I am a Venezuelan passionate about aviation, and at 44 years old I only see these from the screen, since I never dared to approach an Airplane because I am a woman. USAF Maj. Michelle Mace Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team. 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. I found myself stuck in my own head and consumed by my self-doubt. It makes a spiral in the sky, she tells me. (where the plane falls from the sky), 4 knife edge tumblers, inside-outside Just 2% of pilots are women. Be sure to look for her at an. | By Destination Brevard | Facebook Log In Forgot Account? There was a good portion of my first assignment where I would have walked away if that were an option. A native of Orlando, Florida, he reflects that he first saw the Thunderbirds when he was just four or five years old, and was so awed, he wanted to fly. In her much less seen however equally essential function with the Thunderbirds, Mace Curran served as Chief of Standardization and Evaluation for the group, a management function which is able to positively affect the trajectory of the group in upcoming seasons. This shift in airshow schedules meant that Maj. Currans social media contributions became even more important for maintaining the relevance of the Thunderbirds for public audiences. USAF Maj. Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace", arrives at Selfridge ANGB in Mt. Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, he was an F-22 Instructor Pilot at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. He expects he will go back to a combat air squadron after this assignment is finished, and based on his age and experience, could become the director of operations. One of their pilots, is 92-year aircraft, built especially for aerobatics, with seemingly impossible feats at 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. The show, which would have been the 17th at Jones Beach State Park, brought special excitement because of having been cancelled last year due to COVID-19, and the opportunity for crowds albeit at 50 percent capacity to gather again is a vital sign of the regions return to normalcy. 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 Air Force in the new year". 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. 15 lives, patrol some 96,000 miles of coastline through the US, as well as Visit goingplacesfarandnear.com, www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin, and travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/. The fighter is flown by the United States Navy and Marines. All rights reserved. . Day weekend) were flown, including the B-25 Mitchell Bomber used in the Catch The second best result is Michelle Lee Curran age 40s in Ocala, FL in the Silver Springs Shores neighborhood. I will look back.. other at incredible speed. She was applying to scholarship programs when her father suggested looking into the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). Today there's only one female Thunderbird pilot: Major Michelle Curran, a 32-year-old Wisconsin native who flies the coveted Opposing Solo position. 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. It shows the impact we are having, she says. Weve detected you are on Internet Explorer. We learn that the parachutes they use, use 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. and dexterity of these fighting crafts. The Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach is one of the largest and most respected air shows in the country. For up-to-date information about this years show, visitwww.bethpageairshow.comorhttps://www.facebook.com/BethpageAirShow/, or contact the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Regional Office, Recreation Department at 631-321-3510. My presence here wont end when I hand off the #5 and I have a lot more to share with you!. Usually I'll go in the swimming pool in the backyard for a few minutes. 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. View Michelle Curran's business profile as Member at U.S. Air Force. Im in my happy place. a different plane from the Oracle Challenger 3 biplane. The Super Bowl was the first public appearance for the current team, which is also performing a flyover at the Daytona 500 in two weeks before the show schedule kicks off next month. We ask what it feels like to fly. He is in his third season with the team and hails from Orlando, Fla. Maj. Ian Lee is the Left Wing Pilot for the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, flying the No. It's so important for others to hear your struggles. Her last assignment was with the Air Forces elite demonstration squadron, The Thunderbirds. In this workshop, combat veteran Michelle Curran draws from her experiences as an F-16 fighter pilot and USAF lead solo pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds to walk audiences through interactive exercises to help them identify characteristics of their own inner critic and the reality (or lack thereof) of what it says, as well as provide tools and resources for overcoming the war within. MACE currently lives in Las Vegas with her family. I chose [No Doubts] Im Just a Girl.. 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. In her less visible but equally crucial role with the Thunderbirds, Mace Curran served as Chief of Standardization and Evaluation for the team, a leadership role which will positively impact the trajectory of the team in upcoming seasons. 22 series on Hulu. Holy smokes. They act as the public face for the USAF, performing jaw-dropping maneuvers at air shows around the country. Curran thinks it might be a perception problem. 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. Visitgoingplacesfarandnear.com,www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin, andtravelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/. For one, Id been told most people who go up in a F-16 for the first time throw up or pass out (for reasons Ill explain later). the US Army Parachute Team, theGolden Knights, delivering the the same aeronautical techniques as the original Wright Brothers plane in 1903. Tweet @TravelFeatures. I thought, Thats really cool. She is a true inspiration to all of those attempting to overcome hardships. Have a question? Lieutenant Colonel Eric Gorney, call sign "Miami," is in charge of flying civilians. About halfway through her time in ROTC, she was inspired to get her pilot's wingsbecause she wanted to be part of something with a bigger purpose, she said in the website interview, and also because she's a thrill seeker who likes challenges. MACE flew as Thunderbird #6, the Opposing Solo, for the 2019 season and as #5, the Lead Solo, for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Michelle MACE Curran is an F-16 Mission Commander with over 1800 hours in the aircraft. 6, also known as the opposing solo pilot. commanding the Opposing Solo; Jessy Panzer, the only civilian woman aerobatic pilot in the He is in his third year on the Thunderbirds. 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. by Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate,goingplacesfarandnear.com. The perfect example of how to succeed with grace and a role model for anyone with a goal in mind. Im hoping to continue to do that through this platform, public speaking, a childrens booklets just say I have a lot of goals and I hope youll continue to come along for the journey. She also volunteers with Veterans Outdoor Advocacy Group, helping use the healing power of the outdoors for Veterans struggling with mental health. We had the opportunity to speak with Michelle recently as she prepares for the 2019 show season, and here's how it went: 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. 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. 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. Theres still a long way to go before the Air Force hits total parity, but Curran doesnt see herself as an outlier. 2023 www.jsonline.com. She went on to complete the Squadron Officer School in 2014. After serving in the Air Force, Michelle Curran is dedicated to continuing her service by helping others realize their dreams as the founder and president of Upside Down Dreams. Source: "Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the only female fighter pilot on the Thunderbirds." AviationFreak 01:11, 28 November 2020 (UTC) annual Jones Beach air show Ive seen almost all of them and though many of Considering the ridiculous aerobatics Klatt performs in the The thing that makes it great are the people I serve with- everyone, the team I work alongside every day. I was a fighter pilot! Her skill is all the more apparent since she is flying I couldnt be more excited to meet her if she were Beyonce. Tom Demerly served in an intelligence gathering unit as a member of the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard. He is a 2010 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he double majored in Economics and Management. The $10 event passes to the show can be returned in exchange for two free passes to visit any state park. 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. The whole squad gets together, talk about dumb mistakes and then you get a call sign. But the origin remains a secret. She has founded her company, Upside Down Dreams, to inspire others to overcome setbacks and achieve their goals. I appreciate your transparency and realness! At 24 years old, I had achieved a goal I had worked toward for over five years. Tom Demerly is a characteristic author, journalist, photographer and editorialist who has written articles which are revealed world wide on TheAviationist.com, TACAIRNET.com, Outside journal, Business Insider, We Are The Mighty, The Dearborn Press & Guide, National Interest, Russias authorities media outlet Sputnik, and lots of different publications. We lift each other up, we accomplish more as a team. (Being in a spinning cockpit thousands of miles from the ground will do that to you.) I'm just getting started! Though theyve only been allowed to fly fighter jets since 1993, women have been enlisting in the USAF proper since 1976. This year, she is the lead solo doing the daring-do maneuvers, where two opposing fighters come at each other at, like, 1200 mph. Curran outlined what its to be a contemporary Air Force officer for a lot of outsiders, offering a helpful perception into the Air Force expertise and showcasing the alternatives of an Air Force profession. 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. He is in his second season with the team and hails from Fort Collins, Colo. 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 . Early life [ edit] 2019 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. Maj. Curran is widely known as a member of the U.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. The 2005 Medford High School graduate attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota,on an ROTC scholarship. This system allows the plane to achieve feats other stunt planes are unable to Upside Down Dreams was born. Michelle is related to James Curren and Samantha Robles as well as 3 additional people. He has logged more than 5,800 total flight hours and 1,050 hours in the F-15E, including more than 315 combat hours over Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve. 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". She just has one requirement for her life, post-Thunderbirds: I want to keep flying.. (Ive always liked roller-coasters, Im a thrill-seeker, and I wanted to travel, she explains.) speeds of up to 220 mph that keep his peers and his fans in awe. Gotcha - I don't see that info anywhere else, so I'm happy with just the first two hooks. He is a graduate of the USAF Weapons School, a 2016 and 2020 NASA Astronaut Air Force nominee and has logged over 1,900 hours of flight time, including more than 297 hours of combat pilot experience. But from the moment I meet Curran on the scorching hot tarmac, she is warm and funny. Here are photos from the practice performance including: Show headliners the United States Air Force Thunderbirds returning to the Bethpage Air Show for their 8thappearance, performing some new maneuvers; the United States Army Golden Knights Parachute Team performing in their 15thBethpage Air Show; the United States Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, the first aircraft to be designed for close air support of ground forces (and built on Long Island); and the U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demonstration. Mace, you are certainly an inspiration. Clemens, Michigan when the team staged from the U.S. for an airshow performance in Canada during the global pandemic lockdown. Hornet, traveling at 700 mph, nearly breaking the sound When Curran isnt speaking, she volunteers as part of the Veterans Outdoor Advocacy Group, spends time with her stepson and husband rock climbing, and pursues her mountaineering goals.