Thunderbirds to headline open house Oct. 9 Published May 9, 2011 By 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Kirtland AFB, N.M. -- Col. Robert L. Maness, 377th Air Base Wing commander, announced at a May 9 news conference that the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will perform at the Kirtland AFB Open House on Oct. 9. The Thunderbirds are the Air Force's elite aerial demonstration team.