Attended the Star Spangled Salute at Tinker AFB on May 24th. Great show, and got to meet Maj. Scott Poteet. Very nice and informative guy.

My question is that during the take off sequence the diamond pilots took off single ship, then reformed behind the crowd for the initial pass, is this because it is still relatively early in the season? or have they stopped the formation takeoff?

Thanks for the help!

Spaz

More than likely wind speed or runway length was outside minimums for a formation takeoff. They're still doing fingertip formation takeoffs.

They'll do "lightning takeoffs" (single ship) when:

The runway isn't the standard 150-foot width needed for the four ship. Or if turbulence and crosswind component are (anticipated) to be to high in addition to what Burner already mentioned.

You guys will always surprise me with your Thunderbirds knowledge!!!

hehe

i think the wind was the culprit. It was blowing over 25 mph that day. I'm pretty sure the runway was wide enough, (they used it the last time they were there for a formation takeoff) it was the main runway for TAFB, AWACS use it every day.

Thanks for y our info and keep up your outstanding work!!

Spaz

Being that I used to work on Tinker AFB back in the day in the B1B Corrosion Control Hanger. I know the Runway is wide and long enough so it has to be the wind as a factor. About this time in Oklahoma the winds are a pain.

Cinch