1st Woman “Thunderbird” Pilot to Speak
at Women’s Memorial

            The first woman “Thunderbird” pilot, Maj. Nicole M. Malachowski, will give a talk at the Women In Military Service For America Memorial, located at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery, on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. Maj. Malachowski will be on hand to meet visitors and sign autographs immediately following her talk. The event is free and open to the public. Those interested in attending should call 800-222-2294 or 703-533-1155 to reserve a seat or for more information.

            In this her first season with the U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron, “Thunderbirds,” Maj. Malachowski flies the No. 3 jet as the right wing pilot in the diamond formation. She is the first woman on any U.S. military high performance jet team. She is a 1996 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. A combat pilot, she is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She has also served as an F-15E Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander with the 494th Fighter Squadron, Lakenheath, England; and she has logged more than 1,000 flight hours in five different aircraft.

            The “Thunderbirds” perform precision aerial maneuvers to exhibit the capabilities of modern high-performance aircraft to people throughout the world. Since its first performance in 1953, the “Thunderbirds” have flown for more than 315 million people at 3,850 official aerial demonstrations in all 50 states and 60 foreign countries.

The Women’s Memorial, located at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery, is readily accessible by Metro (Blue Line) and paid parking is available. The Women In Military Service For America Memorial is the nation’s only major memorial honoring all servicewomen, past, present and future. Featuring an exhibit gallery, theatre, Register of women who have served and a gift shop; the Memorial is open to the public, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily; after Sept. 30, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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