In keeping within the spirit of the "Thunderbirds Alumni Association, Inc., (TBAA) the "Heritage Thunderbird Foundation", the Thunderbirds Alumni "Dream Of A Lifetime" web site exists to promote the comradeship of former and current members of the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, The Thunderbirds, and to insure "Once A Thunderbird, Always A Thunderbird" is a continued commitment from each member and that excellence remains the benchmark by which we measure all we do. The Thunderbirds are the air demonstration squadron of the U.S. Air Force (USAF), based at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada. The squadron tours the United States and much of the world, performing aerobatic formation and solo flying in specially-marked USAF jet aircraft.
Officers serve a two-year assignment with the squadron, while enlisted personnel serve three to four. Replacements must be trained for about half of the team each year, providing a constant mix of experience. The squadron performs no more than 88 air demonstrations each year and has never canceled a demonstration due to maintenance difficulty.
