SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- An Eagle from the 334th Fighter Squadron was selected July 20 to become a member of the Air Force’s premier demonstration team—the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
Capt. Michael Brewer was selected as Thunderbird No. 3, the team’s right wing pilot, where he’ll fly mere feet away from the No. 1 jet during flight formations.
Brewer summed up his selection in five simple words--“It’s going to be amazing.”
But Brewer isn’t just excited about the opportunity to fly with the America’s ambassadors in blue.
“To me what it’s really all about is the inspiration,” said Brewer. “Being a Thunderbird allows you to inspire tens of thousands of people at an air show. And we get to do that several times a year.”
Brewer will fly those air shows with five new officer Thunderbirds to complete the 12-officer and 120-enlisted Airmen team.
Brewer has more than 4,700 total flight hours and more than 1,000 total hours in the F-15E Strike Eagle.
“Captain Brewer is an excellent instructor, excellent mentor, excellent pilot and a great ambassador in the community,” said Lt. Col. David Roberts, 334th FS commander. “I know he’s going to not only represent the Eagles well, but also represent the finest in our Air Force.”
Brewer has been assigned to Seymour Johnson since December 2016 and is currently an instructor pilot and flight commander in the fighter training unit. He has several temporary duty assignments to include Combat Archer, Combat Hammer and Red Flag.
Brewer and the rest of the Thunderbirds team will visit Seymour Johnson April 27-28, 2019, for the Wings Over Wayne Air and Space Expo.