The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are buzzing overhead this weekend at the annual SUN 'n FUN International Fly-In & Expo at Lakeland Linder Airport.
The performance team travels around the country as ambassadors for the Air Force.
The Thunderbirds sometimes take reporters for rides in their two-seat F-16 fighter jets, and I went for a one-hour ride Friday with Maj. Scott Petz.
Before flying, I had to go through training with Petz. He talked about what I would experience during the flight. I also received instruction from an Air Force doctor and was fitted with a special flight suit and helmet.
After getting to a speed of several hundred miles per hour, Petz took the F-16 straight up for thousands of feet. Then we traveled to nearby Avon Park Air Force Range, where Petz performed a number of maneuvers. Those maneuvers included high-speed banking turns that went into nine Gs — which is nine times normal gravity.
Petz said he really enjoys his work with the Thunderbirds. He said the community outreach events while the team is in a city are what he enjoys most.
"We interact," Petz said. "We bring 60 or 70 people on our 130-person team. We do school visits. We are out in the community (and) not just flying these jets. And that has had the biggest impact on me."
The Thunderbirds were scheduled to perform Saturday and Sunday.