plane, theScreamin flying before he got his license and has accumulated 18,000 flight hours, She demonstrates the capabilities of the F-16 during performances. Ranges are presented as a guideline only. I kicked off my newsletter series with a heavy hitter right out the gate. Her favorite maneuver is the vertical roll pointing the plane up or down whilerolling over. WAYS TO SEE LONG ISLANDS BETHPAGE AIR SHOW AT JONES BEACH DESPITE WEATHER, 16TH ANNUAL BETHPAGE AIR SHOW AT JONES BEACH, LONG ISLAND, HONORS SPIRIT OF MEMORIAL DAY, PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS FROM 15THANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY BETHPAGE AIR SHOW AT JONES BEACH, LONG ISLAND, 2021 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Against the odds, I had done it. Im also excited to get into the general aviation world and hopefully also try my hand at helicopters. All rights reserved. it has been awesome to be part of that, to be in this position, in this time of history. 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. Flying under the callsign MACE, she was the second woman ever to fly in the lead solo position for the Thunderbirds since the teams founding in 1953. Growing up in a small town of about 4,000 people, she knew she didnt want to stay there forever, but she worried about how to pay for college. He is a 2005 graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, and commissioned from Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 2010. Applying to the team is intimidating and there is a good change of not getting hired, of failure. but I did get hired. everything happens for a reason - it makes you better,stronger and more resilient. Considering the ridiculous aerobatics Klatt performs in the MACE served as Chief of Scheduling, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, and a Flight Commander at various squadrons. He performs snap rolls, inverted flat spin I realized I was meeting people all the time that struggled with the things that I did during my first assignment. Maj. Curran flew as Thunderbird #6, opposing solo, before her advancement to Thunderbird #5, lead solo in the 2020/21 airshow season. She serveda two-month deployment in the skies over Afghanistan in 2016, flying 125 hours in combat and was serving in the 355th Fighter Squadron in Fort Worth, Texas, whenshe was chosen for one of the coveted spots in the Thunderbirds, who train at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. 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. fascinating because they demonstrate actual fighting techniques an implosion She reflects that last year, the personal contact with people was lacking, but the team did city- flyovers, honoring health workers, essential workers and first responders. #flyaf * This specific fee falls within this range. We lift each other up, we accomplish more as a team. (It was not known whether Sundays show would also be canceled for weather). The Power of Vulnerability. Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, he served as the Chief of Weapons and Tactics of the 79th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. Four years into that time she became the first female pilot to fly for the 457th Fighter Squadron. 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 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. Like Curran, he says it is the team of 130 that make the Thunderbirds possible. In this workshop, combat veteran Michelle Curran draws from her experiences as an F-16 fighter pilot and USAF lead solo pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds to walk audiences through interactive exercises to help them identify characteristics of their own inner critic and the reality (or lack thereof) of what it says, as well as provide tools and resources for overcoming the war within. I got to watch the USAF Thunderbirds arrive at MacArthur Airport ahead of their headlining appearance at the Bethpage Air Show over Memorial Day Weekend at Jones Beach State Park, and then got to speak with the pilots. Taking that leap can be intimidating, but if you take charge of the things that are in your control like preparation and planning, putting in the work, leveraging your network, and controlling how you react to adversity, you will find you are capable of much more than you realize. Engine and a General Electric CJ610 (J85) Jet Engine with 3,000 lbs of thrust. We know each other a sisterhood.. The GEICO Skytypers, the A-10 Thunderbolt, David Windmiller and Michael Goulian will have cameras on board their planes to provide viewers with an in-cockpit perspective, live, during the show. Just two years earlier, women were granted the honor of flying fighter jets by the U.S. Air Force (USAF). Among the 12 pilots, there will be only one woman, Major Michelle Curran, helping her fellow Thunderbirds make the occasion special. Curran has been in the Air Force for 11 years, but flying wasnt always her goal. Features Syndicate,goingplacesfarandnear.com. They plan to travel to Las Vegas, where she recently moved to be near Nellis Air Force Base, early next month to see the Thunderbirds perform a flyover at a NASCAR race. She reflects what it is like to be part of this very special team there are 130 on the team. People would send photos and such, showing how moved they were to see the flyover. 6, also known as the opposing solo pilot. Her aunt Sara Cook, Bill's sister, planned to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, too. The show, which would have been the 17th at Jones Beach State Park, brought special excitement because of having been cancelled last year due to COVID-19, and the opportunity for crowds albeit at 50 percent capacity to gather again is a vital sign of the regions return to normalcy. She also volunteers with Veterans Outdoor Advocacy Group, helping use the healing power of the outdoors for Veterans struggling with mental health. by Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate,goingplacesfarandnear.com. that Michelle Curran was the only female flying with the United States Air Force Thunderbirds as of 2020? Today there's only one female Thunderbird pilot: Major Michelle Curran, a 32-year-old Wisconsin native who flies the coveted Opposing Solo position. Drawing on over a decade in high-performance aviation and her own transformation, Mace teaches audiences what they are capable of when they let go of fear, lean into vulnerability, and make bold choices. Drawing the audience in with action-packed stories tied to lessons of grit, perseverance, determination, and teamwork, she shares hard-won lessons on how to reframe challenges, shift your mindset to shift your trajectory, realize the power to success that lies within you, and turn the voice of self-doubt into your biggest cheerleader on the path to success. Tweet @TravelFeatures. The helicopter is the only The move to my next base acted as a catalyst for change. The fighter is flown by the United States Navy and Marines. Flying under the callsign "MACE," she was the second woman ever to fly in the lead solo position for . Flying an F-16 also requires an incredibly high degree of athleticism. She demonstrates the capabilities of the F-16 during performances. t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, 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 . The amount I needed to learn was so overwhelming that I avoided it by procrastinating. In the Facebook post announcing her career transition, Michelle Curran wrote: Ill be continuing to serve in a part time capacity and pursing some goals in the business world. Curran is the fifth woman to fly with the Thunderbirds, her callsign (or nickname) is "MACE". 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. I started to grow an Adventure Mindsetone of curiosity, openness to new things, and a completely fresh perspective on failure. See photo galleries of Jones Beach Air Shows from 2019 and 2018: By Karen Rubin, Travel Send comments or questions to[emailprotected]. They act as the public face for the USAF, performing jaw-dropping maneuvers at air shows around the country. 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. She has also served as an F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas. cbsnews.com Female Thunderbird pilot inspiring others to chase their dreams Then, with a vertical climb, Im in the air. Clemens, Michigan when the team staged from the U.S. for an airshow performance in Canada during the global pandemic lockdown. Just 2% of pilots are women. barrier, where the pilot experiences bone-crushing Gs. See more, including their schedule of performances, at the US Air Force Thunderbirds site, afthunderbirds.com. parachute; in one demonstration we see what happens when a chute fails at just 5,000 ft. (they have a spare chute). 22 series on Hulu. Among the thrilling maneuvers by the US Air Force Thunderbirds, is this high-speed opposing attack by solo pilots Michelle Curran and Kyle Oliver, seen during Friday's rehearsal of the 17 th annual Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park, Long Island over Memorial Day weekend. 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. . With a powerful story and breathtaking visuals, Michelle, also known as Mace, takes her audience on a surprising and compelling journey through her career as a Fighter Pilot, culminating in her role as the Lead Solo Pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds. I'll be honest I don't have a favorite in the Super Bowl," said Cook. I practiced flexing my leg muscles for the next several hours. During the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds most recent headlining appearance in 2019, over 366,000 attended the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach. Facebook; show also pays homage to aviations heritage. 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. To really complete the picture, the Air Force even offered a flight in a F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft (which, I learn via military.com, is a mainstay of the combat fleet). "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. Contact us by clicking the button below. Meanwhile, the part of this job that I really love is inspiring others. octogan loop. 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. From 2019-2021, she flew as the only female pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds and performed for millions across the country and internationally. Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, he served as the Assistant Director of Operations of the 555th Fighter Squadron and Director of Operations for the 31st Operations Support Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy. During her three years of assignment with the Thunderbirds, she quickly established herself as a highly visible and positive influencer for the Air Force through innovative use of social media. . Play Video Driven by the desire to inspire others, Curran uses real-life examples from her trailblazing fighter pilot and Thunderbird career to help teams get unstuck by empowering them to face their fears, overcome self-doubt and imposter syndrome, and take calculated risks. modified and beefed up big time. Her skill is all the more apparent since she is flying The call sign tradition is celebrated by aviation communities across all military branches. The Air Force turns 72 years old this month. This often begins at Crunchbase, where we find out the basics of the company and its founders, launching points for further research. About halfway through her time in ROTC, she was inspired to get her pilot's wingsbecause she wanted to be part of something with a bigger purpose, she said in the website interview, and also because she's a thrill seeker who likes challenges. Is she nervous at all? These reactions only made the problem worse. The whole squad gets together, talk about dumb mistakes and then you get a call sign. But the origin remains a secret. confusion, missing each other by mere feet; opposing craft which come at each The movie . In hindsight, this response to adversity was so flawed. ), First Woman Thunderbird Pilot, Combat Veteran, & Fighter Squadron Commander, Army Ranger School Graduate, Leadership and Peak Performance Expert, Curran has been featured on several leading media publications and programs, including. From 2019-2021, she flew as the only female pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds and performed for millions across the country and internationally. Police at the time . Curran has worked with the Thunderbird team media personnel to bring scintillating in-cockpit viewpoint video of the lead solos dynamic routine during the Thunderbird demonstration, including thrilling video of opposing maneuvers with Thunderbird #6 and her signature vertical rolls during the teams high show. solos race at each other at combined speed of 1000 mph. 6, also known as the opposing solo pilot. Michelle MACE Curran is an F-16 Mission Commander with over 1800 hours in the aircraft. Select this result to view Michelle Fami Curran's phone number, address, and more. Museum, at Republic Airport (flights available over Memorial country, mimicking the astonishing stunts of Sean D. Tucker, a living legend After nearly a decade of active service, including deployments to Afghanistan and Japan, Curran applied to the Thunderbirds. At this writing, there was no decision on whether the Sunday performance would take place. While I don't doubt she's right, a third-party fact checker is preferable.-Esprit15d . The 2005 Medford High School graduate attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota,on an ROTC scholarship. MACE uses her experience in high performance, teamwork, risk assessment, and debriefing to inspire clients to overcome their own challenges and increase performance using the tools of Flawless Execution. This week, I want to give you a bit of perspective on why I chose to stop flying F-16s and become an entrepreneur. She went on to full the Squadron Officer School in 2014. 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. The thing that floors me is that some people still dont realize its an option, she says. He majored in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder and earned his commission in 2004 through the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps program. They also plan, along with a lot of family, to see her when the Thunderbirds fly at the Milwaukee Air &Water Show July 27-28 and an air show in Mankato, Minnesota, in June. Recently, MACE was called back to St. Thomas to receive their Distinguished Alumna of the Year award. The thing that makes it great are the people I serve with- everyone, the team I work alongside every day. 12,500 ft, at a speed of 120 mph before pulling the cord to release their At 24 years old, I had achieved a goal I had worked toward for over five years. This year, she is the lead solo doing the daring-do maneuvers, where two opposing fighters come at each other at, like, 1200 mph. The schedule is grueling. The airshow (Ive always liked roller-coasters, Im a thrill-seeker, and I wanted to travel, she explains.) I had never truly experienced failure, I hadn't developed grit, and my identity was wrapped up in my achievements. Maj. Curran flew as Thunderbird #6, opposing solo, before her advancement to Thunderbird #5, lead solo in the 2020/21 airshow season. Though she wasn't really interested in football. 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. Col. John Caldwell is the Commander/Leader of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron. Hornet, traveling at 700 mph, nearly breaking the sound Taylor is a 2010 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he majored in Systems Engineering. I appreciate your transparency and realness! For the best Barrons.com experience, please update to a modern browser.GoogleFirefox This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. other at incredible speed. He is a graduate of the USAF Weapons School, a 2016 and 2020 NASA Astronaut Air Force nominee and has logged over 1,900 hours of flight time, including more than 297 hours of combat pilot experience. That change is what made me even consider applying to be a Thunderbird. man would weigh 800 lbs. This button displays the currently selected search type. My presence here wont end when I hand off the #5 and I have a lot more to share with you!. "I'm a left-wing solo. All upgraded press releases are ad-free! Drawing on over a decade in high-performance aviation and her own transformation, Mace teaches audiences what they are capable of when they let go of fear, lean into vulnerability, and make bold choices. 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. John Klatt Airshows Her favorite maneuver is. 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. He is in his third year on the Thunderbirds. American flag to a tiny target on Jones Beach. 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 career pivot and will be leaving the Active Duty Air Force in the new year". a different plane from the Oracle Challenger 3 biplane. Lieutenant Colonel Eric Gorney, call sign "Miami," is in charge of flying civilians.

fbq('init', '461723204026319'); Her call sign is Mace (which she uses in her social media, @mace_curran) and while she doesnt reveal the secret to what is behind the nickname, she says it is a tradition in a fighter squadron to get a call sign they are mission qualified. 6 [the opposing solo] gives the challenge and the response, but I can hear his energy. n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; Maj. Curran is widely known as a member of theU.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. The thing that makes it great are the people I serve with- everyone, the team I work alongside every day. LinkedIn and 3rd parties use essential and non-essential cookies to provide, secure, analyze and improve our Services, and (except on the iOS app) to show you relevant ads (including professional and job ads) on and off LinkedIn. The second best result is Michelle Lee Curran age 40s in Ocala, FL in the Silver Springs Shores neighborhood. He is in his third season with the team and hails from Orlando, Fla. Maj. Ian Lee is the Left Wing Pilot for the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, flying the No. In a commercial flight, its easy to forget that youre in the sky, but this sensation isnt lost given the panoramic window atop a tiny cockpit surrounded by clouds. It took me that entire three-year assignment to take ownership for where I was at and decide that only I could change it. But from the moment I meet Curran on the scorching hot tarmac, she is warm and funny. He is a 2010 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he double majored in Economics and Management. Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the launch of the Neighborhood Sign Redesign program in partnership with the Office of Arts & Culture, the Department of Property Management, and the Department of Innovation and Technology. 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). Curran outlined what its to be a contemporary Air Force officer for a lot of outsiders, offering a helpful perception into the Air Force expertise and showcasing the alternatives of an Air Force profession. During the latter part of her role on the team, many airshows were cancelled due to the global pandemic. One of their pilots, is 92-year Tom Demerly served in an intelligence gathering unit as a member of the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard. It's hard because Curran's job is to wow crowds with awe-inspiring aerobatics and high speed passes. David The $10 event passes to the show can be returned in exchange for two free passes to visit any state park. 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. This page was last edited on 1 December 2020, at 21:01. From flying an F-16 to her passion for extreme sports, Curran is a thrill seeker. Norah O'Donnell flies with the Thunderbirds at the Heritage Flight Academy in Ronkonkama, NY. GEICO Skytypers, a team of advanced training aircraft used in World War II, are I do that through keynote speeches and via content creation on LinkedIn. Matt Chapman, During the latter a part of her function on the group, many airshows had been cancelled due to the worldwide pandemic. 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. Do I have to salute? Sign in Michelle "MACE" Curran Professional Speaker, Thunderbird Pilot '19-'21, Combat Veteran, Fighter Pilot, Author, Outdoor Enthusiast I help teams get unstuck by empowering them to face. Curran has been featured on several leading media publications and programs, including The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS Evening News, and Glamour. ", First published on November 13, 2019 / 6:55 PM. His military experience includes being Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army Infantry School at Ft. Benning, Georgia (Cycle C-6-1) and as a Scout Observer in a reconnaissance unit, Company F, 425th INF (RANGER/AIRBORNE), Long Range Surveillance Unit (LRSU). However, a livestream of Fridays practice sessions include footage from go-pros from the pilots and a Thunderbirds chase plane that shadowed the F-16s in their thrilling maneuvers is airing on Saturday, 10-3 pm. 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. Team Oracle performed the most All rights reserved. Curran thinks it might be a perception problem. It can be seen onWABC-TV, as well as on WABCsConnected TV AppsonAmazon Fire TV,Android TV,Apple TV,andRoku. "I was definitely nervous and excited, but there was so much to learn that is specific to the Thunderbirds that those feelings were overshadowed by the focus needed to keep up with the jet," said Curran. I'm sure most in your class were feeling the same way. The event over Memorial Day Weekend draws almost 400,000 in the course of three days. old pilot who served in World War II, who flew with his grandson. Mace, thanks for sharing this, and for reminding us that its ok to be vulnerable and human. Previously, many opportunities had come up that I was drawn to but had stopped myself from pursuing because of the risk of failure that came with them. Focus.. Michelle Curran: Taking Action Towards Your Goals. Maj. Curran is broadly referred to as a member of the U.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. 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. 2 jet. Prior to commissioning, he flew as a commercial flight instructor, cargo pilot and airline pilot.