NBA Spurs Assistant Coach Becky Hammon media flight with the Thunderbirds
San Antonio Spurs Assistant Coach Becky Hammon flew with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Oct. 29 during a media flight at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. The pilot for her flight was Thunderbird 8 Maj. Scott Petz. The Thunderbirds will be performing at the JBSA Air Show and Open House to be held Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at 3 p.m. Opening ceremonies are at 11 a.m. both days. Go to www.jbsa.mil for more information on the two-day event that is free and open to the public.
NBA Spurs Assistant Coach Becky Hammon media flight with the Thunderbirds
Spurs Assistant Coach Becky Hammon speaks to San Antonio reporters following her media flight with the USAF Thunderbirds from Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Oct. 29. The Thunderbirds are headlining the JBSA Air Show and Open House and will perform Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
NBA Spurs Assistant Coach Becky Hammon media flight with the Thunderbirds
Staff Sgt. Madeline Conley, USAF Thunderbirds aircrew flight equipment specialist, at right, shows NBA Spurs Assistant Coach Becky Hammon air crew flight equipment and goes over in flight procedures with the coach before her media flight with the Thunderbirds at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Oct. 29. The Thunderbirds are headlining the JBSA Air Show and Open House and will perform Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. (U.S. Air Force photo by Johnny Saldivar/Released)
Becky Hammond media flight
Maj. Scott Petz, Thunderbird #8, and Becky Hammon, San Antonio Spurs assistant coach, prepare to take off Oct. 29, 2015, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. The Thunderbirds perform for people all around the world, displaying the pride, precision and professionalism of American Airmen. In every hour-long demonstration, the team combines years of training and experience with an attitude of excellence to showcase what the Air Force is all about.
Becky Hammond
Becky Hammon, San Antonio Spurs assistant coach, shakes hands with a member of the Thunderbirds Oct. 29, 2015, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. The Thunderbirds perform for people all around the world, displaying the pride, precision and professionalism of American Airmen. In every hour-long demonstration, the team combines years of training and experience with an attitude of excellence to showcase what the Air Force is all about.
Becky Hammond media flight
Members of the Thunderbirds ground crew wait to launch Maj. Scott Petz, Thunderbird #8, and Becky Hammon, San Antonio Spurs assistant coach, Oct. 29, 2015, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. The Thunderbirds will be performing at the JBSA Air Show and Open House Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at 3 p.m. Opening ceremonies are at 11 a.m. both days. Go to www.jbsa.mil for more information on the two-day event that is free and open to the public.
Becky Hammond media flight
Becky Hammon, San Antonio Spurs assistant coach, meets Col. Matt Isler, 12th Flying Training Wing commander, Col. David Drichta, 12th Operations Group commander, and Capt. Sara Harper, Thunderbirds public affairs officer, Oct. 29, 2015, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. The Thunderbirds perform for people all around the world, displaying the pride, precision and professionalism of American Airmen. In every hour-long demonstration, the team combines years of training and experience with an attitude of excellence to showcase what the Air Force is all about.
/ Published Oct. 29, 2015
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas,
Becky Hammon, NBA assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs,
flew with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team Oct. 29 at
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.
This once in a lifetime opportunity provides candidates like
Hammon to experience the high-performing capabilities of an F-16 Fighting
Falcon.
Prior to her flight, Hammon was given safety training and a
pre-flight health screening.
“The flight was obviously amazing, and it was a once in a
lifetime opportunity,” Hammon said. “It’s amazing to be going at that speed.”
Hammon witnessed firsthand the professionalism, dedication
and pride that the Thunderbirds possess.
“If our team messes up, we give up two points. If their team
messes up, it could be someone’s life,” Hammon said.
She said she felt safe as she flew above the skies over JBSA
Randolph. She believes that the team work and communication skills were the key
to the “perfect” flight.
The Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform at 3 p.m. Oct. 31
and Nov. 1 at the 2015 JBSA Air Show and Open House at JBSA-Randolph.
Also known as “America’s Ambassadors in Blue,” the
Thunderbirds have been the Air Force’s demonstration team since 1953. The team is comprised of nearly 130 Airmen
who travel around the country from February to March performing aerial demonstrations
at air shows, visit local schools and hospitals, hosting enlistment ceremonies
and engaging with media and the community in order to spread the Air Force’s
story.
“She (Hammon) did amazing, she pulled 9.4 Gs,” Maj. Scott
Petz, U.S.
Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron advance pilot/narrator and Thunderbird #8
said.
Hammon was able to see the Thunderbirds’ team work and what
they represent and she was able to embrace that, he said.
For more information about the Thunderbirds and the 2015
JBSA Air Show and Open House, visit www.jbsa.mil
