Aviation Nation 2016: The Pilots Wave

I spent most of my time at Aviation Nation 2016 at Nellis Air Force Base along the taxiway for the aircraft involved in the flying displays. The variations in the military pilots waves and hand gestures to the crowd became a fun sideline to the air show, especially those of the 6 USAF Thunderbirds pilots.

Some of the pilots were respectively all about the business at hand, whilst others were totally rocking out! Kudos in particular to Thunderbird 2 Captain Ryan “Neo” Bodenheimer who was having a blast in the cockpit clapping his hands, smiling and all fired up prior to his flying display!

Its serious business being a pilot of the highly complex and expensive USAF Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter but there is still time for a wave to the crowd!

A wave from both the plane and pilot – USAF Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor

Thumbs up from the US Navy TAC DEMO Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet WSO

YEAH! USAF McDonnell Douglas QF-4 Phantom II

USAF Thunderbird 1 – Lieutenant Colonel Christopher “Reggie” Hammond

USAF Thunderbird 2 – Captain Ryan “Neo” Bodenheimer

USAF Thunderbird 3 – Major Alexander “Gate” Goldfein

USAF Thunderbird 4 – Major Nick “Khan” Krajicek

USAF Thunderbird 5 – Captain Nicholas “Tred” Eberling

USAF Thunderbird 6 – Major Alex “Tuna” Turner