Thunderbirds, Golden Knights to headline at open house Published Jan. 14, 2011 By Airman Davis Owsianka 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- With more than 100 years of combined performance experience, the Air Force Thunderbirds and Army Golden Knights will perform at the 70 Years of Thunder Luke Air Force Base Open House and Air Show March 19 and 20. The Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team, who got their start at Luke May 25, 1953, will kick off their 2011 tour here. The team is committed to spotlighting precision aerial acrobatics. The Golden Knights parachute team became an official aerial demonstration unit June 1, 1961. Their beginnings go further back to the late 1950s when they competed against other nations and performed so well they were made the official team of the Army. The mission of the Thunderbirds and Golden Knights is simple - give the audience a great show that captivates and overwhelms, while highlighting excellence. They are comprised of servicemembers who are specifically selected for this special duty assignment. The Thunderbirds are a team of 130 Airmen, representing the best of the Air Force and the highest standards of integrity, service and excellence to the American public and the world, according to the team's website. The Golden Knights are Soldiers who have previously served as paratroopers and have shown excellence in their parachuting skills. The unit's two 12-member teams travel approximately 240 days per year to perform at events.