Feel The Thunder

by Laura Breen Galante

Six F-16 Fighting Falcon jets, flying in formation at 1,650 miles per hour 18 inches apart, zip across the sky as part of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration shows. 

For two years, the left wing pilot in those shows was none other than Major Zachary Taylor, formerly of Casselberry. Now, he is prominently featured in a new Netflix documentary, Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds – a riveting look at this exceptional squadron.

Zachary, whose pilot call sign is Zeke, has been intrigued by formation flying since childhood. His primary role model was grandfather Norm Armbrust, a World War II veteran who served as a paratrooper.

“When my grandfather got out of the service, he started working on airplanes and eventually began flying,” says Zachary. “He owned a T-34, which is an old aerobatic trainer, and he flew and worked with a flight demonstration team called the Lima Lima Flight Team. Growing up, I saw his pictures on the wall, and I really admired and appreciated formation flying.”

Hometown Boy Takes to the Sky

Zachary, who spent many of his formative years living in Casselberry, was a student in the Health Academy at Seminole High School, graduating in 2008. He then attended the University of Alabama, where he was commissioned into the Air Force on a ROTC scholarship. Zachary completed flight training at Columbus Air Force Base in Columbus, Mississippi and from there, he was one of two chosen from a class of 26 to fly F-15 jets in the 67th Fighter Squadron at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan. He spent six years on tour there and finished as an instructor/evaluator before becoming a Thunderbird pilot. 

The Thunderbirds are the U.S. Air Force’s air demonstration squadron, a highly skilled, elite team of pilots who perform carefully choreographed precision aerial maneuvers at air shows and flyovers. The team is known for its precarious four-ship Diamond and six-ship Delta formations and solo jet maneuvers. The squadron operates out of Nellis Air Force Base outside of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Formation flying is difficult and not for every pilot, but it sparked an interest in Zachary. 

“I found it fascinating and challenging,” he says, “and I loved doing it.”

Although there are thousands of fighter pilots in the United States, only 35 jet pilots met the stringent qualifications to be a Thunderbird pilot when Zachary applied for a spot on the team. Ultimately, he was chosen for one of three open positions for the 2023-2024 season. 

“I never really thought it was a possibility until I was wrapping up my tour in Japan,” says Zachary. “It was a long journey of appreciating and admiring formation flying to suddenly realizing I could actually be on this team.”

There are 12 officers that make up the flight team; eight are pilots, but only those ranked one through six fly in the Diamond for demonstrations. Zachary served as pilot #2, left wing. 

Zachary’s proud mom, Tammy Hilgart Rodriguez, threw a watch party at the American Legion Post 183 in Fern Park when Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds premiered on Netflix in late May. The movie has big names behind it: the executive producers are former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Aerial footage for the movie was shot by Kevin LaRosa II, who also filmed the blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, starring Tom Cruise.

Destined for Greatness

“I always knew Zack was destined to be an inspiration to others,” says Tammy, who lives in Lake Mary. “But never in my wildest dreams would I think it would be as a pilot with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds team. Seeing him perform brings a sense of immense pride and joy, especially knowing how hard he has worked to get there. He’s not only a fantastic pilot, but he’s also an amazing father and husband.”

Yet being a member of the Thunderbirds team is challenging and stressful, which is why their tours of duty are only for two years.

“There are no breaks while you’re on the team,” says Zachary, who is still in the Air Force but no longer flying with the Thunderbirds. “When we’re on the road from March through November, we have two [flight] practices on Friday, shows Saturday and Sunday, fly home on Monday, and two practices back in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Then Wednesday is your day off to do laundry and pack your bags, and Thursday you’re on the road to do it all over again.” 

The team travels about 300 days per year, visiting two cities each week. Winter months are spent training. Zachary managed this grueling schedule while juggling family life with wife Kelley and their two young children, Jackson and Sydney.

Although the pilots are the ones in the spotlight, there are a total of 135 team members who make up the operation to get the jets airborne for each show.

“It’s like this small representation of the Air Force,” says Zachary. “It takes every bit of effort from every person on the team to make the mission happen.”

Thunderbirds have a three-part goal: recruit for the U.S. Air Force, retain those recruits, and inspire everyone. All three facets are important, but being an inspiration is the team’s primary focus. 

“There are millions of people watching who can be inspired,” says Zachary. “They see six pilots up in the air who are placing blind trust in each other and risking their lives to put on this demonstration. With the music and the narration, the whole production – there’s an amazing sense of patriotism.”