Michelle 'Mace' Curran

And number five and number six, the solos will split off from the other four aircraft. And we do the maneuver you described where one person's upside down, one person's right side up. And there's some trickery and angles that are being played with there to make it look like the jets are touching when they obviously aren't. but still very close together.

And number five and number six, the solos will split off from the other four aircraft. And we do the maneuver you described where one person's upside down, one person's right side up. And there's some trickery and angles that are being played with there to make it look like the jets are touching when they obviously aren't. but still very close together.

My second and third year on the team, when I became the lead solo, I was always the one that was inverted. So I spent a lot of time hanging upside down. It was actually a pretty cool role to be in as the only female pilot because I had my hair braided and I have my helmet sitting here behind me. My braid would hang out the back of my helmet.

My second and third year on the team, when I became the lead solo, I was always the one that was inverted. So I spent a lot of time hanging upside down. It was actually a pretty cool role to be in as the only female pilot because I had my hair braided and I have my helmet sitting here behind me. My braid would hang out the back of my helmet.

My second and third year on the team, when I became the lead solo, I was always the one that was inverted. So I spent a lot of time hanging upside down. It was actually a pretty cool role to be in as the only female pilot because I had my hair braided and I have my helmet sitting here behind me. My braid would hang out the back of my helmet.

And when I would fly upside down, the braid would stick up. And so you could actually see it from the ground and you would see it in photos. And it was like this beacon to women and little girls that they could see from the ground if they look closely.

And when I would fly upside down, the braid would stick up. And so you could actually see it from the ground and you would see it in photos. And it was like this beacon to women and little girls that they could see from the ground if they look closely.

And when I would fly upside down, the braid would stick up. And so you could actually see it from the ground and you would see it in photos. And it was like this beacon to women and little girls that they could see from the ground if they look closely.

So that was really cool to, to be in the role where I was, you know, the pilot that was flying upside down all the time, but yeah, we would fly as fast as we could without breaking the sound barrier. So over 600 miles an hour for people that are familiar with G forces, I would pull up to nine G's, which is nine times the weight of your body pushing down on you.

So that was really cool to, to be in the role where I was, you know, the pilot that was flying upside down all the time, but yeah, we would fly as fast as we could without breaking the sound barrier. So over 600 miles an hour for people that are familiar with G forces, I would pull up to nine G's, which is nine times the weight of your body pushing down on you.

So that was really cool to, to be in the role where I was, you know, the pilot that was flying upside down all the time, but yeah, we would fly as fast as we could without breaking the sound barrier. So over 600 miles an hour for people that are familiar with G forces, I would pull up to nine G's, which is nine times the weight of your body pushing down on you.

So there's, we could do a whole episode just on what that feels like. Yeah, it's a lot. You have to be very focused. It's very hard on the body. It's like being a professional athlete because we were flying all the time. It's very impressive visually and it's very impactful for people when they see the show. It's incredible.

So there's, we could do a whole episode just on what that feels like. Yeah, it's a lot. You have to be very focused. It's very hard on the body. It's like being a professional athlete because we were flying all the time. It's very impressive visually and it's very impactful for people when they see the show. It's incredible.

So there's, we could do a whole episode just on what that feels like. Yeah, it's a lot. You have to be very focused. It's very hard on the body. It's like being a professional athlete because we were flying all the time. It's very impressive visually and it's very impactful for people when they see the show. It's incredible.

What role does trust and culture amongst the team play and how were you guys able to develop that amongst one another at such a major level?

What role does trust and culture amongst the team play and how were you guys able to develop that amongst one another at such a major level?

What role does trust and culture amongst the team play and how were you guys able to develop that amongst one another at such a major level?

Yeah, trust is absolutely critical. And I mean, there were times we were together all the time. There are 12 officers on that team. The same six pilots fly in the demonstration every single show. We don't have any backups. So you are with those people all the time. And you're on the road like you were a band on tour, right? March through November, you're gone.

Yeah, trust is absolutely critical. And I mean, there were times we were together all the time. There are 12 officers on that team. The same six pilots fly in the demonstration every single show. We don't have any backups. So you are with those people all the time. And you're on the road like you were a band on tour, right? March through November, you're gone.

Yeah, trust is absolutely critical. And I mean, there were times we were together all the time. There are 12 officers on that team. The same six pilots fly in the demonstration every single show. We don't have any backups. So you are with those people all the time. And you're on the road like you were a band on tour, right? March through November, you're gone.