Actions

6 On Your Side's Karen Lehr chosen to fly with U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds ahead of Boise air show

Posted at 5:15 PM, Oct 09, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-09 19:15:35-04

Ahead of this weekend's Gowen Thunder 2017 air show at Boise's Gowen Field, 6 On Your Side's very own Karen Lehr was selected to take flight with the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds.

The Thunderbirds are the air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force, assigned to the 57th Wing, based at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

The Thunderbirds, also sometimes called America's Ambassadors in Blue, perform all over the world, demonstrating incredible precision in the air after years of training and experience.

"As the jets take to the skies and fly only a few feet from wingtip to wingtip, the crowd gets a glimpse of the awesome skills and capabilities that all fighter pilots must possess," the crew's official website states. "The solo pilots integrate their own loud and proud routine, exhibiting some of the maximum capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon – the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter jet."

The flying unit will take to the skies over the Treasure Valley along with their Canadian counterpart, the Royal Canadian Snowbirds, performing precision aerial maneuvers both Saturday and Sunday, October 14 and 15.

Gowen Thunder 2017 is Gowen Field’s first open house and airshow in more than 20 years:  Oct. 14-15 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day.

The event is open to the public and general admission is free. VIP tickets are available for purchase by visiting GowenThunder.org.