bobgore wrote:...From that time until the F-16s the second solo was #6 and promoted to #5 in his second year, the reason being that #5 called all hits and corrections. #6 was, in effect, training for #5. Six was always the new guy. Nobody I have talked with remembers anything about switching 5 and 6 in the formation in that time, a memory confirmed by my photos.
When the team was rebuilt in the F-16, pilots were hired into either position to spend their two years in the same position. They might have switched their position in large formations as you say.
The only difference, it would seem, is that nowadays (starting with the Falcon era in 1983) each new Solo Pilot is hired into either the
right or
left solo profile (including all the maneuvers flown by the previous "right solo" or "left solo") throughout their entire time on the team, even as the transition from Opposing Solo (No. 6) to Lead Solo (No. 5) still occurs as you describe between the first and second year.
You're also correct about No. 5 always being to the left of No. 2 in all photos from the T-38 Talon era dating back several decades (something I frankly wasn't aware of until you just pointed it out - Thank You).
To further clarify the positioning of the jets for anyone else reading this, here's a summary of what it boils down to (if I got everything right -
):
- Thunderbirds 1953-1961 only had a single solo routine. Dual solo routine first began in 1962.
- Thunderbirds 1962-1982 would have No. 2, 5... on the left side of Boss, and No. 3, 6... on the right side of Boss (except during the years when the team went back to only having five jets in the demo, in which case No. 3, 4... would be on the right side of Boss).
- Thunderbirds 1983-Present have No. 2 on the left side of Boss, and No. 3 on the right side of Boss, while the Solos (No. 5/6) alternate which side of the formation they fly on each year since the (left/right) profile dictates where they are found, not the number on the jet itself as the Opposing Solo becomes the Lead Solo.
- Blue Angels have No. 3, 5 (odds)... on the left side of Boss, and No. 2, 6 (evens)... on the right side of Boss.