2003 Nellis AFB Air Show / xTT171D November 14-16, 2003

The United States Air Force Thunderbirds closed the show each day at Aviation Nation 2003. Celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2003, during this the Centennial of Flight Year. Team was flying without one aircraft after crash few weeks ago. Capt. Chris R. Stricklin, 31, the so-called "opposing solo" pilot in the sixth plane of the team's formation, ejected safely shortly after take off Sunday during the "Gunfighter Skies 2003 Air Show" at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. He narrowly escaped before the $23 million jet exploded in a fireball before 85,000 spectators.