Hill Air Force Base welcomes Thunderbirds ahead of their performance

Ogden, Utah – There’s a good chance you’ve heard of them, even if you haven’t seen them.

The Warriors Over the Wasatch Air Show Air Show will feature a performance by the US Air Force Thunderbirds this weekend at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden. The sound of the Thunderbirds in the sky is incredible, and the video hardly does its credit.

During the eight-month air show season, they fly in roughly 40 shows and rehearse all year long. A Thunderbird pilot adds that becoming a member of the squad requires a lot of work.

“It’s very competitive,” Major Jake Impellizzeri said. “Of the 135 personnel we have on this team, everybody competes and everyone is chosen.”

Major Impellizzeri, who pilots Thunderbird 4, goes as “Primo.” He soars in the diamond formation’s slot position.

Major Impellizzeri stated that although there are many things that can go wrong during the season, he depends on one key element in addition to his training.

“Blind trust,” he said. “When we do our show launch, the first thing you see is our maintainers watching out. I’m not looking at any of the switches, I’m blindly flipping switches, because I trust them with my life.”

According to Thunderbirds, they depend more on the maintainers and don’t undertake nearly as much preparation as a typical combat Air Force Pilot would. Aircraft maintenance is in charge of “pre-, post-, and between-flight safety and function checks,” according to the Department of Defense.

Impellizzeri concurred with Chief Michael Dejournett, the crew chief for Thunderbird 4.

“It is our job to verify that everything is set up exactly how they want it to be,” he said. “Knowing that you have a life that is flying in the seat every single day, it kinda gives you an extra drive, an extra push.”

According to Dejournett, collaborating and having mutual trust during the performances helps people get closer. He claimed to have spoken with, met, and known Impellizzeri’s parents through discussions.

“You’re already in a pretty intense job but that pushes it even more to care,” Dejournett said.

They said that trust and teamwork extends to every Thunderbird crew member – all 135 of them.

“I trust them with my life, I trust they are ready to go,” Major Impellizzeri said. “They are the best maintainers in the entire United States Air Force.”

The Thunderbirds will join several other performers at the Hill Air Force Base from June 29 to 30. The Thunderbirds — which include eight pilots flying F-16 Fighting Falcons — perform across the world to represent the “pride, precision, and professionalism” of the U.S. Air Force.