Major Matt Kimmel (#5 Lead Solo)
Matt earned his commission in 2008 as a graduate of the University of Southern CaliforniaÕs Air Force ROTC program. Growing up in northern California, he enjoyed motocross, snowboarding, and tennis. Before joining the Thunderbirds, Kimmel served as an F-16 evaluator pilot at Shaw Air Force Base, SC. He has logged more than 2160 flight hours as an Air Force pilot, with more than 719 combat hours. Major Kimmel is in his second season with the team and hails from Vacaville, CA. [Thunderbird Program]

In mirror formations, one Thunderbird must be inverted, and it is always number 5. In fact, the number 5 on this aircraft is painted upside-down, and thus appears right-side-up for much of the routine. There is also an extra amount of humor regarding the inverted performance of Thunderbird 5: the pilots all wear tailored flight suits with their name and jet number embroidered on the left breast. The suit for the pilot of the number 5 airplane has the number sewn upside-down. -[wiki]

Photo by Craig on Sunday, July 21, 2019 at the Fargo AirSho.