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The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Colorado on Thursday to graduate AFA’s Class of 2024.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Nearly 1,000 cadets will throw their caps into the air during a graduation ceremony Thursday in Colorado Springs.
The U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2024 Graduation Ceremony takes place Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Falcon Stadium. Air Force Academy will hand out diplomas for 974 graduating cadets.
Vice President Kamala Harris will serve as commencement speaker for the ceremony.
Thursday’s graduation ceremony is open for in-person attendance for ticket-holding members of the public. The ceremony will also be live-streamed online.
The Class of 2024 includes 15 cadets from Cambodia, Cameroon, Kosovo, Moldova, Panama, Peru, Philippines (2), Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia and Vietnam.
The Air Force Academy said graduates entering active duty will incur a five-year service commitment and an additional concurrent service commitment depending on the type of training or schooling (scholarships) they receive.
USAF Thunderbirds
As the graduation ceremony ends Thursday, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will soar over the skies of the stadium in Colorado Springs.
The Thunderbirds are scheduled for a 30-minute performance above Falcon Stadium during the graduation ceremony from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m., just after the hat toss.
Olympian and Colorado native Missy Franklin flew with the Thunderbirds on Wednesday.
Where to watch the Thunderbirds
The best view of the Thunderbirds’ post-graduation flyover will be east of Interstate 25 near the Air Force Academy.
For public safety, drivers are reminded not to stop along Interstate 25 or any roads on the Academy to watch the Thunderbirds.
The Western Museum of Mining will hold a watch party nearby at 225 North Gate Boulevard. Tickets are $5 per vehicle and benefit the museum.
Traffic closures
The FamCamp: All individuals must depart on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m; and on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Stadium Boulevard – Pine Drive to North Gate Boulevard
- Community Center Drive between East Douglass Drive and Stadium Boulevard will be closed.
- Academy Drive from Lot 6 to Stadium Boulevard will be closed.
- Parade Loop and USAFA Cemetery to Stadium Boulevard will be closed.
- Santa Fe Trail from Tri-intersection Bridge to Parade Loop.
The main hospital and both mental health clinics are are also closed Thursday.
Thunderbirds at Cheyenne Frontier Days
After Thursday’s graduation, the Thunderbirds will return to the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration in late July.
The Thunderbirds demonstration squadron will be the headline act of the Wings Over Warren airshow in Cheyenne in July, a year after its performance and the show were canceled.
The Wyoming airshow, which typically takes place during Cheyenne Frontier Days, is scheduled for Wednesday, July 24.
The 2023 Wings Over Warren airshow was canceled in 2023 after the Thunderbirds canceled their appearance. The Thunderbirds determined in 2023 that performing in Cheyenne carried “too much risk with lack of an approved emergency landing airfield nearby,” said F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
Construction at Cheyenne’s airport closed its runways for several years, but the airport is now back open.
“We are excited to see Cheyenne, Wyoming, and F.E. Warren Air Force Base on the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird’s schedule for 2024,” said a statement from the 90th Missile Wing to 9NEWS.
“We know the community greatly missed the air show this past summer. Now that our local airport is repaired and reopened, we are looking forward to a wonderful ‘Wings over Warren’ performance!” said the 90th Missile Wing.
In 2021 and 2022, the Thunderbirds flew their Wyoming performance out of Northern Colorado Regional Airport in Loveland.
The Thunderbirds’ 2024 show schedule is available here.
Thunderbirds soar across Colorado
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