parachute; in one demonstration we see what happens when a chute fails at just The Air Force turns 72 years old this month. All tickets for Saturday and Sunday were to be honored. I practiced flexing my leg muscles for the next several hours. MACE served as Chief of Scheduling, Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, and a Flight Commander at various squadrons. Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, he served as the Chief of Weapons and Tactics of the 79th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. She has additionally served as an F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander on the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas. (Ive always liked roller-coasters, Im a thrill-seeker, and I wanted to travel, she explains.) "I'm a left-wing solo. the performances repeat year after year, or follow a two-year cycle, this show Workshop: Going to War with Your Inner Critic. The move to my next base acted as a catalyst for change. I actually helped buckle Brie Larson into this very seat, one replies. Source: USAF Maj. Michelle Mace Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team, USAF Maj. Michelle Mace Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team - Click To Share. The flight surgeon who cleared me for my ride asked if I ever went to SoulCycle or ran marathons, two things that would make me better at handling g-forces. Windmiller has I also get to chat with Maj. Zane Taylor, the right wing pilot flying the No. Be sure to look for her at an. He reflects that he is just a standard Air force fighter pilot, flying every day, multiple times a day to master maneuvers. Except for the pretty paint and smoke, the maneuvers the Thunderbirds fly are the same for what are used in their combat training. I'm the first female to fly in that position, which is, I think, one of the hardest positions to fly," Curran said. 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 . 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. 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 first season with the team and hails from Cerritos, Calif. Maj. Michael Brewer is the Slot Pilot for the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, flying the No. American flag to a tiny target on Jones Beach. * This specific fee falls within this range. Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. travels at 250 mph. But I didnt talk to her because I was so scared of her. Theyre friends now, she adds. Game on. Recently, MACE was called back to St. Thomas to receive their Distinguished Alumna of the Year award. 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. and dexterity of these fighting crafts. the most daring feats: US Air Force Thunderbirds pilot Michelle Curran, I suddenly struggled to succeed for the first time in my life. US Air Force Major Michelle Curran is aware that she is such an inspiration to women and girls everywhere a role she embraces, along with her mission, as a member of the Thunderbirds demo team to recruit, retain, inspire. It is hard to say which she enjoys more the look on a young girls face when she realizes that Curran was flying those death-defying maneuvers in her F-16 fighter jet, or the thrill of flying those death-defying maneuvers in her F-16 fighter jet, going from 1500 feet altitude straight up to 15,000 feet in a matter of seconds. 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. 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. He is the epitome of what the Thunderbirds are about. During his performance, Ret. field including Bi-Planes, Champs, and Cubs. This year, she is the lead solo doing the daring-do maneuvers, where two opposing fighters come at each other at, like, 1200 mph. And she is aware of what seeing a woman in her role can mean. "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. 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. Facebook; Her skill is all the more apparent since she is flying 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. country, mimicking the astonishing stunts of Sean D. Tucker, a living legend

fbq('init', '461723204026319'); 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. We know each other a sisterhood.. Lt. Col. Kevin DiFalco is the Director of Operations for the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, flying the No. Blogging at goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com and moralcompasstravel.info. Flying an F-16 also requires an incredibly high degree of athleticism. What if I call her by the wrong rank? 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. The second best result is Michelle Lee Curran age 40s in Ocala, FL in the Silver Springs Shores neighborhood. One of their pilots, is 92-year #SCI is proud to announce Michelle "Mace" Curran will speak at our upcoming convention in Nashville. 2 jet. 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 was so excited, I called everyone in my familyand none of them answered their phones, she deadpans. fascinating because they demonstrate actual fighting techniques an implosion The Saturday performance was cancelled due to weather, but the rehearsal footage is being livestreamed on WABC . Once she visited a base and heard the roar of the jets, though, she knew she wanted to pursue the pilot route. She reflects that last year, the personal contact with people was lacking, but the team did city- flyovers, honoring health workers, essential workers and first responders. While I don't doubt she's right, a third-party fact checker is preferable.-Esprit15d . Curran, whose call sign is "Mace," flies Thunderbird No. He majored in Communication Technology and Music and earned his commission in 2010 as a graduate of Ohio State Universitys Reserve Officers Training Corps program. 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. There is a charge of adrenalin, but once I take off, it is just focus. Just two years earlier, women were granted the honor of flying fighter jets by the U.S. Air Force (USAF). 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. aviation lawyer who knew all too well the risks, and she because her father Maj. Curran flew as Thunderbird #6, opposing solo, before her advancement to Thunderbird #5, lead solo in the 2020/21 airshow season. The voice of doubt was still there, but I didn't let it control my decisions and actions. 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. She has also served as an F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas. Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, he served as an F-15E Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander of the 334th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. The headliners, the US Air Force 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. was particularly exciting with the infusion of new energy. 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. Usually I'll go in the swimming pool in the backyard for a few minutes. My favorite moment was when this little girlshe was probably six or sevencame up to the autograph line after a show and said, Im going to take your job. I was like, 'Yes! Hang out with my husband as much as I can. We lift each other up, we accomplish more as a team. 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. She was applying to scholarship programs when her father suggested looking into the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). 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. We learn that the parachutes they use, use Former F-16 Instructor/Thunderbird Pilot, USAF. that each were afraid of flying initially, he because his father was an Mace, you are certainly an inspiration. Their one free day a week is Wednesday, so Curranwho recently married her husband, a U.S. Marine Corps veteransays she keeps her time off simple: Laundry. In addition to the recommended hydration, pilots must stay in shape. Initially I credit the breathtaking beauty and the roller-coaster-like thrill of the experience for this, but then I remember another thing the flight surgeon told me: Women tend to have a lower center of gravity, giving them something of a natural advantage against high g-forces. 3 jet. I'll be honest I don't have a favorite in the Super Bowl," said Cook. In a Facebook put up from Wednesday afternoon, October 27, 2021, USAF Maj. Michelle Curran, name signal "Mace", introduced she is, "about to make a big career pivot and will be leaving the Active Duty Air Force in the new year". The thing that floors me is that some people still dont realize its an option, she says. "She climbed a tree taller than our house when she was 2," said her father, Bill Curran. As I mentioned before, people unaccustomed to the feeling often go into g-LOC (g-force induced loss of consciousness) or experience extreme motion sickness. Is she nervous at all? Norah O'Donnell is the anchor and managing editor of the "CBS Evening News." 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This page was last edited on 1 December 2020, at 21:01. I spend time right after I post engaging in the comments so comment early and I'll answer your questions. Its become more accepted, but she is aware of things that women have to navigate that men dont even think about. My presence here wont end when I hand off the #5 and I have a lot more to share with you!. 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. 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. Its especially important to have strong leg, calf, and thigh musclestheyre what you squeeze while going into a maneuver with a high amount of g-forces in order to keep the blood in your head from pooling into your lower extremities. Just 2% of pilots are women. The schedule is grueling. flying before he got his license and has accumulated 18,000 flight hours, Your content is extremely powerful, I am sure that you will be able to support both people and companies to direct their energy in a better way to achieve their goals. Applying to the team is intimidating and there is a good change of not getting hired, of failure. but I did get hired. After some reflection on that last 13 years, I realized the thing I found the most rewarding was the ability to inspire people that I suddenly had as a Thunderbird. old pilot who served in World War II, who flew with his grandson. "I'm a left-wing solo. Michelle "MACE" Curran Expand search. In 2021, she was named the Distinguished Alumna of the Year by the University of St. Thomas. John Klatt Airshows 9 positive Gs and 6 negative Gs. The Thunderbirds dont see combat, but that doesnt mean its an easy life. Tom Demerly served in an intelligence gathering unit as a member of the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard. The third one is confirmed by her own admission. commanding the Opposing Solo; Jessy Panzer, the only civilian woman aerobatic pilot in the At 24 years old, I had achieved a goal I had worked toward for over five years. Museum, at Republic Airport (flights available over Memorial Like us at facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures. This year, for the first time, Tucker flew in tandem I only wish I looked that good 'At Attention.' n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; Flying under the callsign "MACE," she was the second woman ever to fly in the lead solo position for . At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 18; more than a dozen missing, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case, Female Thunderbird pilot inspiring others to "chase a dream". 4 jet. I also realized I was in a unique position to use my own story and what I had learned to empower others. The airshow Its like no other organization I have ever been a part of, said Curran, who has been in the Air Force for 12 years. Holy smokes. Curran, whose call sign is "Mace," flies Thunderbird No. In 2021, she was named the Distinguished Alumna of the Year by the University of St. Thomas. Its all very professional in the air with the comm. Theres been a steady uptick of female pilots in general and in the fighter community as well, she says. fbq('track', "PageView"); Tradition Continues: USAF Thunderbirds To Perform Flyover at 2022 DAYTONA 500, U.S. Air Force and Industry Pass L3Harris F-16 EW System in Critical Design Review, Four Ways To Take Control When Things Fall Apart In Business, U.S. Air Force: Fufeng Grand Forks Project Presents Threat to National Security, U.S. Thunderbirds at Gowen Thunder Airshow This YEAR, Operation Homecoming Kickoff Event February 14th @ 1400 > Maxwell Air Force Base > Display. I make a mental note to not take this for granted anymore. We had the opportunity to speak with Michelle recently as she prepares for the 2019 show season, and here's how it went: Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, he served as an F-16 evaluator pilot, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. I thought, Thats really cool. View Fees They plan to travel to Las Vegas, where she recently moved to be near Nellis Air Force Base, early next month to see the Thunderbirds perform a flyover at a NASCAR race. Thank you for the inspiring honest humility of being new at accomplishing a very big dream, and putting a name to what some very real struggles are, in order to succeed and overcome. Source: "Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the only female fighter pilot on the Thunderbirds." AviationFreak 01:11, 28 November 2020 (UTC) At the end of her undergraduate pilot training, she was one of justtwo in her class of 25 chosen for fighter jets. 6 [the opposing solo] gives the challenge and the response, but I can hear his energy. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Did_you_know_nominations/Michelle_Curran&oldid=991790654, The first two are great. 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. Cady Drell is a writer based in New York City. LinkedIn and 3rd parties use essential and non-essential cookies to provide, secure, analyze and improve our Services, and (except on the iOS app) to show you relevant ads (including professional and job ads) on and off LinkedIn. This is Currans third season with theThunderbirds. I'm the first female to fly in that. smoke trails of Tucker. Maj. Curran is broadly referred to as a member of the U.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. Vulnerability isnt a weakness, its a super power as a leader! He is in his third year on the Thunderbirds. 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. He says that among his favorite things are riding roller coasters (he was looking forward to getting a ride on the Cyclone at Coney Island). No matter how confident and independent we appear to be, we all face pressure to fit in, be liked, and meet the expectations of others. I live in a fifth-floor walkup, I offered. "Those women that have blazed the trail for me, they're just regular people that were driven and you know, stepped outside their comfort zone," Curran said. 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). They barrel out of their plane from an altitude of She has founded her company, Upside Down Dreams, to inspire others to overcome setbacks and achieve their goals. You are truly a Hero. An air show first, livestream viewers will be treated to a special inside look at performances. We have music associated with all our maneuvers and for that one I got to pick the song. Thunderbirds, are a team of Mace shares her struggles with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and finding her identity in a high-performance, type-A culture. . aerobatic helicopter in the US. She flew 160 combat hours in Afghanistan before joining the team. I will look back.. that, These are long days sometimes, but this is the best job in the world. Checking in with Major Michelle Curran call sign "Mace" of the Air Force Thunderbirds as they prepare for this weekend's @Space & Air Show at Orlando. He is in his third season with the team and hails from LaGrange, Ill. Maj. Kyle Oliver is the Opposing Solo Pilot for the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, flying the No. See photo galleries of Jones Beach Air Shows from 2019 and 2018: By Karen Rubin, Travel Like People come up and say Im so proud of you, something your mother would say. Michelle "MACE" Curran Public figure Speaker, Author, Thunderbird Pilot 19-21' Lover of mountains, fitness, and adventure! This system allows the plane to achieve feats other stunt planes are unable to All upgraded press releases are ad-free! You're in such a great position to inspire people. It's a blast. In hindsight, this response to adversity was so flawed. Mace, thanks for sharing this, and for reminding us that its ok to be vulnerable and human. Though theyve only been allowed to fly fighter jets since 1993, women have been enlisting in the USAF proper since 1976. Crunchbase always contains a descriptive blurb about each company, and, Weve detected you are on Internet Explorer. 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. Im also excited to get into the general aviation world and hopefully also try my hand at helicopters. From 2019-2021, she flew as the only female pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds and performed for millions across the country and internationally. six F-16 Fighting Falcons that roar through the skies, to demonstrate the power She reflects what it is like to be part of this very special team there are 130 on the team. 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. Tom Demerly is a feature writer, journalist, photographer and editorialist who has written articles that are published around the world on TheAviationist.com, TACAIRNET.com, Outside magazine, Business Insider, We Are The Mighty, The Dearborn Press & Guide, National Interest, Russias government media outlet Sputnik, and many other publications. 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. All rights reserved. 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. It means she's front and center in one of. These are not breathable, she adds, tugging at her flight jumpsuit. Her evolution from struggling with a crippling fear of failure to flying inverted only inches from other aircraft at 500 mph will inspire audiences to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Curran holds a Bachelor of Arts diploma in Criminal Justice from the University of St. Thomas and is a 2010 graduate of the Air and Space Basic Course, Squadron Officer College. Update: At this writing, the Bethpage Air Show was scheduled for Memorial Day, Monday, May 31. 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. day, the Coast Guard, with fewer members than can fit in Yankee Stadium, save 2023Leading Authorities, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The perfect example of how to succeed with grace and a role model for anyone with a goal in mind. 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. exquisite, thrilling pas de deux in flight, with incredible precision at 200 He is in his second season with the team and hails from Fort Collins, Colo. Combat veteran Michelle "MACE" Curran led an impressive career as an F-16 fighter pilot during her 13 years in the United States Air Force. High five!'. But in the 26 years weve had female fighter pilots in the Air Force, only five have made it to the Thunderbirds. I see that look on faces that light bulb moment., She is the fifth woman to fly with the Thunderbirds (the first was in 2005). Her last assignment was with the Air Forces elite demonstration squadron, The Thunderbirds. Day weekend) were flown, including the B-25 Mitchell Bomber used in the Catch 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. Im in my happy place. Created by AviationFreak (talk). The 2005 Medford High School graduate attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota,on an ROTC scholarship. She went on to complete the Squadron Officer School in 2014. South China Seas, Pacific, Persian Gulf and wherever the US has forces.The air !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? Speaker fees are subject to change without notice. I kicked off my newsletter series with a heavy hitter right out the gate. As a team of uniform-clad airmen help me get into the back passenger seat of Thunderbird plane #7, I joke that I feel like Captain Marvel. The movie . No, she did not. Im not sure if this is reassuring or not. She just has one requirement for her life, post-Thunderbirds: I want to keep flying.. In an interview posted on the Thunderbirds' website, Curran was asked what it was like to climb into the distinctive red, white and blue Thunderbird jet for the first time.