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Capt. Zoe Kotnik, First-Ever Female F-16 Viper

Captain, Zoe Kotnik she is also the Air Force's first female single-ship tactical demonstration pilot. Just after she made history...

Captain, Zoe Kotnik she is also the Air Force's first female single-ship tactical demonstration pilot.
Just after she made history as the first female pilot to head the Air Force’s F-16 Viper demonstration team, Capt. Zoe Kotnik given a salutation as well as a relieve by “Col. Derek O’Malley, 20th Fighter Wing commander, from her command as an Air Combat Command F-16 Viper demonstration team. Col. Allen Herritage, director of public affairs at the Air Force’s Air Combat Command. “The Viper demonstration team is working to minimize impacts on scheduled performances and looks forward to inspiring crowds around the country during the upcoming season as soon as a new commander is selected.”

Captain, Zoe Kotnik she is also the Air Force's first female single-ship tactical demonstration pilot.

No details have been released regarding what prompted the sudden loss of confidence in Kotnik’s ability to lead, but the announcement is sure to ruffle feathers throughout the aviation community and beyond. Kotnik’s command of the Viper team prompted headlines around the nation, touting the young pilot’s accomplishments as an aviator and drawing comparisons between the female pilot and the protagonist of the forthcoming “Captain Marvel” film.
Congrats to Capt Kotnik. What an accomplishment and a great opportunity to inspire the next generation of youth to pursue a career in aviation. (Secretary of the Air Force, Barbara Barrett)
In fact, despite announcing that Kotnik has been relieved of her command earlier today, the Shaw Air Force Base Twitter account still prominently features a number of tweets praising Captain Kotnik’s role as the Viper team commander. An accomplished pilot, Kotnik boasts over 1,000 hours of flight time in various military aircraft, earning her not only the role of first female Viper demo team commander but also the distinction of being the Air Force’s first female single-ship tactical demonstration pilot in history. The grounds for Kotnik’s dismissal have not yet been revealed, but it can be assumed that this situation will be the subject of both internal investigation and media scrutiny in the weeks to come.
Congrats to Capt. Zoe “SiS” Kotnik as the newest Viper Demo Team pilot -- you are vital to showcasing our US Airforce mission. (Matt Donovan)
The Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demonstration Team at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., performs precision aerial maneuvers to demonstrate the unique capabilities of one of the Air Force's premier multi-role fighters — the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The team also works with the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation to create a unique demonstration of the U.S. Air Force's past and present, exhibiting the professional qualities the Air Force develops in the people who fly, maintain and support these aircraft.