TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. (KRQE) – The United States Air Force’s Thunderbirds have once again touched down at Spaceport America to train for their upcoming performances.The Thunderbirds, comprised of roughly 70 team members, will log dozens of training hours at the site during the month of January.
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“Winter training is an absolutely critical time for this team,” Lt. Col. Alexander Prevendar, Commander and Leader of the Thunderbirds, said in a news release. “It’s an incredible opportunity to come together and rehearse every piece of our operations.”During demonstration routines, the Thunderbirds’ pilots operate six F-16 Fighting Falcons, the Air Force’s legendary and combat-proven multi-fighter. The 2026 edition of the team will be integrating three new pilots into its maneuvers.Once January comes to an end, the Thunderbirds will transition to the next phase of their training at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California. From there, the team is scheduled to travel to Daytona, Fla., to begin its 2026 performance season.
The Thunderbirds will then return to New Mexico for Holloman Air Force Base’s Legacy of Liberty Air Show on June 2…