When he was around ten years old, Faith-native Scott Petz saw the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds at Ellsworth Air Force Base. He remembers watching the pride, precision and professionalism of the Air Show and made it his goal to be part of the demonstration squadron. 25 years later, Major Scott Petz was back at Ellsworth earlier this month as a member of the Thunderbirds. He flies the No. 8 jet as the advance pilot/narrator for the squadron.
Major Petz enlisted in the Air National Guard and served as a crew chief before earning a commission through the Academy of Military Science in 2002, the same year he graduated from Black Hills State University. He has logged more than 1,800 flight hours as an Air Force pilot, with more than 208 combat hours in the F-16.
Major Petz joined Dakota Midday and discussed his return to his home state as a member of the Thunderbirds.