After going through extensive interviews and testing, she called her parents last summer and excitedly said "you're talking to the newest Thunderbird!". 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. At another we hit 9 g'sthats close to the highest g-force these planes can take. 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. 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. John Klatt Airshows Noted. 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. 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. that Michelle Curran was the only female flying with the United States Air Force Thunderbirds as of 2020? I also realized I was in a unique position to use my own story and what I had learned to empower others. 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. All upgraded press releases are ad-free! To order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients, USAF Maj. Michelle Mace Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team, U.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds, Oenophiles to Savor Over 200 Top-Rated Wines at Wine Spectators Grand Tour 2023, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger Bought More Stock. Pair that with Captain Marvel providing more visibility to female pilots earlier this year, and the timing seemed right to experience a day in the life of the only female Thunderbird. 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. There is a charge of adrenalin, but once I take off, it is just focus. I had never truly experienced failure, I hadn't developed grit, and my identity was wrapped up in my achievements. I knew it was something I wanted to do not that the dream would come true but there are steps and I could do the best I could., He didnt imagine then he would become one of the Thunderbirds, and even now, reflects being proficient is one thing, but it takes luck and timing to get the F-16.. She flies place #5, lead solo, one of the vital seen positions on the group. Curran was assigned to the F-16 Fighting Falcon and spent three years stationed in Japan flying throughout the Pacific. 1 jet, and leading all air demonstrations, he commands the 130-person squadron. Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the only female fighter pilot on the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's demonstration team. And I am not alone. 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. Looking for Michele Curran online? 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. She also volunteers with Veterans Outdoor Advocacy Group, helping use the healing power of the outdoors for Veterans struggling with mental health. 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. Holy smokes. PORTSMOUTH Maj. Michelle Curran, 34, is the lead solo pilot of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Upside Down Dreams was born. 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. Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, he was an F-22 Instructor Pilot at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. MACE currently lives in Las Vegas with her family. Michelle is a native of Medford, Wisconsin, and has been in the Air Force nearly 10 years. 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 didnt realize I was nervous about the day ahead, though, until I was halfway to the 177th Fighter Wing of the Atlantic City Air National Guard Base. 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. In hindsight, this response to adversity was so flawed. 7 jet. The 2005 Medford High School graduate attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota,on an ROTC scholarship. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com, www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin, and travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/. 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. 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. And she does it upside down (almost the equivalent of Ginger Rogers doing it backwards and in heels?). He is in his third year on the Thunderbirds. The third one is confirmed by her own admission. He is in his second season with the team and hails from Fort Collins, Colo. Meanwhile, the part of this job that I really love is inspiring others. During her three years of task with the Thunderbirds, she rapidly established herself as a extremely seen and constructive influencer for the Air Force by revolutionary use of social media. Maj. Curran is broadly referred to as a member of the U.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; And, keep others in the saddle who are struggling. He is a 2005 graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, and commissioned from Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 2010. I only wish I looked that good 'At Attention.' https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Did_you_know_nominations/Michelle_Curran&oldid=991790654, The first two are great. From 2019-2021, she flew as the only female pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds and performed for millions across the country and internationally. Opinions do not represent the USAF linktr.ee/macecurran Posts Reels Videos Tagged Show More Posts from mace_curran ", Curran said the shows are meant to inspire people that will "never join the military.". 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. exquisite, thrilling pas de deux in flight, with incredible precision at 200 She went on to complete the Squadron Officer School in 2014. I practiced flexing my leg muscles for the next several hours. traditionally kicks off with a ceremonial parachute drop by a representative of I'll be honest I don't have a favorite in the Super Bowl," said Cook. speeds of up to 220 mph that keep his peers and his fans in awe. country, mimicking the astonishing stunts of Sean D. Tucker, a living legend This shift in airshow schedules meant that Maj. Currans social media contributions grew to become much more vital for sustaining the relevance of the Thunderbirds for public audiences.Curran has labored with the Thunderbird group media personnel to convey scintillating in-cockpit viewpoint video of the lead solos dynamic routine throughout the Thunderbird demonstration, together with thrilling video of opposing maneuvers with Thunderbird #6 and her signature vertical rolls throughout the groups high show. Flying under the callsign "MACE," she was the second woman ever to fly in the lead solo position for . South China Seas, Pacific, Persian Gulf and wherever the US has forces.The air The movie . Although Curran isnt flying with meher plane, #6, isnt a two seatershe gave me the excellent advice to braid my hair and tuck it into my suit. "We'll do opposing passes, where we fly right at each other head-on. Ranges are presented as a guideline only. everything happens for a reason - it makes you better,stronger and more resilient. Applying to the team is intimidating and there is a good change of not getting hired, of failure. but I did get hired. View Fees field including Bi-Planes, Champs, and Cubs. She has founded her company, Upside Down Dreams, to inspire others to overcome setbacks and achieve their goals. (It was not known whether Sundays show would also be canceled for weather). In Captain Marvel, Brie Larson plays Carol Danvers, an Air Force fighter pilot who uses the special powers she gains during an accident to save the galaxy. I know what I need to do. of aerobatics; Golden Knights parachutist Maj. Marissa Chierichella and the Red The F-18 Super As a living museum they have a variety of antique aircraft flying on the Mace shares her struggles with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and finding her identity in a high-performance, type-A culture. Here are photos from the practice performance including: Show headliners the United States Air Force Thunderbirds returning to the Bethpage Air Show for their 8thappearance, performing some new maneuvers; the United States Army Golden Knights Parachute Team performing in their 15thBethpage Air Show; the United States Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, the first aircraft to be designed for close air support of ground forces (and built on Long Island); and the U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demonstration.
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