Thunderbirds big attraction at Air Show

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) - One of the biggest attractions this weekend at the RI National Guard Open Air Show is seeing the Thunderbirds.

"When I was thirteen years old I saw the thunderbirds fly in a little town by where I grew up in Wisconsin.  I just was amazed.  I was filled with a lot of patriotism and a strong desire to serve my country," said Major Caroline Jenson, Thunderbird, right wing.

Now she travels the country performing as a Thunderbird at airs hows, flying in perfect formation, as the right wing.

"We are considered diamond pilots. We just fly precision formation. We'll do a couple different maneuvers where we move to a trail position, and then on the boss's command we'll transition back to the diamond formation. We do that level, we do it climbing, we do it rolling, so it's a lot of fun."

Major Jenson says that people are often surprised to see a female pilot.

"I'm actually the fourth pilot to fly for the team. The third one to be a part of the demonstration."

Is flying with the thunderbirds anything like the movie, Top Gun? 

"It looks a lot different to fly the fighter maneuvers or the dog fighting than what you see.  What we do actually on the thunderbirds is all for show.  Normally you do not fly that close. In Top Gun they fly that close, but there's no way you would normally be fighting that way in an air to air combat arena."

Major Jenson said people should expect a fantastic performance this weekend.

"Be prepared to dance. We've got a great narrator, and there's a lot of music our show is kind of choreographed to. As long as the weather is good we'll get to do loops. You'll see us rolling, you'll see six aircraft's go completely inverted and back together. We'll stay in perfect formation throughout the whole thing."

And while you enjoy their show, know that this pilot is impressed by the Ocean State.

"We just flew over the bay. I was jealous  of the people out there sailing. We got to see some of the golf courses located north of here. That was really cool to fly over and see it. I have never been to Rhode Island before, and this is the first state we've done a show in that I haven't previously visited, so I'm really excited to be here and get to experience everything Rhode Island has to offer."

The Thunderbirds honor a fallen soldier at each show, and this year it is Army Specialist Mike Perrenzino from Middletown, New Hampshire, who died in Afghanistan in 2012.

His name will be flown on number one's jet to honor his service and sacrifice.

The Air Show is happening at Quonset State Airport in North Kingstown, June 16 and 17.