Departure of '07 pilots

FALCON56 · Post by **FALCON56** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:37 pm

Does anyone know where Hollywood, FiFi, and Pinto are going after the they left the team? Do they go back to there Units they were in previous to the team? Just curious.

BonJobie · Post by **BonJobie** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:59 am

Most pilots from the Demo team will go to "staff" assignments as they came from active fighter squadrons prior to the Thunderbird assignment. Some go to the Pentagon, others go to a ACSC (Air Command and Staff College) or Air Ward College or a similar school. Very rarely are they put back into a flying assignment, not because they have spent 2 years plus on the Team but rather because going to a staff assignment or follow-on education would be the natural progression at that point in their career anyway. This is not an absolute example, but typical of most pilots after their tour with the Team.

Bon

FALCON56 · Post by **FALCON56** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:23 am

Bon,

Thanks for the reply to the question...I have always wondered that. You really never hear what happends to any of the pilots. Again thanks for your reply

Falcon56

Rhino · Post by **Rhino** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:34 am

I remember that someone did an interview with "FiFi", and she said she was going back to flying "Mudhens". Interesting how they would go to staff jobs, are these still flying jobs Bon or will they be flying desks now?

BonJobie · Post by **BonJobie** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:39 pm

I remember that someone did an interview with "FiFi", and she said she was going back to flying "Mudhens". Interesting how they would go to staff jobs, are these still flying jobs Bon or will they be flying desks now?

As I mentioned, "most" former Thunderbirds go to a follow-on staff or school assignment; however, some lucky ones go right back into the cockpit. If Fifi is going back to the Hen, then she is fortunate, indeed. I would imagine in her case given that she pinned on 0-4 (Major) a little less than 2 years ago she would go back to a squadron as an Asst Operations Officer and later pin on 0-5 Lt. Col and be Ops Officer which usually is a springboard to Squadron Commmander.....which usually is every pilot's dream: to lead a squadron. However, in the military, everyone has to "pay the piper" sooner or later. Promotions are directly linked to not only your flying performance and your rating as an officer, but to your "continuing education" and your staff experience...these are must items if you are promoted past 0-4. And like I said, it all really depends on your overall career timing with your flying and education "gates" that happen at certain points during your career.

But in most cases pilots will go to a "non flying" job for their next assignment (because that is what is required at that point in time of their career) and then back to a squadron if they are continuing with their USAF career. Yada Yada Yada.... sorry for the dry military trivia...

Bon

Rhino · Post by **Rhino** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:05 pm

Very odd how the Navy and Air Force differ from each other. The outgoing #2, #4, and #5 are all leaving to become department heads at the respective squadrons they are heading out to, meaning they'll actually be flying.

HALEN · Post by **HALEN** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:59 am

That is strange how the USAF and Navy differ. But, the TB's that "Retire" from the squad, even if they go on to staff positions at the "Gon", teaching or whatever the case may be, don't those pilots still get to fly to stay current?

I guess one can assume that maybe these guys and gals look forward to a change, that gets them out of the cockpit either for a while or for good, and I"m aware that most USAF pilots have flying jobs in the private sector, but to be done with jet flying for the military isn't a job that I would want to quit, at least not totally be done with.

I'm just speaking for me, and until you WALK IN THEIR SHOES, maybe that "Desk Job" is more appealing, plus having a family life also.

Cool topic.

**Salute**

HALEN

Bloke · Post by **Bloke** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:53 pm

Rhino wrote:I remember that someone did an interview with "FiFi", and she said she was going back to flying "Mudhens". Interesting how they would go to staff jobs, are these still flying jobs Bon or will they be flying desks now?

FiFi is doing a one year Staff job in DC.