HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE — Maj. Nicole Malachowski, the first female Thunderbird pilot in the Air Force demonstration team's 54-year history, today will be flying at nearly the speed of a jetliner at cruising altitude while just 300 feet off the ground and almost brushing the wingtip of the F-16 fighter next to her.

"It's going to be an exhilarating show if people haven't seen it," said Malachowski, 32, one of six pilots performing in air shows today and Saturday off Waikiki. "You've got the diamond formation flying three feet away from each other going 450 miles an hour demonstrating precision flying, teamwork and trust."

That will be happening at the same time that two solo pilots flash by at 150 feet. And, oh yes, sometimes they will be upside down.

The Air Force Thunderbirds are bringing back their ear-splitting and spectacular brand of precision flying to Waikiki today for the first time in a decade. The demonstration squadron also performed over Hickam in 2003.

The three air shows — two practice sessions today at 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and the big show at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday — are part of Air Force Week and the service's celebration of its 60th anniversary.

Malachowski, one of two female pilots now flying on the Thunderbird team, said women were not allowed to fly fighter aircraft until the early 1990s, but that there are now 80 women who are fighter pilots.

Two Thunderbird F-16s flew in Tuesday from Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, and six more arrived yesterday after getting a full tank of gas from a Hawai'i Air National Guard KC-135R refueling tanker off O'ahu.

Saturday's show and the Aloha Festivals parade are expected to bump up a Waikiki population of 70,000 to 80,000 tourists, 23,000 residents and 25,000 weekend workers to up to 150,000 people, according to the Honolulu Police Department.

Capt. Jeff Richards, executive officer for HPD's Waikiki district, doesn't offer a rosy outlook for the parking situation on Saturday. Today, a work day, will be less hectic.

"We want everyone to just relax during the ... (air show on Saturday)," Richards said. "It's going to be a madhouse and we just ask that people chill out, enjoy the show and just relax for the day."

That means don't expect to be getting anywhere fast in Waikiki before or after the 9 a.m. parade and air show later in the day.

"Whatever preconceived notions and ideas they had about what they normally do at the beach — they should probably forget it," Richards said.

Richards said there will be street-side parking and Kapi'olani Park parking, but "that's all going to be first-come, first-served."

There will be progressive street closures and re-openings for the parade from Ala Moana Park to Kapi'olani Park, and Richards said part of Magic Island's parking lot will be used for float staging. Diamond Head also will be closed today and on Saturday.

Richards said the best viewing for Saturday's air show — and largest crowds — likely will be in the vicinity of the Hale Koa hotel beach area down to the Royal Hawaiian, and from the Duke Kahanamoku statue to the War Memorial Natatorium where the beaches are widest.

"Obviously, the beach area is going to be the best spot," Richards said, adding that the low-flying aircraft might not be fully visible because of tree cover in Ala Moana and Kapi'olani parks.

During the shows, a 6,000-foot by 2,700-foot section of the ocean's surface called the "show box" — over which the Thunderbirds will perform — will be cleared of swimmers, boaters and surfers. Coast Guard and Navy vessels will patrol the area.

Today's 9 a.m. flight will be for survey and familiarization purposes, while the 2:30 p.m. version, while still practice, will be closer to the full air show people will see Saturday, Malachowski said. The jets also will fly from the sea over the Arizona Memorial and Aloha Stadium during this afternoon's demonstration.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.