We dip around a big thunderstorm and run through a set of increasingly intense maneuvers360-degree rolls, extended periods of upside-down flight, turns with increasingly high g's. The headliners, the US Air Force Contact us by clicking the button below. She went on to complete the Squadron Officer School in 2014. PORTSMOUTH Maj. Michelle Curran, 34, is the lead solo pilot of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. RELATED:Kenneth Sweet survived Pearl Harbor attack, helped found Wisconsin Air National Guard, RELATED:Fly along on an F-16 while we tell you what will take its place at Truax Field. 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. 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). She is a true inspiration to all of those attempting to overcome hardships. a demonstration performance. * This specific fee falls within this range. I will look back.. And the back-story It shows the impact we are having, she says. I'll go from 150 feet above the ground to 15,000 in a few seconds while rolling. Source: USAF Maj. Michelle Mace Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team, USAF Maj. Michelle Mace Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team - Click To Share. #flyaf She also contributes to "60 Minutes. Driven by the desire to inspire others, Curran uses real-life examples from her trailblazing fighter pilot and Thunderbird career to help teams get unstuck by empowering them to face their fears, overcome self-doubt and imposter syndrome, and take calculated risks. He showed "CBS Evening News" anchor Norah O'Donnell a series of maneuvers the team performs during shows. I practiced flexing my leg muscles for the next several hours. 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. Four years into that time she became the first female pilot to fly for the 457th Fighter Squadron. So now, Im not only anxious about puking or passing out in front of a badass pilot but also concerned Ill be late to meet this badass pilot. 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. 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. 7 jet. Maj. Curran flew as Thunderbird #6, opposing solo, before her advancement to Thunderbird #5, lead solo in the 2020/21 airshow season. The result was: promoted by Yoninah (talk)21:01, 1 December 2020 (UTC). Police answered a call in the early morning of July 20, 1971, after Curran's roommate found her in their shared bedroom. My presence here wont end when I hand off the #5 and I have a lot more to share with you!. This year, she is the lead solo doing the daring-do maneuvers, where two opposing fighters come at each other at, like, 1200 mph. octogan loop. MACE is a 2009 received her degree from the University of St. Thomas where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Criminal Justice. Most call signs are not flattering.. 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. Looking for the right speaker for your audience? 3 jet. 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. 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. She just has one requirement for her life, post-Thunderbirds: I want to keep flying.. "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. The demonstration squadron boasts some of the worlds most elite fliers, and those skilled enough to make it serve a two-year assignment. Blogging at goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com and moralcompasstravel.info. Though she wasn't really interested in football. a different plane from the Oracle Challenger 3 biplane. She went for it, even competing for a highly coveted pilot spot while still in college. Against the odds, I had done it. September 27, 2019, 5:00 AM. 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. #SCI is proud to announce Michelle "Mace" Curran will speak at our upcoming convention in Nashville. My question to you is: how do you become your own catalyst for change? Imposter syndrome is real! 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. This isnt a new thing., Currans doing her part to change that perception. He is in his second season with the team and hails from Fort Collins, Colo. 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. 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. including 8,000 doing aerobatics. In Captain Marvel, Brie Larson plays Carol Danvers, an Air Force fighter pilot who uses the special powers she gains during an accident to save the galaxy. This was the 16th Force launch out of a plane from 13,000 feet, speeding like The call sign tradition is celebrated by aviation communities across all military branches. Features Syndicate,goingplacesfarandnear.com. 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. I was a fighter pilot! I kicked off my newsletter series with a heavy hitter right out the gate. by Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate,goingplacesfarandnear.com. In a commercial flight, its easy to forget that youre in the sky, but this sensation isnt lost given the panoramic window atop a tiny cockpit surrounded by clouds. She reflects that last year, the personal contact with people was lacking, but the team did city- flyovers, honoring health workers, essential workers and first responders. Michelle "MACE" Curran Public figure Speaker, Author, Thunderbird Pilot 19-21' Lover of mountains, fitness, and adventure! He reflects that he is just a standard Air force fighter pilot, flying every day, multiple times a day to master maneuvers. Except for the pretty paint and smoke, the maneuvers the Thunderbirds fly are the same for what are used in their combat training. I live in a fifth-floor walkup, I offered. modified and beefed up big time. Upside Down Dreams was born. show also pays homage to aviations heritage. To really complete the picture, the Air Force even offered a flight in a F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft (which, I learn via military.com, is a mainstay of the combat fleet). She flies place #5, lead solo, one of the vital seen positions on the group. However, a livestream of Fridays practice sessions include footage from go-pros from the pilots and a Thunderbirds chase plane that shadowed the F-16s in their thrilling maneuvers is airing on Saturday, 10-3 pm. Up in the air, they were spinning so fast, they created a gravitational force nine times their body weight. Team Oracle performed the most The City of Boston is seeking artists to redesign these . day, the Coast Guard, with fewer members than can fit in Yankee Stadium, save Next year, her last with the Thunderbirds, she'll get bumped up to Lead Solo, where she'll be showcasing the maximum capabilities of the planes. Though theyve only been allowed to fly fighter jets since 1993, women have been enlisting in the USAF proper since 1976. It's hard because Curran's job is to wow crowds with awe-inspiring aerobatics and high speed passes. 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. With a powerful story and breathtaking visuals, Michelle, also known as Mace, takes her audience on a surprising and compelling journey through her career as a Fighter Pilot, culminating in her role as the Lead Solo Pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds. (Ive always liked roller-coasters, Im a thrill-seeker, and I wanted to travel, she explains.) You can update your choices at any time in your settings. The Saturday performance was cancelled due to weather, but the rehearsal footage is being livestreamed on WABC . love this - an excellent and inspirational example of a path for those who are coming to the end of flying / military service and are young enough and open enough to start a new exciting life . But from the moment I meet Curran on the scorching hot tarmac, she is warm and funny. She has accumulated over 1250 flight hours in three aircraft, including the T-6, T-38, and the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Red Bull Air (Being in a spinning cockpit thousands of miles from the ground will do that to you.) the same aeronautical techniques as the original Wright Brothers plane in 1903. Today theres only one female Thunderbird pilot: Major Michelle Curran, a 32-year-old Wisconsin native who flies the coveted Opposing Solo position. The move to my next base acted as a catalyst for change. 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. Most of us work out five days a week, Curran tells me. 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. MACE uses her experience in high performance, teamwork, risk assessment, and debriefing to inspire clients to overcome their own challenges and increase performance using the tools of Flawless Execution. The Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park was canceled Saturday due to weather, the state Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation said in a statement. Pilots call it "pulling 9 G's. Im also excited to get into the general aviation world and hopefully also try my hand at helicopters. Michelle Curran (born 1987) is a former United States Air Force (USAF) major and a pilot in the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, or Thunderbirds. It's so important for others to hear your struggles. During a conversation at the Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan for the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow in 2021, Curran told. 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. Prior to the Thunderbirds, she was an F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. "We're just bursting with excitement," said Bill Curran. She has inspired thousands through her passion for breaking barriers and setting the example of what can be accomplished through hard work. 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. Curran has been in the Air Force for 11 years, but flying wasnt always her goal. MACE is a 2009 received her degree from the University of St. Thomas where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Criminal Justice. During the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds most recent headlining appearance in 2019, over 366,000 attended the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach. Tweet @TravelFeatures. "Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the only female fighter pilot on the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's demonstration team." -- What an amazing role model! Maj. Curran is widely known as a member of theU.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. It turned out there was a lot more to being a fighter pilot than just flying the jet. 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. smoke trails of Tucker. On Sunday, Curran didn't fly reallyhigh, but she flewin close formation at 400 mph with five other Thunderbirds, the prestigious Air Force flight demonstration team, at the Super Bowl in Atlanta. The three years on the team was the most fun flying of my career. Holy smokes. was particularly exciting with the infusion of new energy. The whole squad gets together, talk about dumb mistakes and then you get a call sign. But the origin remains a secret. Together, 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. Hornet, traveling at 700 mph, nearly breaking the sound It's a very unforgiving job if you make mistakes. has historically had the most female recruits. Most thrilling is when the two opposing everything happens for a reason - it makes you better,stronger and more resilient. The thing that makes it great are the people I serve with- everyone, the team I work alongside every day. commanding the Opposing Solo; Jessy Panzer, the only civilian woman aerobatic pilot in the Shes badass, Curran says. Curran has flown more than 1,500 hours in the F-16, including 163 combat hours over Afghanistan in support of operations Resolute Support and Freedoms Sentinel. 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. This pressure often leads to us becoming our own harshest critic and standing in the way of our own success. Workshop: Going to War with Your Inner Critic. Curran thinks it might be a perception problem. 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. During a conversation at the Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan for the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow in 2021, Curran told TheAviationist.com that, These are long days sometimes, but this is the best job in the world. We had the opportunity to speak with Michelle recently as she prepares for the 2019 show season, and here's how it went: The Air Forces official air demonstration team, designated the 3600th Air Demonstration Unit, was activated at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona in 1953. And once I got thereI felt completely in over my head. I couldnt be more excited to meet her if she were Beyonce. Add to List. No. At this writing, there was no decision on whether the Sunday performance would take place. Its become more accepted, but she is aware of things that women have to navigate that men dont even think about. After flying in airshows across the country, Thunderbirds pilot and Medford native Michelle Curran is coming home to Wisconsin for the 2019 Milwaukee Air & Water Show. Demerly studied journalism at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan. Im also excited to get into the general aviation world and hopefully also try my hand at helicopters. We lift each other up, we accomplish more as a team. All rights reserved. It can be seen onWABC-TV, as well as on WABCsConnected TV AppsonAmazon Fire TV,Android TV,Apple TV,andRoku. Michelle MACE Curran is an F-16 Mission Commander with over 1800 hours in the aircraft. Source: "Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the only female fighter pilot on the Thunderbirds." AviationFreak 01:11, 28 November 2020 (UTC) Curran holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of St. Thomas and is a 2010 graduate of the Air and Space Basic Course, Squadron Officer College. She flies position #5, lead solo, one of the most visible positions on the team. He is in his third year on the Thunderbirds. in 1972 ands composed of aviation professionals, recreational pilots, and During her ten years flying the Viper, MACE flew combat sorties in Afghanistan and taught Polish Air Force pilots in their aircraft. cbsnews.com Female Thunderbird pilot inspiring others to chase their dreams Stay connected. 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. 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". See more, including their schedule of performances, at the US Air Force Thunderbirds site, afthunderbirds.com. I'm the first female to fly in that. aircraft, built especially for aerobatics, with seemingly impossible feats at Visitgoingplacesfarandnear.com,www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin, andtravelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/. Have a question? Thank you for the inspiring honest humility of being new at accomplishing a very big dream, and putting a name to what some very real struggles are, in order to succeed and overcome. I'm the first female to fly in that position, which is, I think, one of the hardest positions to fly," Curran said. 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. I actually helped buckle Brie Larson into this very seat, one replies. Matt Chapman, On top of that, I worry she might be intimidating. Her favorite maneuver is. 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. parachute; in one demonstration we see what happens when a chute fails at just View Michelle Curran's business profile as Member at U.S. Air Force. This week, I want to give you a bit of perspective on why I chose to stop flying F-16s and become an entrepreneur. Do I have to salute? Bill Curran said his daughter was encouraged to apply for the Thunderbirds by friends in the Air Force. "She climbed a tree taller than our house when she was 2," said her father, Bill Curran. That decision to change my mindset completely changed my trajectory. They have also lived in West Blocton, AL and Holden, MA. and dexterity of these fighting crafts. 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. 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. The F-18 Super She reflects what it is like to be part of this very special team there are 130 on the team. The US Air ForceThunderbirdsheadlined the 16th Annual Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park, Long Island, flying the thrilling red, white and blue F-16s. died in an airplane crash. I only wish I looked that good 'At Attention.' The flight surgeon who cleared me for my ride asked if I ever went to SoulCycle or ran marathons, two things that would make me better at handling g-forces. 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. 12,500 ft, at a speed of 120 mph before pulling the cord to release their During his performance, Ret. been flying since 14 year old, soloed at 16 year old and started aerobatic She demonstrates the capabilities of the F-16 during performances. As far as branches of the military go, the Air Force has historically had the most female recruits. USAF Maj. Michelle Mace Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team. Before that, the WAFWomen in the Air Forceformed in 1948, but WAFs werent permitted to fly and instead performed ground duties. Just two years earlier, women were granted the honor of flying fighter jets by the U.S. Air Force (USAF). "I'm a left-wing solo. What happens if you unwittingly commit a faux pas in front of one of the best fliers in the world? 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. We have music associated with all our maneuvers and for that one I got to pick the song. Usually I'll go in the swimming pool in the backyard for a few minutes. Mace, thanks for sharing this, and for reminding us that its ok to be vulnerable and human. Theres still a long way to go before the Air Force hits total parity, but Curran doesnt see herself as an outlier. My favorite moment was when this little girlshe was probably six or sevencame up to the autograph line after a show and said, Im going to take your job. I was like, 'Yes! When all six [of the Thunderbirds] come together, if the air is smooth, were all firing on all cyclinders, its a cool feeling. Police at the time . In Captain Marvel, Brie Larson plays Carol Danvers, an Air Force fighter pilot who uses the special powers she gains during an accident to save the galaxy.
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