The US Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, Thunderbirds, left their home at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, six weeks ago to embark on a whirlwind journey that took them halfway around the world.

The Thunderbirds typically travel from mid-March to mid-November in the continental United States. However, this year, the 2009 Far East Tour took the team to multiple locations in the Pacific. During the tour, the team traveled more than 22,000 miles.

With a final pass over the crowd in Seoul, Korea, the world famous Thunderbirds waved goodbye to their fans and completed the last performance of the tour.

Major Brian Henderson was the Pacific Air Forces project officer for the Thunderbirds‘ Far East Tour. He said the crowd reactions were highly energetic, especially when the team signed autographs after each performance.

Now the team is heading out once again for the “Wing’s Over Homestead” Air Show scheduled for Nov. 7-8, at Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida. The team’s final air show this year will be at Nellis AFB, Nov. 14-15.