Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Dale Cooke, former Air Force Thunderbirds pilot (back seat), and Lt. Col. Richard McCurdy, 2nd Fighter Training Squadron commander (front seat), complete a pre-flight checklist before taxing for take-off at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., April 21, 2017. Cooke and McCurdy would complete a historical flight with two current Thunderbirds over the Gulf of Mexico. Cooke last flew Slot Machine (aircraft #177) 35 years ago, it is the last original unmodified T-38A Thunderbird.


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Photo credit: © PR Library / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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