Date: March 24-25, 2007
Location: Luke AFB, Arizona
Story by: Scott Snorteland
Photography by: Scott Snorteland

Phoenix’s first rainfall in nearly two months and threatening weather conditions wasn't enough to keep the crowds away, as thousands of spectators flocked to see the Thunderbirds kick off their airshow season at Luke AFB on March 24 and 25th. Taking to the skies for her first airshow performance with the team was the Thunderbirds newest member, Opposing Solo, Major Samantha Weeks. With last year’s addition of Major Nicole “FiFi” Malachowski, the first female pilot to fly for the Thunderbirds, Major Weeks became the second in as many years at Luke Days 2007.

With 2007 also marking the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force, it was more than appropriate for Luke to host the Thunderbirds. "It is an honor to have the Thunderbirds start their airshow season here, given it's history of training fighter pilots for the Air Force,” stated Second Lieutenant Don Huggins, a B-Class student at Luke currently training with the 308FS. Luke AFB has played a significant role in American aviation history. Taking its name from Lt. Frank Luke Jr., a pilot who served in WWI with more than fifteen victories, Lt. Luke Jr. became the first aviator to earn the Medal of Honor. Today Luke AFB continues to live up to the same high standards behind its name, serving as the world’s largest F-16 training base, with 191 F-16’s assigned to eight fighter squadrons.

Showcasing some of the preeminent civilian and military performers, the show began both days with opening remarks from Luke's 56FW commander, Brig. General Tom Jones; putting special emphasis on the shows theme, “Show of Force `07 From Heritage to Horizons.” Though low ceilings and lurking rain forced a few acts to perform their low shows on Saturday, it also provided a one day opportunity for the Thunderbirds and other jet teams to pull some vapor, an exciting sight rarely seen in the dry desert climate.

The show supported its theme with a wide variety of aircraft representing the different eras of American military aviation, including Steve Cowell flying Double Vee, the last-flying Tuskegee Airmen AT-6. Retired Brig. General Reg Urschler flew the P-51 Gunfighter for the crowd. Tora Tora Tora’s reenactment of Pearl Harbor, took the crowd back to December 7th 1941, a sobering turning point in both America’s history and military aviation. Demonstrations by the F-15E Strike Eagle along with the West Coast A-10 and F-18F Super Hornet teams displayed the military’s current combat aircraft capabilities in the air.

Static displays included a rarely seen F-15 aggressor from Nellis, an Oregon ANG F-15, as well as a pair of the Air Force's newest and most advanced fighters, the F-22 Raptor. Team Red Bull along with Greg Poe and Tim Weber’s dual aerial demonstration entitled the “Squirrel Cage,” led the civilian performances.

As the show paid tribute to past and present, the future was also visible throughout the weekend. As change remains constant, Luke continues to train and turn out some of the finest and most capable fighter pilots in the world. These pilots, representing the future history of the United States Air Force, are currently training to continue the legacy, in bringing the Air Force to future horizons.

Photo captions left to right: (1) A-10 West. (2) A new B-1 with no tail flash from the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess. (3) B-1 from the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess. (4) B-2 Spirit banks hard for the crowd on Saturday. (5) B-17 from the Commemorative Air Force. (6) Father and son share an experience together. (7) Future pilots. (8) Greg Poe and Tim Weber perform their Squirrel Cage act. (9) Bill Reesman lights the afterburner on the Red Bull MiG. (10) Major Weeks fits right in during her first show of 2007. (11) New Thunderbird, Opposing Solo Major Samantha Weeks at her first show. (12) Several generations take an up close look at the TBM Avenger. (13) Spectators check out some rare static displays. (14) Super Hornet West. (15) T-Birds fly a tight formation on their first show of 2007. (16) The A-10 and some pyro heats up the crowd. (17) The B-2's third pass for the crowd. (18) The months first rain gives the crowd a rare desert sight. (19) The Spirit of Arizona. (20) The Thunderbirds fly a tight formation. (21) The Thunderbirds make a pass from behind the crowd. (22) Thunderbirds. (23) Thunderbirds from show right.