man would weigh 800 lbs. And then you have the kiddie gloves! Museum, at Republic Airport (flights available over Memorial This is Currans third season with the Thunderbirds. Michelle Curran (born 1987) is a former United States Air Force (USAF) major and a pilot in the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, or Thunderbirds. Maj. Curran is widely known as a member of theU.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. View Michelle Curran's business profile as Member at U.S. Air Force. EQO37 - Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the | Facebook 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. You can update your choices at any time in your settings. The $10 event passes to the show can be returned in exchange for two free passes to visit any state park. Demerly is an skilled parachutist, holds superior SCUBA certifications, has climbed the very best mountains on three continents and visited all seven continents and has flown a number of kinds of gentle plane. 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 Air Force turns 72 years old this month. She isthe fifth female pilot and only the second female solo pilot in the 65-year history of the Thunderbirds. As a living museum they have a variety of antique aircraft flying on the . Mace, thanks for sharing this, and for reminding us that its ok to be vulnerable and human. Like us at facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures. I make a mental note to not take this for granted anymore. These are not breathable, she adds, tugging at her flight jumpsuit. She applied, picking the Air Force as her military arm of choice on a bit of a whim. Since Curran began . "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. Be sure to look for her at an. Satellite image shows five F-22 near Iran (one year ago). And here is fascinating because they demonstrate actual fighting techniques an implosion 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). That change is what made me even consider applying to be a Thunderbird. Workshop: Going to War with Your Inner Critic. Most call signs are not flattering.. Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach, Long Island, were the number of women doing

fbq('init', '461723204026319'); USAF Lt Colonel John Klatt experiences forces Air Show at Pease: U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds arrive Michelle Curran - Member - U.S. Air Force | ZoomInfo 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. During his performance, Ret. During a dialog on the Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan for the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow in 2021, Curran advised TheAviationist.com that, These are long days sometimes, but this is the best job in the world. I realized I was meeting people all the time that struggled with the things that I did during my first assignment. The F-18 Super speeds of up to 220 mph that keep his peers and his fans in awe. Curran has flown more than 1,500 hours in the F-16, including 163 combat hours over Afghanistan in support of operations Resolute Support and Freedoms Sentinel. No. 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. ", Curran said the shows are meant to inspire people that will "never join the military.". As we hop along the New Jersey coastline, experiencing minor Gs, I take in a view of the beach. RELATED:Kenneth Sweet survived Pearl Harbor attack, helped found Wisconsin Air National Guard, RELATED:Fly along on an F-16 while we tell you what will take its place at Truax Field. "I just want to see the (Thunderbird) planes. The meaning behind the stars on Thunderbird jets, Biden awards Medal of Honor to Green Beret for heroism in Vietnam, K9 veteran receives hero's welcome on flight, Black Vietnam veteran's nearly 60-year wait for Medal of Honor is over, Recovering service members lost 70 years in an Alaskan glacier, Navy veteran turns an act of kindness into a mission. 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. During that time, she performed for millions of spectators, appeared in several national level news interviews, and did flyovers for the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, and Indy 500. 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. 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. Curran also provided unique and candid transparency about her career and personal life, effectively leveraging social media to bring airshow fans and aviation enthusiasts inside the world of a fighter pilot. From Fighter Pilot to Entrepreneur - LinkedIn 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. His army expertise consists of 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). It was something that had popped into my mind from time to time, but I had never set it as a goal because I didn't think I was good enough. 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. Maj. Curran flew as Thunderbird #6, opposing solo, before her advancement to Thunderbird #5, lead solo in the 2020/21 airshow season. Olympic Champion Swimmer; 10x Olympic Medalist, 15x World Champion, 14x World Record Breaker, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (2015-2019), World-Renowned Futurist; Founder & CEO of the Future Today Institute and Professor, Strategic Foresight at New York University Stern School of Business, Former Director, Executive Recruiting at Google and Holistic Leadership Strategist, Request an Invite to Events In Washington, DC, Olympic Champion Katie Ledecky, New LAI Exclusive, Essential Video Content: Pre-Recorded Content, Combat Veteran: USAF Thunderbird Lead Solo, F-16 Fighter Pilot and Founder of Upside Down Dreams, Renowned Leadership Expert and Colonel, USAF (Ret. 1 jet, and leading all air demonstrations, he commands the 130-person squadron. Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. Day weekend) were flown, including the B-25 Mitchell Bomber used in the Catch This is Currans third season with the Thunderbirds. 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. I fly for them, not to let them down., But she adds, And for all those little kids they may not ever become a pilot, but they may think, Maybe I can do that hard thing I didnt think I could., Moms drag their daughter over, She just flew! I makes them realize doors are open to them., The team flies in many countries and parts of the world where it is unthinkable for a woman to be a combat pilot. The whole team then returns for Women weren't allowed to fly fighter jets in the Air Force for decades until Jeannie Marie Leavitt became the service's first female fighter pilot just 26 years ago. We dip around a big thunderstorm and run through a set of increasingly intense maneuvers360-degree rolls, extended periods of upside-down flight, turns with increasingly high g's. Applying to the team is intimidating and there is a good change of not getting hired, of failure. but I did get hired. 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. See photo galleries of Jones Beach Air Shows from 2019 and 2018: By Karen Rubin, Travel was particularly exciting with the infusion of new energy. The headliners, the US Air Force The airshow !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? Thunderbirds, are a team of famous by the barnstormers of the 1920s and 1930s, and is based on a 1929 Waco, Windmiller has I live in a fifth-floor walkup, I offered. US Coast Guard demonstrated a rescue by helicopter into churning seas on a typical Theres still a long way to go before the Air Force hits total parity, but Curran doesnt see herself as an outlier. I actually helped buckle Brie Larson into this very seat, one replies. She flies position #5, lead solo, one of the most visible positions on the team. I know what I need to do. The thing that makes it great are the people I serve with- everyone, the team I work alongside every day. n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; died in an airplane crash. In addition to her role with the Thunderbirds, Mace Curran is an experienced F-16 combat fighter pilot with 163 combat hours over Afghanistan in support of operations Resolute Support and Freedoms Sentinel. Curran has been in the Air Force for 11 years, but flying wasnt always her goal. All upgraded press releases are ad-free! The US Air ForceThunderbirdsheadlined the 16th Annual Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park, Long Island, flying the thrilling red, white and blue F-16s. It's a very unforgiving job if you make mistakes. Maj. Curran is widely known as a member of the U.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. Gotcha - I don't see that info anywhere else, so I'm happy with just the first two hooks. Upside Down Dreams was born. The third one is confirmed by her own admission. USAF Maj. Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace", arrives at Selfridge ANGB in Mt. "We'll do opposing passes, where we fly right at each other head-on. 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. Though she wasn't really interested in football. I had never truly experienced failure, I hadn't developed grit, and my identity was wrapped up in my achievements. It really means a lot. Michelle is a native of Medford, Wisconsin, and has been in the Air Force nearly 10 years. You look absolutely terrifying (Locked-In). miles mph, at bone-crushing G-forces, with Panzer magnificently following the During her ten years flying the Viper, MACE flew combat sorties in Afghanistan and taught Polish Air Force pilots in their aircraft. And she does it upside down (almost the equivalent of Ginger Rogers doing it backwards and in heels?). Im also excited to get into the general aviation world and hopefully also try my hand at helicopters. 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. 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 field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. parachute; in one demonstration we see what happens when a chute fails at just Against the odds, I had done it. 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. He entered the Air Force in 2002 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Caldwell graduated from the F-16 Replacement Training Unit at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., in 2005. I only wish I looked that good 'At Attention.' 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. She flies place #5, lead solo, one of the vital seen positions on the group. Drawing from her 13 years as a Fighter Pilot, Curran delivers actionable content and wit to leave audiences both informed and entertained. I also get to chat with Maj. Zane Taylor, the right wing pilot flying the No. He showed "CBS Evening News" anchor Norah O'Donnell a series of maneuvers the team performs during shows. Looking for the right speaker for your audience? Always a thrill seeker at heart, she has a passion for pushing her limits and changing lives. The Air Forces official air demonstration team, designated the 3600th Air Demonstration Unit, was activated at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona in 1953. Its all very professional in the air with the comm. Michelle "MACE" Curran Motivational Speaker, Thunderbird Pilot 19-21', AF Fighter Pilot, Aspiring Author, Outdoor Enthusiast I help teams get unstuck by empowering them Published Jun 3 . 6, also known as the opposing solo pilot. This asWine Spectators Grand Tour2023 promises event attendees the opportunity to sip, OverviewA big part of the process of bringing these reviews to you is the research done to understand the background of the company. He has logged more than 1,300 flight hours, including more than 230 hours of combat experience over Iraq and Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. So Danvers is a leader in more ways than one. 2023 www.jsonline.com. 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.. Just 2% of pilots are women. Since transitioning out of the military, she has founded her company, Upside Down Dreams, and is committed to empowering men and women of all ages to overcome obstacles and the fear of failure. An air show first, livestream viewers will be treated to a special inside look at performances. Courtesy of Wine SpectatorThis years tour to feature 10 completely new wineries that have never previously poured at this highly anticipated annual event Oenophiles in Florida, Chicago and Las Vegas up for an unforgettable evening of exceptional wines are in for a treat. At 24 years old, I had achieved a goal I had worked toward for over five years. smoke trails of Tucker. Bayport Aerodrome Society,formed She also contributes to "60 Minutes. 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. Tom Demerly is a characteristic author, journalist, photographer and editorialist who has written articles which are revealed world wide on TheAviationist.com, TACAIRNET.com, Outside journal, Business Insider, We Are The Mighty, The Dearborn Press & Guide, National Interest, Russias authorities media outlet Sputnik, and lots of different publications. Curran describes her tenure as lead solo for the Thunderbirds as the pinnacle of her career. a cannon ball at almost 200 mph, crossing in flight, before releasing the December 31, 2019 / 4:08 PM Flying an F-16 also requires an incredibly high degree of athleticism. Trust and teamwork are obviously essential to the Thunderbirds and any successful team. 52-Year-Old Mystery of Murdered Schoolteacher Solved Thanks to - MSN From 2019-2021, she flew as the only female pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds and performed for millions across the country and internationally. If the key to flying F-16s is extensive training and rock-hard leg musclesboth things women have access towhy arent there more female Thunderbirds? I thought, Thats really cool. Before joining the Thunderbirds, Curran completed high-impact combat missions across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, where the challenges were tough, but the rewards were greater. it has been awesome to be part of that, to be in this position, in this time of history. Pilots train from March to November, often away from the teams home base in Las Vegas. These pilots are at the mercy of a lot of g-forcesthat is, the gravitational force caused by rapid accelerationand its intense on the body. Flying under the callsign "MACE," she was the second woman ever to fly in the lead solo position for . Michelle Curran didn't become interested in flying until college, but she certainly was not afraid of heights growing up in Wisconsin. But when were down on the ground, and talk to each other, we might say, Wow, we worked hard. Or We really crushed it., I do normal things in the morning. 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 . In 2021, she was named the Distinguished Alumna of the Year by the University of St. Thomas. travels at 250 mph. #flyaf There wasnt a female pilot at the time, but a woman was narrating the air show from the ground and Curran was in awe. MACE is a 2009 received her degree from the University of St. Thomas where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Criminal Justice. I couldnt be more excited to meet her if she were Beyonce. We have music associated with all our maneuvers and for that one I got to pick the song. All tickets for Saturday and Sunday were to be honored. I found myself stuck in my own head and consumed by my self-doubt. Curran entered the Air Force in 2009 with a Reserve Officer Training Corps commission from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. She completed the Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training in Columbus, Miss., and was assigned to the F-16 at Misawa Air Base, Japan. solos race at each other at combined speed of 1000 mph. You are truly a Hero. During the latter part of her role on the team, many airshows were cancelled due to the global pandemic. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and has logged more than 3,100 flight hours with 667 hours of combat pilot experience. GEICO Skytypers, a team of advanced training aircraft used in World War II, are This year, she is the lead solo doing the daring-do maneuvers, where two opposing fighters come at each other at, like, 1200 mph. 4 jet. USAF Maj. Michelle "Mace" Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team including 8,000 doing aerobatics. A Day With Major Michelle Curran, the Only Female Thunderbird - Yahoo! In conversations around the U.S. during three air show seasons, Curran told The Aviationist about her role on the team and its opportunity to, showcase the Air Force experience and let people know what is possible. That decision to change my mindset completely changed my trajectory. And I am not alone. "I'm a left-wing solo. Up in the air, they were spinning so fast, they created a gravitational force nine times their body weight. These reactions only made the problem worse. The thing that makes it great are the people I serve with- everyone, the team I work alongside every day. 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. He is in his second season with the team and hails from Fort Collins, Colo. Norah O'Donnell is the anchor and managing editor of the "CBS Evening News." 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. Police at the time . Though theyve only been allowed to fly fighter jets since 1993, women have been enlisting in the USAF proper since 1976. Opinions do not represent the USAF linktr.ee/macecurran Posts Reels Videos Tagged Show More Posts from mace_curran Theres been a steady uptick of female pilots in general and in the fighter community as well, she says. I'm the first female to fly in that. 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. Select this result to view Michelle Fami Curran's phone number, address, and more. Michelle "MACE" Curran | Afterburner Inc A native of Orlando, Florida, he reflects that he first saw the Thunderbirds when he was just four or five years old, and was so awed, he wanted to fly.