died in an airplane crash. I'm the first female to fly in that. Michelle "MACE" Curran Expand search. 7 jet. 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. been flying since 14 year old, soloed at 16 year old and started aerobatic As we hop along the New Jersey coastline, experiencing minor Gs, I take in a view of the beach. During her three years of assignment with the Thunderbirds, she quickly established herself as a highly visible and positive influencer for the Air Force through innovative use of social media. Please enter valid email address to continue. The event over Memorial Day Weekend draws almost 400,000 in the course of three days. She is a true inspiration to all of those attempting to overcome hardships. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Maj. Curran is widely known as a member of the U.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. 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. Opinions do not represent the USAF linktr.ee/macecurran Posts Reels Videos Tagged Show More Posts from mace_curran I had never truly experienced failure, I hadn't developed grit, and my identity was wrapped up in my achievements. It really means a lot. 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. I was scared to raise my hand when I had a question, because I didn't want anyone else to discover how little I knew. Drawing from her 13 years as a Fighter Pilot, Curran delivers actionable content and wit to leave audiences both informed and entertained. 22 series on Hulu. Always a thrill seeker at heart, she has a passion for pushing her limits and changing lives. Theres still a long way to go before the Air Force hits total parity, but Curran doesnt see herself as an outlier. David We have music associated with all our maneuvers and for that one I got to pick the song. Her favorite maneuver is the vertical roll pointing the plane up or down whilerolling over. His army expertise consists of being Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army Infantry School at Ft. Benning, Georgia (Cycle C-6-1) and as a Scout Observer in a reconnaissance unit, Company F, 425th INF (RANGER/AIRBORNE), Long Range Surveillance Unit (LRSU). Imposter syndrome is real! Over the next 18 months, I started running marathons, got into technical mountaineering, traveled to Nepal by myself to trek to Everest Base Camp with a group of strangers, deployed for the first time, and spent a summer instructing in Poland. I knew it was something I wanted to do not that the dream would come true but there are steps and I could do the best I could., He didnt imagine then he would become one of the Thunderbirds, and even now, reflects being proficient is one thing, but it takes luck and timing to get the F-16.. 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". These pilots are at the mercy of a lot of g-forcesthat is, the gravitational force caused by rapid accelerationand its intense on the body. Most of us work out five days a week, Curran tells me. It was during this time that she realized the flying was incredible, but the best part was inspiring others to overcome their fears and pursue their dreams. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. "There was still definitely a surreal moment, while holding short of the runway, where I was in a bit of disbelief that I had actually been selected and was about to take off for my first flight.". Kenneth Sweet survived Pearl Harbor attack, helped found Wisconsin Air National Guard, Fly along on an F-16 while we tell you what will take its place at Truax Field, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. During her ten years flying the Viper, MACE flew combat sorties in Afghanistan and taught Polish Air Force pilots in their aircraft. 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. It turned out there was a lot more to being a fighter pilot than just flying the jet. Curran was assigned to the F-16 Fighting Falcon and spent three years stationed in Japan flying throughout the Pacific. Source: USAF Maj. Michelle Mace Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team, USAF Maj. Michelle Mace Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team - Click To Share. Sasquatch, powered by dual powerplants: a Pratt & Whitney 985 Radial I think it's important you all understand what drives me and why I made such a surprising leap! "I just want to see the (Thunderbird) planes. We were treated to the final appearance of Sean D. Tuckers specially-engineered plane that enables him to do feats never before imagined, the Oracle Challenger 3, will be donated to the Smithsonians National Air & Space Museum in Washington, where it will be part of a new Thomas W. Haas We All Flygallery, opening in 2021. Weve detected you are on Internet Explorer. Her favorite maneuver is the vertical roll. "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. Her call sign is Mace (which she uses in her social media, @mace_curran) and while she doesnt reveal the secret to what is behind the nickname, she says it is a tradition in a fighter squadron to get a call sign they are mission qualified. *This is a free press release. The thing that makes it great are the people I serve with- everyone, the team I work alongside every day. In the Facebook post announcing her career transition, Michelle Curran wrote: Ill be continuing to serve in a part time capacity and pursing some goals in the business world. She earned a degree in criminal justice in 2009 because she consideredbecominga crime scene investigatorbut also thought it would be cool to become a pilot. 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. 6, also known as the opposing solo pilot. In the works are online coaching programs for personal development, and in person corporate leadership coaching. Crunchbase always contains a descriptive blurb about each company, and, Weve detected you are on Internet Explorer. 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. 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. From flying an F-16 to her passion for extreme sports, Curran is a thrill seeker. Vulnerability isnt a weakness, its a super power as a leader! And not to brag, but I dont throw up or pass out. This asWine Spectators Grand Tour2023 promises event attendees the opportunity to sip, OverviewA big part of the process of bringing these reviews to you is the research done to understand the background of the company. And I am not alone. She has inspired thousands through her passion for breaking barriers and setting the example of what can be accomplished through hard work. US Coast Guard demonstrated a rescue by helicopter into churning seas on a typical 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. At 24 years old, I had achieved a goal I had worked toward for over five years. Anyone with information about Curran's case is asked to call the Riverside County Sheriff's Office at (909) 341-8817 or the Metropolitan Police Department's Missing Persons Detail at 229-2907. . Taylor is a 2010 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he majored in Systems Engineering. In conversations across the U.S. throughout three air present seasons, Curran advised The Aviationist about her function on the group and its alternative to, showcase the Air Force experience and let people know what is possible. Drink a beer. Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. Ranges are presented as a guideline only. Source: "Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the only female fighter pilot on the Thunderbirds." AviationFreak 01:11, 28 November 2020 (UTC) The Super Bowl was the first time Curran's parents had seen their daughter performing with the Thunderbirds. including 8,000 doing aerobatics. After going through extensive interviews and testing, she called her parents last summer and excitedly said "you're talking to the newest Thunderbird!". My presence here wont end when I hand off the #5 and I have a lot more to share with you!. She went on to complete the Squadron Officer School in 2014. All rights reserved. The thing that makes it great are the people I serve with- everyone, the team I work alongside every day. Day weekend) were flown, including the B-25 Mitchell Bomber used in the Catch Since Curran began . During a dialog on the Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan for the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow in 2021, Curran advised TheAviationist.com that, These are long days sometimes, but this is the best job in the world. Show organizers instead held the first Bethpage Virtual Air Show which enabled fans to experience performances straight from the pilots cockpits. 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. 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. Force launch out of a plane from 13,000 feet, speeding like 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. It means she's front and center in one of. Im also excited to get into the general aviation world and hopefully also try my hand at helicopters. Like us at facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures. And the back-story Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. the performances repeat year after year, or follow a two-year cycle, this show Update: At this writing, the Bethpage Air Show was scheduled for Memorial Day, Monday, May 31. Prior to the Thunderbirds, she was an F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. Theres 12 officers on a teamif you look at the officers alone as a sample, our team next year will have four women, Curran says. parachute, and sailing down at 60 mph to the target. I realized I was meeting people all the time that struggled with the things that I did during my first assignment. 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. I live in a fifth-floor walkup, I offered. I'll be honest I don't have a favorite in the Super Bowl," said Cook. At this state park and many others around the state, free COVID-19 vaccines were being administered (with two-day passes to state parks as an additional incentive). Flying an F-16 also requires an incredibly high degree of athleticism. MACE currently lives in Las Vegas with her family. Stay connected. The call sign tradition is celebrated by aviation communities across all military branches. Her aunt Sara Cook, Bill's sister, planned to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, too. They practice so much, it is all quite routine, even the communications between pilots. There is a charge of adrenalin, but once I take off, it is just focus. Get ready to wake up early the next morning to go do it again.. the US Army Parachute Team, theGolden Knights, delivering the Michelle is a native of Medford, Wisconsin, and has been in the Air Force nearly 10 years. Norah O'Donnell is the anchor and managing editor of the "CBS Evening News." Shes badass, Curran says. 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. 2019 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. 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. This is Currans third season with theThunderbirds. Tom Demerly served in an intelligence gathering unit as a member of the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; We lift each other up, we accomplish more as a team. See photo galleries of Jones Beach Air Shows from 2019 and 2018: By Karen Rubin, Travel It's a blast. Matt Chapman, I started to grow an Adventure Mindsetone of curiosity, openness to new things, and a completely fresh perspective on failure. This was the 16th "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. I'll go from 150 feet above the ground to 15,000 in a few seconds while rolling. The 2005 Medford High School graduate attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota,on an ROTC scholarship. miles mph, at bone-crushing G-forces, with Panzer magnificently following the The 31-year-old Medford native isthe first female demonstration pilot for the Thunderbirds since 2014. This is Currans third season with the Thunderbirds. the most daring feats: US Air Force Thunderbirds pilot Michelle Curran, In addition to the recommended hydration, pilots must stay in shape. of aerobatics; Golden Knights parachutist Maj. Marissa Chierichella and the Red We lift each other up, we accomplish more as a team. The three years on the team was the most fun flying of my career. Together, "I'm a left-wing solo. It hits me when I step out to the jets. This week, I want to give you a bit of perspective on why I chose to stop flying F-16s and become an entrepreneur. We know each other a sisterhood.. Game on. No. aircraft, built especially for aerobatics, with seemingly impossible feats at Drawing on over a decade in high-performance aviation and her own transformation, Mace teaches audiences what they are capable of when they let go of fear, lean into vulnerability, and make bold choices. 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. Trust and teamwork are obviously essential to the Thunderbirds and any successful team. 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. We learn that the parachutes they use, use Up in the air, they were spinning so fast, they created a gravitational force nine times their body weight. Have a question? The F-16, he says, is basically an engine with wings it can fly at supersonic speed (though the FAA no longer allows it at air shows). Its been a while! she says. cbsnews.com Female Thunderbird pilot inspiring others to chase their dreams I do that through keynote speeches and via content creation on LinkedIn. it has been awesome to be part of that, to be in this position, in this time of history. 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. 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Curran also provided unique and candid transparency about her career and personal life, effectively leveraging social media to bring airshow fans and aviation enthusiasts inside the world of a fighter pilot. 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. She flies position #5, lead solo, one of the most visible positions on the team. Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach, Long Island, were the number of women doing Maj. Curran flew as Thunderbird #6, opposing solo, before her advancement to Thunderbird #5, lead solo in the 2020/21 airshow season. The unit adopted the name Thunderbirds, influenced in part by the strong Native American culture and folklore from the southwestern United States where Luke Air Force Base is located. field including Bi-Planes, Champs, and Cubs. She flies place #5, lead solo, one of the vital seen positions on the group. Demerly studied journalism at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan. 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 1 Comment Richard Aubrey says: "We're just bursting with excitement," said Bill Curran. The result was: promoted by Yoninah (talk)21:01, 1 December 2020 (UTC). 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. But from the moment I meet Curran on the scorching hot tarmac, she is warm and funny. We ask what it feels like to fly. That change is what made me even consider applying to be a Thunderbird. aerobatic helicopter in the US. Before that, the WAFWomen in the Air Forceformed in 1948, but WAFs werent permitted to fly and instead performed ground duties. Civilian performers at this years Bethpage Air Show include the world-famous GEICO Skytypers and their flight squadron of six vintage WWII aircraft, the American Airpower Museum Warbirds, Long Islands own David Windmiller, the Bayport Aerodrome Society, the SUNY Farmingdale State College Flying Rams who will fly seven of their 22 college-owned aircraft in a fly-by piloted by their top academic professional pilot performers, and Mike Goulian, North Americas most decorated aerobatic pilot.
