Air Force Thunderbirds Inspire Childhood Dreams that Come True

"From the time Bob Carlton was five years old and his parents took him to see the Thunderbirds perform at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he dreamed of an adventure in the air. Bob said that watching the Thunderbirds was the most amazing thing he had ever seen, and it inspired him to learn aerobatics, putting on spectacular shows for millions of people every year. Armed with that inspiration and a strong determination, Bob, a rocket scientist for a major national laboratory, worked to make his dream come true in his spare time. He started flying hang gliders at the age of 19 and later secured a commercial pilot’s certificate, logging more than 2000 hours and performing aerobatics professionally for the past 15 years."