Schumer, Clinton Back Request to Have Air Force Thunderbird Team at 2007 Thunder of Niagara Air Show
Washington DC – In anticipation of the 2007 Thunder of Niagara Air Show next summer, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton are backing a call by the Air Show’s organizers to have the Air Force’s Thunderbird Team appear during the event. In a letter to U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Michael Moseley, the Senators urged him to include the Thunder of Niagara Air Show on the Thunderbird’s schedule next year, pointing out that the Air Show will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the United States Air Force and the 60th anniversary of General Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager’s historic flight to break the sound barrier.
“The Thunder of Niagara Air Show is a fantastic event which brings New Yorkers from far and wide to come watch the military’s jet arsenal fly overhead. The crowd will be in for quite a treat if the Thunderbirds performed in honor of General Yeager’s historic flight. These are some of the world’s best pilots, and I am hopeful General Mosley will honor our request to have them perform,” Senator Schumer said.
“When General Moseley visited Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station in February with me and the rest of the Western New York Congressional delegation, he saw first hand how enthusiastic the community is about the role they play in our nation's military,” Senator Clinton said. “The Thunder of Niagara Air Show promises to be an incredible event, celebrating the region, its proud aviation history and its promising future. The Thunderbirds would be a perfect and fitting addition to the Air Show program.”
2007 marks the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force, which was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947. 2007 is also the 60th anniversary of Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier. On October 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager became the first man to break the sound barrier in level flight, flying the experimental Bell X-1, built in Niagara Falls, NY, at Mach 1 at an altitude of 45,000 feet (13.7 km).
http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=264472&&I dunno, just needed a break from the foley stuff for a bit :)