Two U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds pilots will be in Abbotsford early next week to inspect the airport for this year’s airshow.
You won’t hear any rumblings in the skies, though, as the Thunderbirds’ F-16 aircraft are currently tied up with new show pilot training at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, meaning the pilots will be travelling to Abbotsford on commercial airline.
“We are very excited to be hosting the US Air Force Thunderbirds at the 2019 Abbotsford Airshow. It will be their first appearance at our event since 2012 and the second year in a row that a team from the United States will join our Canadian Forces Snowbirds in the skies over the Fraser Valley after the Blue Angels were here in 2018,” said Dave Reith, operations manager with the Abbotsford International Airshow.
Since the Thunderbirds have not been to the area since 2012, Reith said the troupe wanted to check out the landscape for any changes in the area and airfield in the last seven years.
Co-ordinating pilots Thunderbirds 7 and 8 will be conducting the inspection.
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