Will the Air Force Thunderbirds be doing things any differently when they take off this weekend from Loveland’s Northern Colorado Regional Airport, elevation 5,020 feet, than they would for one of their performances closer to sea level?

Absolutely, said Maj. Josh Burress, who had just climbed down from Thunderbird 2, after the precision team roared into Loveland Thursday.

“It’s a big impact on the performance of the jet,” Burress told The Denver Gazette. “The ground speed is higher, there’s a little bit of a delay, the controls aren’t as effective.”

The speed difference from the pilot’s view is substantial, adding on another 50 miles per hour to a pass that might be at 3,000 miles per hour in Miami or San Diego.

“Whereas at sea level, the jet does anything you want,” Burress said.

The

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