(Showing off the Auburn flag in front of an F-16 from the 187th Fighter Wing. The wing today flies F-35s.)
By Troy Turner
Alabama Air National Guard mechanic-turned-pilot Capt. Nate “Tazeer” Palmer has worked his way from servicing F-16 fighter jets to flying them with one of the most prestigious flight demonstration teams in the world.
Palmer started out as an aircraft mechanic working on F-16s for the Alabama Air National Guard’s 187th fighter wing in Montgomery, served on deployment to Afghanistan, returned home to earn an aviation-related degree from Auburn University, and now will fly as a member of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds.
The Air Force on Friday announced its team members for the 2027-28 season and tabbed Palmer with a leading role on its team, as he will serve as Thunderbird 8, the team’s advance pilot and narrator.
Capt. Nate “Tazeer” Palmer (USAF)
Although the 187th remains listed as his home unit, Palmer is serving an active-duty stint as a flight commander for the 58th Fighter Squadron stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
The 58th flies the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets, which have become the mainstay for U.S. military forces because of their fifth-generation technical advances. However, many Air Force pilots still prefer flying the F-16 for its maneuverability, as does the Thunderbirds team in air shows across the nation.
The 187th flew F-16s before converting to the F-35. (USAF)
Demonstration teams such as the Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy’s Blue Angels are not only extremely popular with air show enthusiasts, but they are considered excellent recruiting programs.
Ironically, another Auburn graduate, Commander Lilly Montana, Class of 2010, is flying as Blue Angel No. 8 for the Navy in much the same role as Palmer will inherit with the Thunderbirds.
Montana joined the Auburn Naval ROTC program in January 2007 to help pay her way through college and also in respect to her grandfather, who was a Navy aviator. She also wanted learn more about foreign relations by getting a political science degree.
The Blue Angels recently conducted a special “Good Luck on Finals” flyover above the Auburn campus prior to the summer break.
Palmer in his role with the Thunderbirds will direct team logistics, fly the advance F-16 Fighting Falcon to show sites, analyze weather conditions, and serve as the primary ground narrator during airshows.
He graduated in 2011 from Hoover High School before attending Auburn.
However, he made headlines in between when during his deployment in 2014, he was shown flying an Auburn flag during a live national Today Show broadcast from Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.
Television stars Al Roker, Jay Leno and others were part of the broadcast.
Troy Turner is the founder, editor and senior consultant for AlaDefense.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. His bio can be found here.
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