U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds roar into Battle Creek for Field of Flight

The United States Air Force sure knows how to make an entrance.

The warm, sunny skies above Battle Creek Executive Airport quickly gave way to a thundering crescendo Thursday afternoon as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds roared into town for the annual Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival.

"It's the Fourth of July weekend. What better way to celebrate than with red, white and blue jets flying around?" said Major Lauren Schlichting, who will be piloting one of the colorful F-16 Thunderbird jets for multiple shows beginning Saturday.

Schlichting is in her first year with the team and flies right wing in the formation. The Stillwater, Minnesota native said she's enjoyed traveling to different places meeting new people as part of the team, not to mention the thrill of flying. 

"If you haven’t seen the Thunderbirds in the last two years, it’s definitely worth it," Schlichting said. "(We) revamped the show in 2020 so it’s more exciting, the formations are closer and tighter and it’s just quite the production."

This weekend marks the first appearance of the Thunderbirds in Battle Creek since 2016. The team was scheduled to fly in the Cereal City in 2020 but the event was canceled because of COVID-19. 

MORE: Air show, fireworks and parades: How Calhoun County is celebrating Fourth of July

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Shortly before the red, white and blue F-16 Thunderbird jets exploded onto the scene Thursday, Major Kristin "BEO" Wolfe piloted the Air Force's newest aircraft into Battle Creek — the F-35A Lightning II.

"It’s awesome. It’s the latest and greatest fighter out there," Wolfe, commander of the F-35 Lightning II Demonstration Team, said moments after landing Thursday.

The F-35 Lightning IIs will take to the skies for 15-minute routines Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The performances will feature a variety of high-speed passes, just below supersonic, as well as low speed passes right around 100 miles per hour, according to Wolfe.

Wolfe said what she enjoys most about doing air shows is the opportunity to walk through the crowd and talk with people afterward.

"We try to have impact everywhere we go, whether it’s getting out to schools, hospitals, having kids out here (at Field of Flight)," Wolfe said. "That’s important, that’s what we get our reward from is seeing those kids light up and get excited about military aviation, general aviation.

"(Our goal) is to recruit the next people to fill my shoes when I’m out of the cockpit doing something else. It starts young."

For more information, visit fieldofflight.com or call 269-962-0592.

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-501-5661. Follow him on Twitter: G_SteeleBC