Thunderbirds' boss relieved

The Air Force’s Thunderbirds air demonstration squadron commander, Lt. Col. Jason Heard, was relieved of duty Nov. 29, according to an Air Combat Command media release. Brig. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt, commander of the 57th Wing at Nellis AFB, Nev., relieved Heard of command due to a loss of confidence in his leadership. The Thunderbirds’ 2017 air show season was recently completed. Heard's firing comes after two accidents involving Thunderbird aircraft in the last two years, including a flyover of the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation on June 2, 2016. President Barack Obama was present at the event. The aircraft, valued at $29M, was destroyed. (Source: Military.com 11/29/17) Central Mississippi Note: The Thunderbirds are scheduled to fly an air show April 21-22 at Columbus (Miss.) AFB. For the 2017 season, the team flew in back-to-back weekends along the Gulf Coast at Lake Charles, La., and Tyndall AFB, Fla.