Motivational Speaker, Thunderbird Pilot 19-21'. Early life Curran was born in Medford, Wisconsin. They act as the public face for the USAF, performing jaw-dropping maneuvers at air shows around the country. "I'm a left-wing solo. Curran was the lead solo pilot for the Squadron. These are not breathable, she adds, tugging at her flight jumpsuit. In addition to her role with the Thunderbirds, Mace Curran is an experienced F-16 combat fighter pilot with 163 combat hours over Afghanistan in support of operations Resolute Support and Freedoms Sentinel. He makes everything better, everything more fun" mace_curran Verified Follow A Little White Wedding Chapel, Las Vegas 1,817 likes mace_curran Verified Almost a week ago I married my best friend. Over the past decade, she's logged more than 1,200 flight hours as a pilot and was the first woman assigned to fly in the . She flies place #5, lead solo, one of the vital seen positions on the group. 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. / CBS News, This story originally aired on November 13, 2019, on the "CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell.". If the key to flying F-16s is extensive training and rock-hard leg musclesboth things women have access towhy arent there more female Thunderbirds? The Air Force turns 72 years old this month. Demerly studied journalism at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan. (Being in a spinning cockpit thousands of miles from the ground will do that to you.) Michelle Curran (born 1987) is a former United States Air Force (USAF) major and a pilot in the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, or Thunderbirds. Pope Francis greets Camillus O"Kane and Kelly Walsh, a couple engaged to be married from Australia, during . Once she visited a base and heard the roar of the jets, though, she knew she wanted to pursue the pilot route. Curran has worked with the Thunderbird team media personnel to bring scintillating in-cockpit viewpoint video of the lead solos dynamic routine during the Thunderbird demonstration, including thrilling video of opposing maneuvers with Thunderbird #6 and her signature vertical rolls during the teams high show. 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. I make a mental note to not take this for granted anymore. Since Curranbegan performingin February as thesecond female solo pilot inthe history of the squadron, the Thunderbirds'schedulehas been packed with 19 events includingflyovers for the Super Bowl, Daytona 500 and the Captain Marvel premiere. Before being chosenas a Thunderbird, she served as an F-16 instructor pilot in Fort Worth, Texas. Glamour may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. S2 EP1: Proving Your Credibility with Major Michelle Curran. Cory Bush | Date Taken: 02/01/2019Meet Maj. Michelle Curran, Thunderbird 6, the team's Opposing Solo pilot. Chris Messina Almost Went Bald for Air Until Ben Affleck Stepped In, Your Virgo Tarot Horoscope for the Month Ahead, Kylie Jenner Shared a Rare Glimpse of Her Son Aire on TikTok. Pilots train from March to November, often away from the teams home base in Las Vegas. [1] As we hop along the New Jersey coastline, experiencing minor Gs, I take in a view of the beach. In the hours following our interview, Im ushered from a flight surgeon to on-the-ground training for my flight to a fitting for the g-suit to one rather alarming explanation of how to use the planes ejector seat. Meanwhile, the part of this job that I really love is inspiring others. Opportunitiesboth inside and outside the Air Force will crop up naturally as she travels around the country meeting new people. "Sometimes it's hard to be the only female in a squadron," she said. The movie is fairly realisticnot in the all-powerful superhero scenes, of course, but in the sense that its set in 1995. The thing that floors me is that some people still dont realize its an option, she says. Just over two months ago, she got married and now has a 6-year-old stepson wholoves, along with her new husband and in-laws, to watch her fly. Lieutenant Colonel Eric Gorney, call sign "Miami," is in charge of flying civilians. These are not breathable, she adds, tugging at her flight jumpsuit. Hang out with my husband as much as I can. "Everyone who's previously been there that's on the team still just raves about how much they liked the Milwaukee show and how awesome the people are and how awesome the cheese curds are," she said. Get ready to wake up early the next morning to go do it again.. (There have been girls who had really long ponytails get their hair stuck in the seat.) Instead, Im riding with Lieutenant Colonel Eric Gorney, a very kind and patient pilot who showed me, using a model plane, exactly what kind of maneuvers wed be doing once we got into the sky. She just has one requirement for her life, post-Thunderbirds: I want to keep flying.. Flying an F-16 also requires an incredibly high degree of athleticism. also know about her Social media accounts i.e. Troy Gentile's Biography: Weight Loss, Brother, Ne Jack Quaid (Hunger Games) Wiki, Parents, Height, N Who is Ben Askren's wife Amy Askren? 277 talking about this. Here we are updating just estimated networth of Michelle Curran salary, income and assets. What happens to First Republic Bank's stock and deposits now? On top of that, I worry she might be intimidating. In 2016, sheserved a two-month deployment inthe skies over Afghanistan. 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. Curran and her fellow pilots joke that while the show schedule is intense, the most stressfulwork happens during their training season. Though theyve only been allowed to fly fighter jets since 1993, women have been enlisting in the USAF proper since 1976. Please scroll down to see information about Michelle Curran Social media profiles. Im also excited to get into the general aviation world and hopefully also try my hand at helicopters. Want the full article and access to our online E-Editions? But I didnt talk to her because I was so scared of her. Theyre friends now, she adds. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Who is Andrea Bocelli's ex-wife Enrica Cenzatti? I'm the first female to fly in that. Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the only female fighter pilot on the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's demonstration team. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? I was so excited, I called everyone in my familyand none of them answered their phones, she deadpans. Although her family lives in northern Wisconsin, Curran expects to have around 20 relatives, some of them driving up to six hours,comesee her perform. 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. Peep that F-16 jet with her name on it All rights reserved. In addition to her function with the Thunderbirds, Mace Curran is an skilled F-16 fight fighter pilot with 163 fight hours over Afghanistan in help of operations Resolute Support and Freedoms Sentinel. Michelle Curran has already had a storied career. Im hoping to continue to do that through this platform, public speaking, a childrens booklets just say I have a lot of goals and I hope youll continue to come along for the journey. Just over two months ago, she got. 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. Major Curran, callsign 'Mace' is just the fifth female Thunderbirds pilot and chatted to us from Las Vegas, discussing her route to becoming a fighter pilot and the challenges she met along the way. ", First published on November 13, 2019 / 6:55 PM. Air Force Capt. Get ready to wake up early the next morning to go do it again.. Flying an F-16 also requires an incredibly high degree of athleticism. 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 career pivot and will be leaving the Active. She has accumulated over 1250 flight hours in three aircraft, including the T-6, T-38, and the F-16 Fighting Falcon. 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. When the Thunderbirds will soar and 6 more things you should know about the Milwaukee Air & Water Show, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "A lot of people who see the Thunderbirds or the Blue. 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. It means she's front and center in one of. So Danvers is a leader in more ways than one. I practiced flexing my leg muscles for the next several hours. 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. Once she visited a base and heard the roar of the jets, though, she knew she wanted to pursue the pilot route. Curran has been in the Air Force for 11 years, but flying wasnt always her goal. She just has one requirement for her life, post-Thunderbirds: I want to keep flying.. Hang out with my husband as much as I can. 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". This shift in airshow schedules meant that Maj. Currans social media contributions grew to become much more vital for sustaining the relevance of the Thunderbirds for public audiences.Curran has labored with the Thunderbird group media personnel to convey scintillating in-cockpit viewpoint video of the lead solos dynamic routine throughout the Thunderbird demonstration, together with thrilling video of opposing maneuvers with Thunderbird #6 and her signature vertical rolls throughout the groups high show. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A Day With The Only Female Thunderbird Pilot In The U.S. Air Force. December 31, 2019 / 4:08 PM . 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. Your email address will not be published. Tom Demerly served in an intelligence gathering unit as a member of the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard. 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. Shes alright, I guess, but $300/hr is my max unless she gets a nose job. Then, with a vertical climb, Im in the air. One way to mitigate the nauseating effects is to drink lots of water, but that meant double the bathroom breaks on the drive there. Im also excited to get into the general aviation world and hopefully also try my hand at helicopters. On top of that, I worry she might be intimidating. Usually Ill go in the swimming pool in the backyard for a few minutes. (Ive always liked roller-coasters, Im a thrill-seeker, and I wanted to travel, she explains.) 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. Today there's only one female Thunderbird pilot: Major Michelle Curran, a 32-year-old Wisconsin native who flies the coveted Opposing Solo position. In this episode, I'm joined by Major Michelle Curran. This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. Sign up for Yahoo Lifes daily newsletter, has historically had the most female recruits, Who was Karl Lagerfeld? 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). There have been women in the United States Air Force since 1948, and women continue to serve in it today. Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes, Octavio Colmenares Wiki, Biography, Age, Family, NetWorth & Know More. There are "alot of moving parts that all rely on one another.". In the video below Thunderbird 6, Capt. September 13, 2021 Most of us work out five days a week, Curran tells me. Among the 12 pilots, there will be only one woman, Major Michelle Curran, helping her fellow Thunderbirds make the occasion special. Slowly, the teamworks up to all six planes and begins flying closer to the ground. Major Michelle Curran does a take off roll during a flight. In conversations around the U.S. during three air show seasons, Curran told The Aviationist about her role on the team and its opportunity to, showcase the Air Force experience and let people know what is possible. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. In Captain Marvel, Brie Larson plays Carol Danvers, an Air. Ill go from 150 feet above the ground to 15,000 in a few seconds while rolling. "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 6% with NancyMD. I'm the first female to fly in that position, which is, I think, one of the hardest positions to fly," Curran said. What if I call her by the wrong rank? 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. Godspeed, Major. She flies position #5, lead solo, one of the most visible positions on the team. Drink a beer. Michelle Curran Net Worth Michelle Curran Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Relationships, Married, Dating, Family, Wiki Biography. Michelles income mostly comes from and basic source is being a successful American United States Air Force major. "Face of Defense: This Thunderbird Flies High", "Meet the Only Female Fighter Pilot Flying Over New York City Today", "Female Thunderbird pilot inspiring others to chase their dreams", "Medford woman soaring over Milwaukee as Thunderbirds' second-ever female solo pilot", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michelle_Curran&oldid=1147324064, United States Air Force Thunderbirds pilots, University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) alumni, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 30 March 2023, at 06:12. The schedule is grueling. She went for it, even competing for a highly coveted pilot spot while still in college. Its been a while! she says. It makes a spiral in the sky, she tells me. As a team of uniform-clad airmen help me get into the back passenger seat of Thunderbird plane #7, I joke that I feel like Captain Marvel. Michelle "MACE" Curran Professional Speaker, Thunderbird Pilot '19-'21, Combat Veteran, Fighter Pilot, Author, Outdoor Enthusiast I help teams get unstuck by empowering them to face . Video posted on Twitter showed Obama hitting a tambourine and singing "Glory Days" on stage with Springsteen and the E Street Band. Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the only female fighter pilot on the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's demonstration team. Shes badass, Curran says. Maj. Curran is broadly referred to as a member of the U.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. 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. And not to brag, but I dont throw up or pass out. About Michelle Curran: Michelle Curran has led an impressive career as a Fighter Pilot during her 13-years in the United States Air Force. As far as branches of the military go, the Air Force has historically had the most female recruits. Eventually she was selected. As far as branches of the military go, the Air Force has historically had the most female recruits. He showed "CBS Evening News" anchor Norah O'Donnell a series of maneuvers the team performs during shows. She has additionally served as an F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander on the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas. She first saw the squadron during her F-16 training, when they came to her base. Michelle Curran, better known by her family name Michelle Curran, is a popular American United States Air Force major. During the latter part of her role on the team, many airshows were cancelled due to the global pandemic. I live in a fifth-floor walkup, I offered. Michelle "MACE" Curran on Instagram: "Almost a week ago I married my best friend. [1] She studied criminal justice at the University of St. Thomas and competed in a number of sports there. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The thing that makes it great are the people I serve with- everyone, the team I work alongside every day. For her, the group feels like family. I make a mental note to not take this for granted anymore. 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. Shes badass, Curran says. Officials have let it decline. 4, 2017. Thomas. 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. The schedule is grueling. High five!'. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Michelle Curran, Opposing Solo, performs a training flight over the Creech Air Force Base, training range, Jan. 25, 2019. At one point I fly the plane into a barrel roll with Gorneys help. So in a way, women make for more natural fighter pilots. My presence here wont end when I hand off the #5 and I have a lot more to share with you!, Matra R.530F Missile Seized By The Italian Police In 2019 Was Just A Bizarre Collectors Item, Watch This Insane Slow Motion Video Of The F-22 Raptor Filmed At 1000 FPS, Its been a busy year for Hill Air Force Bases F-35s so lets do a quick recap of what the 388th FWs Lightning II have been up to during 2019. 01:43. Major Curran was participating in the Operation America Strong flyovers the Thunderbirds did with the Blue Angels, the demonstration squadron of the United States Navy, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Episode 3100 -- Pictured: Tichina Arnold, Steven Weber, Major Michelle Curran, Kelly Clarkson --Actress Kelly Curran arrives at the 'Heaven's Rain' Los Angeles Premiere at ArcLight Cinemas on September 9, 2010 in Hollywood, California. Required fields are marked *. The thing that makes it great are the people I serve with- everyone, the team I work alongside every day. She also contributes to "60 Minutes. But Curran thinks the tide is changing. It's hard because Curran's job is to wow crowds with awe-inspiring aerobatics and high speed passes. Today theres only one female Thunderbird pilot: Major Michelle Curran, a 32-year-old Wisconsin native who flies the coveted Opposing Solo position. Most of us work out five days a week, Curran tells me. The demonstration squadron boasts some of the worlds most elite fliers, and those skilled enough to make it serve a two-year assignment. Major Michelle Curran has gone through the start-up sequence of the F-16 Fighting Falcon thousands of times. 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. Do I have to salute? Then, with a vertical climb, Im in the air. At the peak of training season,the squadron will fly up to 10 times in aweek. As I mentioned before, people unaccustomed to the feeling often go into g-LOC (g-force induced loss of consciousness) or experience extreme motion sickness. As I mentioned before, people unaccustomed to the feeling often go into g-LOC (g-force induced loss of consciousness) or experience extreme motion sickness. Only five women have flown in the Air Force's elite squadron. Most of us work out five days a week, Curran tells me. It's a very unforgiving job if you make mistakes. Most probably our readers remember the B-52s MITO departures: crew members and crew chiefs rushing to the planes followed []. "It's pretty amazing to see everyone come together asa well-oiled machine and put six jets up every single weekend," Curran said. It means shes front and center in one of the most visible squadrons in the military. 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. Norah O'Donnell flies with the Thunderbirds at the Heritage Flight Academy in Ronkonkama, NY. Theres been a steady uptick of female pilots in general and in the fighter community as well, she says. Im sad that Mace is leaving the Thunderbirds, but still, I wish her all the best as she continues to pursue her dreams. 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. On a vertical roll, for example, she spirals straight up from 200 feet to 15,000 feet. Andrew J. Moseley / Courtesy of U.S. Air National Guard, has historically had the most female recruits. She went for it, even competing for a highly coveted pilot spot while still in college. Just to add another layer of complexity, the boss will call out coordinated smoke releases andthe lead solo pilot will occasionally break off to perform his own maneuvers. Copyright 2023 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes In addition to the recommended hydration, pilots must stay in shape. Curran is the Lead Solo Pilot for the Squadron and is the only female flying with the team in the 2020 season. Major Michelle Curran, the wife of South Adams graduate John Flueckiger, son of Russ and Susan (Bixler) Flueckiger of Geneva, will be performing as a pilot with the Thunderbirds on July 10 and 11 during an air show at the Dayton International. [4] She served in Afghanistan for two months in 2016 as part of both Operation Freedom's Sentinel and Operation Resolute Support, acquiring 163 combat hours. Curran is the fifth woman to fly with the Thunderbirds, her callsign (or nickname) is "MACE". We lift each other up, we accomplish more as a team. At another we hit 9 g'sthats close to the highest g-force these planes can take. Get ready to wake up early the next morning to go do it again.. 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. She was applying to scholarship programs when her father suggested looking into the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). 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. But from the moment I meet Curran on the scorching hot tarmac, she is warm and funny. In the beginning, recruits take baby steps,learning to fly in formation with one plane andpracticing maneuvers at high altitudes. 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. In 1976 the WAF was ended and women were allowed into the Air Force as equal members. Pilots train from March to November, often away from the teams home base in Las Vegas. As the squadron's "opposing solo pilot," Curran, who goes by call sign "Mace," must executemaneuvers on her own in addition to flying in formation. The trio then drove to Fontana, Calif., near the suspects' home in Rialto, and checked into a hotel there on April 12, he said. [3] Her first two years with the USAF were spent in pilot training with the 14th Operations Group at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi. Their one free day a week is Wednesday, so Curranwho recently married her husband, a U.S. Marine Corps veteransays she keeps her time off simple: Laundry. Curran additionally supplied distinctive and candid transparency about her profession and private life, successfully leveraging social media to convey airshow followers and aviation fans contained in the world of a fighter pilot. Michelle Curran is a United States Air Force major and a pilot in the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, or Thunderbirds. Tom Ford. She has also served as an F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas. Documents, Slovakia Has Approved The Transfer of MiG-29 Fighter Jets to Ukraine, Russian Il-76 Exploded During Failed Pressure Test, U.S. It makes a spiral in the sky, she tells me. 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). But from the moment I meet Curran on the scorching hot tarmac, she is warm and funny. Born on 1987 in United States, Michelle Curran started her career as United States Air Force major . The demonstration squadron boasts some of the worlds most elite fliers, and those skilled enough to make it serve a two-year assignment. Norah O'Donnell is the anchor and managing editor of the "CBS Evening News." 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. n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; 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. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. Curran was also active in Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) at St. Thomas. This is Currans third season with the Thunderbirds. 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 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. [4] Curran then spent three years at Misawa Air Base in northern Japan. The Thunderbirds dont see combat, but that doesnt mean its an easy life. Curran was the only female pilot flying with the squadron when she served, and the fifth female pilot in the squadron overall. (Ive always liked roller-coasters, Im a thrill-seeker, and I wanted to travel, she explains.) Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Pilots train from March to November, often away from the teams home base in Las Vegas. But in the 26 years weve had female fighter pilots in the Air Force, only five have made it to the Thunderbirds. Thunderbird assignments are two years long so the squadronspends a lot of timeacclimating new recruits. The Air Force turns 72 years old this month. I'll go from 150 feet above the ground to 15,000 in a few seconds while rolling. We had the opportunity to speak with Michelle recently as she prepares for the 2019 show season, and here's how it went: Born on 1987 in United States, Michelle Curran started her career as United States Air Force major . 2023 Cond Nast. She went on to full the Squadron Officer School in 2014. Maj. Curran flew as Thunderbird #6, opposing solo, earlier than her development to Thunderbird #5, lead solo within the 2020/21 airshow season. There are people at almost every air show that are like, I didnt even realize women could fly in combat aircraft., Its clear this rankles a bit. Get informed about the latest news directly to your email. 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! 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. It makes a spiral in the sky, she tells me. michelle curran married Facebook | Twitter | Instagram, DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more, Test flight with US Air Force Thunderbird, Wisconsin native, Michelle Curran.