Major Laney Schol returns home as the lead solo pilot of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, inspiring crowds with daring maneuvers at the Great Texas Airshow.
UNIVERSAL CITY, Texas — The roar of fighter jets will shake the skies over Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph this weekend—but for one pilot, the moment hits a little closer to home.
U.S. Air Force Major Laney Schol isn’t just flying in The Great Texas Airshow—she’s coming back to the place that helped shape her journey.
She was born in North Texas and later moved to Columbus—just a short drive from San Antonio. She also completed flight training in the region.
Now, she’s flying over the same communities that helped launch her career.
“My home state is really special to me and if I can give back a little bit of what the Air Force has given me to the communities around here, then I’ll call it a win,” Schol said.
Schol is the lead solo pilot—“Number 5”—with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, an elite demonstration team known for pushing the limits of precision flying. She’s also currently the only female pilot on the team.
“Somebody might think it’s not possible flying that close, flying that low, doing the types of maneuvers that we do in formation,” she said. “I hope seeing that makes the impossible possible for them, and I hope that they can see the impossible things become possible in their own lives.”
During performances, the Thunderbirds’ six F-16 Fighting Falcons slice through the sky in tight formations—sometimes flying just inches apart.
Schol’s role is one of the most visually striking.
As the lead solo pilot, she spends much of the show flying upside down, executing high-speed maneuvers that showcase the power and agility of the aircraft.
Learning to do that, she says, didn’t happen overnight.
“To learn to fly upside down, it just takes repetition,” Schol said. “You’re not going to get it right the first many, many times, but just keep trying and eventually it all comes together.”
The jets can reach speeds just under the speed of sound, while maintaining precise control and spacing.
What makes those jaw-dropping formations possible isn’t just skill—it’s trust.
“We have a motto… it’s called blind trust,” Schol explained.
That trust is built over time—through repetition, training, and confidence in every member of the team, from pilots to maintainers.
It’s what allows them to fly as close as they do—sometimes with mere feet, or even inches, separating aircraft.
The Thunderbirds have been inspiring crowds for more than 70 years, serving as ambassadors for the U.S. Air Force.
Officially formed in 1953, the team showcases the precision, power, and professionalism of the Air Force while helping recruit the next generation and connect with communities nationwide.
For Schol, wearing that uniform comes with weight.
“It is a huge responsibility… to represent the Air Force, but truly to represent America.”
She’s spent more than a decade in the Air Force and is now in her second—and final—year with the Thunderbirds, a role most pilots hold for just two seasons.
For those watching from the ground, it may look unreal—jets flying upside down, nearly touching, moving faster than most people will ever travel.
Now, she hopes to be that inspiration for others.
“To really chase their dreams and believe that difficult things are absolutely possible with hard work… that’s really special to me,” said Schol.
What to expect at the Great Texas Airshow
The Thunderbirds will headline the 2026 Great Texas Airshow at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, May 2 and 3.
- Free and open to the public
- Gates open at 9 a.m.
- Aerial performances begin at 11 a.m.
- Theme: “Let Freedom Roar; Honoring 250 Years”
For more information about The Great Texas Air Show, visit https://www.jbsa.mil/GreatTexasAirshow/