Flying under the callsign MACE, she was the second woman ever to fly in the lead solo position for the Thunderbirds since the teams founding in 1953. Police at the time . David 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. People come up and say Im so proud of you, something your mother would say. Really, what we do is life and death sometimes," Curran said. World War II vintage aircraft from the American Air Power Though theyve only been allowed to fly fighter jets since 1993, women have been enlisting in the USAF proper since 1976. With a powerful story and breathtaking visuals, Michelle, also known as Mace, takes her audience on a surprising and compelling journey through her career as a Fighter Pilot, culminating in her role as the Lead Solo Pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds. "I just want to see the (Thunderbird) planes. 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. The airshow View Fees MACE I really appreciate your service and you sharing it with the rest of us. You're in such a great position to inspire people. 6, also known as the opposing solo pilot. She also contributes to "60 Minutes. Curran thinks it might be a perception problem. I'll go from 150 feet above the ground to 15,000 in a few seconds while rolling. These are not breathable, she adds, tugging at her flight jumpsuit. in 1972 ands composed of aviation professionals, recreational pilots, and USAF Maj. Michelle Mace Curran, Thunderbird #5, to Leave Team. It means she's front and center in one of. And, keep others in the saddle who are struggling. old pilot who served in World War II, who flew with his grandson. Engine and a General Electric CJ610 (J85) Jet Engine with 3,000 lbs of thrust. 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 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. He is a graduate of the USAF Weapons School, a 2016 and 2020 NASA Astronaut Air Force nominee and has logged over 1,900 hours of flight time, including more than 297 hours of combat pilot experience. Features Syndicate,goingplacesfarandnear.com. Hornet, traveling at 700 mph, nearly breaking the sound and dexterity of these fighting crafts. At another we hit 9 g'sthats close to the highest g-force these planes can take. Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, he was an F-22 Instructor Pilot at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. Most of us work out five days a week, Curran tells me. and Jack Links Beef Jerky teamed up to create a one-of-a-kind plane, theScreamin Lieutenant Colonel Eric Gorney, call sign "Miami," is in charge of flying civilians. The Power of Vulnerability. other at incredible speed. We lift each other up, we accomplish more as a team. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. I think it's important you all understand what drives me and why I made such a surprising leap! Looking for the right speaker for your audience? She earned a degree in criminal justice in 2009 because she consideredbecominga crime scene investigatorbut also thought it would be cool to become a pilot. The helicopter is the only Like Curran, he says it is the team of 130 that make the Thunderbirds possible. In the works are online coaching programs for personal development, and in person corporate leadership coaching. Curran was assigned to the F-16 Fighting Falcon and spent three years stationed in Japan flying throughout the Pacific. After serving in the Air Force, Michelle Curran is dedicated to continuing her service by helping others realize their dreams as the founder and president of Upside Down Dreams. The thing that floors me is that some people still dont realize its an option, she says. Its become more accepted, but she is aware of things that women have to navigate that men dont even think about. I do that through keynote speeches and via content creation on LinkedIn. Pilots train from March to November, often away from the teams home base in Las Vegas. Over the next 18 months, I started running marathons, got into technical mountaineering, traveled to Nepal by myself to trek to Everest Base Camp with a group of strangers, deployed for the first time, and spent a summer instructing in Poland. Michelle "MACE" Curran Motivational Speaker, Thunderbird Pilot 19-21', AF Fighter Pilot, Aspiring Author, Outdoor Enthusiast I help teams get unstuck by empowering them Published Jun 3 . The call sign tradition is celebrated by aviation communities across all military branches. The amount I needed to learn was so overwhelming that I avoided it by procrastinating. I live in a fifth-floor walkup, I offered. This week, I want to give you a bit of perspective on why I chose to stop flying F-16s and become an entrepreneur. He majored in Communication Technology and Music and earned his commission in 2010 as a graduate of Ohio State Universitys Reserve Officers Training Corps program. Theres been a steady uptick of female pilots in general and in the fighter community as well, she says. Major Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace," is the only female fighter pilot on the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's demonstration team. In 2021, she was named the Distinguished Alumna of the Year by the University of St. Thomas. Update: At this writing, the Bethpage Air Show was scheduled for Memorial Day, Monday, May 31. This pressure often leads to us becoming our own harshest critic and standing in the way of our own success. that each were afraid of flying initially, he because his father was an Anyone with information about Curran's case is asked to call the Riverside County Sheriff's Office at (909) 341-8817 or the Metropolitan Police Department's Missing Persons Detail at 229-2907. . MACE is a 2009 received her degree from the University of St. Thomas where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Criminal Justice. Michelle Curran didn't become interested in flying until college, but she certainly was not afraid of heights growing up in Wisconsin. Col. John Caldwell is the Commander/Leader of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron. 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. At one point I fly the plane into a barrel roll with Gorneys help. But from the moment I meet Curran on the scorching hot tarmac, she is warm and funny. For up-to-date information about this years show, visitwww.bethpageairshow.comorhttps://www.facebook.com/BethpageAirShow/, or contact the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Regional Office, Recreation Department at 631-321-3510. He has logged more than 1,700 flight hours, including more than 280 combat hours over Iraq and Syria in support of Operations Inherent Resolve. Maj. Curran is widely known as a member of the U.S. Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds. Play Video There was a good portion of my first assignment where I would have walked away if that were an option. 22 series on Hulu. The meaning behind the stars on Thunderbird jets, Biden awards Medal of Honor to Green Beret for heroism in Vietnam, K9 veteran receives hero's welcome on flight, Black Vietnam veteran's nearly 60-year wait for Medal of Honor is over, Recovering service members lost 70 years in an Alaskan glacier, Navy veteran turns an act of kindness into a mission. The three years on the team was the most fun flying of my career. Hang out with my husband as much as I can. Courtesy of Wine SpectatorThis years tour to feature 10 completely new wineries that have never previously poured at this highly anticipated annual event Oenophiles in Florida, Chicago and Las Vegas up for an unforgettable evening of exceptional wines are in for a treat. He is in his third season with the team and hails from Orlando, Fla. Maj. Ian Lee is the Left Wing Pilot for the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, flying the No. Here are photos from the practice performance including: Show headliners the United States Air Force Thunderbirds returning to the Bethpage Air Show for their 8thappearance, performing some new maneuvers; the United States Army Golden Knights Parachute Team performing in their 15thBethpage Air Show; the United States Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, the first aircraft to be designed for close air support of ground forces (and built on Long Island); and the U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demonstration. The Super Bowl was the first time Curran's parents had seen their daughter performing with the Thunderbirds. Like us at facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures. . The Air Force turns 72 years old this month. He is in his second season with the team and hails from Beavercreek, Ohio. Recently, MACE was called back to St. Thomas to receive their Distinguished Alumna of the Year award. of aerobatics; Golden Knights parachutist Maj. Marissa Chierichella and the Red In hindsight, this response to adversity was so flawed. I made a commitment to start saying ''yes" to those from then on. The show, which would have been the 17th at Jones Beach State Park, brought special excitement because of having been cancelled last year due to COVID-19, and the opportunity for crowds albeit at 50 percent capacity to gather again is a vital sign of the regions return to normalcy. RELATED:Kenneth Sweet survived Pearl Harbor attack, helped found Wisconsin Air National Guard, RELATED:Fly along on an F-16 while we tell you what will take its place at Truax Field. 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. Drawing on over a decade in high-performance aviation and her own transformation, Mace teaches audiences what they are capable of when they let go of fear, lean into vulnerability, and make bold choices. She spends so much time flying upside down, that the number 5 on the aircraft is painted upside . No. 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. Her call sign is Mace (which she uses in her social media, @mace_curran) and while she doesnt reveal the secret to what is behind the nickname, she says it is a tradition in a fighter squadron to get a call sign they are mission qualified. hometown hero (from Melville), thrills spectators in his Zivko Edge 540 She flies position #5, lead solo, one of the most visible positions on the team. This isnt a new thing., Currans doing her part to change that perception. I know what I need to do. Prior to commissioning, he flew as a commercial flight instructor, cargo pilot and airline pilot. This page was last edited on 1 December 2020, at 21:01. I was scared to raise my hand when I had a question, because I didn't want anyone else to discover how little I knew. The 31-year-old Medford native isthe first female demonstration pilot for the Thunderbirds since 2014. 2. 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. This year, she is the lead solo doing the daring-do maneuvers, where two opposing fighters come at each other at, like, 1200 mph. (where the plane falls from the sky), 4 knife edge tumblers, inside-outside This asWine Spectators Grand Tour2023 promises event attendees the opportunity to sip, OverviewA big part of the process of bringing these reviews to you is the research done to understand the background of the company. confusion, missing each other by mere feet; opposing craft which come at each USAF Maj. Michelle Curran, call sign "Mace", arrives at Selfridge ANGB in Mt. us atfacebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures, A Visit With the USAF Thunderbirds on Long Island, Ways to See Long Islands Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach Despite Weather, https://www.facebook.com/BethpageAirShow/, 16th Annual Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach, Long Island, Honors Spirit of Memorial Day. However, a livestream of Fridays practice sessions include footage from go-pros from the pilots and a Thunderbirds chase plane that shadowed the F-16s in their thrilling maneuvers is airing on Saturday, 10-3 pm. Across Boston, neighborhood signs welcome residents and visitors to the diverse communities that make up the City. Clemens, Michigan when the team staged from the U.S. for an airshow performance in Canada during the global pandemic lockdown. a different plane from the Oracle Challenger 3 biplane. 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.