Open House doc.indd - Kirtland Air Force Base

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commander’s welcome ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of everyone here at Team Kirtland, I’m pleased to welcome you to the 2011 Kirtland Air Force Base Open House. Kirtland AFB is home to the 377th Air Base Wing and more than 100 mission partners. With a total workforce of more than 21,000 people, Kirtland is the largest employer in New Mexico, with a annual total economic impact of $7.8 billion. Thank you for joining us as we observe two major milestones in the history of this installation – 70 years of American military airpower and 40 years since the merger of three former bases here into Kirtland Air Force Base – sandia, Manzano and Kirtland. Kirtland AFB is named in honor of col. Roy c. Kirtland, one of the Army’s earliest aviation pioneers. He was the third-oldest military pilot in the u.s. Army Air corps at the time of his death in 1941, having earned his pilot’s wings in 1911. Military aviation history here started before the creation of the u.s. Air Force as a separate military service on sept. 18, 1947. since 1939, u.s. Army and Navy aviators had been using the Albuquerque Municipal Airport for aircraft refueling and maintenance. All these years later, military flight operations here still share the runway with commercial airlines at the Albuquerque sunport. In 2011, we mark 70 years of military aviation here. On April 19, 1941, “Albuquerque Army Air Base” was officially declared ready to receive the advance cadres of tactical units that would prepare bomber aircrews for combat Col. David Hornyak in World War II. Aircrew training here continues to this day, with the 58th special Operations Wing producing air warriors for worldwide special operations missions and combat search and rescue. On July 1, 1971, Kirtland AFB, sandia Base and Manzano Base merged into one entity under the name “Kirtland AFB,” which has been the installation’s name ever since. I invite you to enjoy the spectacular aerobatic performance of the u.s. Air Force Thunderbirds today, as well as the aircraft static displays and other exhibits we have set up for your entertainment and information. The uniformed Airmen flying and maintaining those fighter jets, as well as all the other men and women in uniform, are all volunteers who have chosen to serve their country, putting service above self at a time when our nation needs their courage to face a determined adversary. We are proud to be your neighbors and look forward to continuing and expanding our partnership with all the citizens of Albuquerque and the surrounding communities. we salute you ... In recognition of the men and women of Kirtland Air Force Base and their families, we are proud to partner with you in supporting this year’s Open House. 4 | OPeN HOuse | Thunderbirds Air show | KAFB Nucleus
thunderbirds’ welcome The Thunderbirds are proud to represent Air Force Airmen who make America’s Air Force the most advanced and respected air, space and cyberspace force the world has ever seen. They continually provide consistent and credible Global Vigilance, Global Reach and Global Power, giving a critical edge to today’s joint warfighting and coalition teams. As Air Force ambassadors, the Thunderbird team strives to showcase the integrity, selfless service and excellence embodied by American Airmen everywhere. — Thunderbird No. 1 Col. Case Cunningham thunderbirds’ history On June 8, 1953, the u.s. Air Force Thunderbirds, officially designated the 3600th Air Demonstration Flight, performed for the first time at luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Their first aircraft was the straight-winged F-84G Thunderjet, a combat fighter-bomber that had seen action in Korea. Three years later, the Thunderbirds traded the F-84 for the world’s first supersonic fighter, the F-100 super sabre -- an aerial platform that would serve them for 13 years. More than 1,000 demonstrations were flown in the super sabre. At that same time, the team moved to its current home at Nellis AFB, Nev. The Thunderbirds squadron is an Air combat command unit composed of eight pilots (including six demonstration pilots), four support officers, three civilians and more than 130 enlisted personnel performing in 25 career fields. A Thunderbirds air demonstration is a mix of formation flying and solo routines. The four-aircraft diamond formation demonstrates the training and precision of Air Force pilots, while the solo aircraft highlight the maximum capabilities of the F-16. The pilots perform approximately 30 maneuvers in a demonstration. The entire show, including ground and air, runs about an hour. The season lasts from March to November, with the winter months used to train new members. The squadron exhibits the professional qualities the Air Force develops in the people who fly, maintain and support these aircraft. KAFB Nucleus | Thunderbirds Air show | OPeN HOuse | 5
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Open House doc.indd - Kirtland Air Force Base

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