CBS News Reporter Nick Caloway Flies with U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds

The FourLeaf Air Show

• 🎪 The FourLeaf Air Show is taking place this weekend at Jones Beach State Park.
• ⚡ The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are the headlining act for the event.

A Thunderbird Flight Experience

• ✈️ CBS News New York's Nick Caloway experienced a flight with the Thunderbirds, taking off from Long Island's MacArthur Airport.
• 🧑‍✈️ He flew in the rear cockpit with pilot Major Brandon Maxon, whose call sign is "Crime."
• 🔄 The flight included maneuvers such as a nose-up, a roll, and a push to maintain an inverted position, all kept under the speed of sound.

High-G Maneuvers and Team Mission

• 💥 During the flight, the F-16 fighter jet reached 9.3 Gs, a force more than nine times the weight of gravity.
• 🎯 The Thunderbirds demo team consists of six pilots and a support team of 130 people.
• 🌟 Their mission is to recruit, retain, and inspire, encouraging people to join the military and believe in their ability to accomplish anything.

Post-Flight Reflections

• 🧠 Caloway landed safely, without losing consciousness or his lunch, gaining immense respect for the Thunderbirds team.
• 👍 The experience was described as a "super cool experience" by someone who had flown with them previously.