RALEIGH, N.C. -- Nissan will spend $67.9 million and add up to 90 jobs at its Decherd, Tenn., engine plant to build electric motors for its Leaf battery-electric cars, the automaker said Tuesday.

The Decherd expansion was announced by Brian Carolin, senior vice president for sales and marketing at Franklin, Tenn.-based Nissan North America during his opening address to the Plug-in 2011 national electric-vehicle conference in Raleigh.

Up to 150,000 of the motors will be pproduced annually at Decherd beginning in early 2013 for installation in the Leaf cars that will be assembled at Nissan's Smyrna, Tenn., manufacturing complex, also beginning in early 2013.

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The internationally renowned United States Air Force Thunderbirds precision flight demonstration team will entertain regional crowds at the Great Tennessee Airshow at Smyrna Airport on May 7, 8, 2011.

This signature aviation event will also include performances by Airshow legends Gene Soucy and Wing Walker Theresa Stokes, Mike Goulian – USA pilot in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, Jason Newburg flying the Viper, Red Thunder, Cheryl Stearns  - award winning skydiver and first female member of the US Golden Nights, Kendal “Aeronut” Simpson flying the Pitts Model 12, F-15 Demonstration and world famous airshow announcer Danny Klisham.

Gates open at 8:00 a.m. each day. All persons and bags are subject to search. No food or beverages may be brought into the airs how. Parking is free.

General Admission:
Children ages 4-12 (under 4 are free)
Advance ticket: $8.00
Gate price (day of show) $10.00

Adult (12 and older)
Advance ticket: $15.00
Gate price (day of show) $20.00

The Thunderbirds are proud to represent Air Force Airmen who make America's Air Force the most advanced and respected air, space and cyberspace force the world has ever seen. They continually provide consistant and credible Global Vigilance, Global Reach and Global Power, giving a critical edge to today's joint warfighting and coalition teams.

As Air Force ambassadors, the Thunderbird team strives to showcase the integrity, selfless service and excellence embodied by American Airmen everywhere

Now in their 58th season, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are taking their show on the road, showcasing the pride and precision of today’s Air Force and wowing huge audiences around the world in their Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.

At each airshow site, the 2011 Thunderbirds team will proudly  perform on behalf of the nearly 700,000 active-duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and civilian Airmen serving at home and abroad. It’s from that diverse group of Air Force professionals that the Thunderbirds team is formed.

The 2011 team is made up of 12 Officers and more than 120 Enlisted Air Force members, consisting of over 30 career fields to perform the Thunderbird mission.

The team’s primary mission is two-fold: first, to exhibit the capabilities of modern, warfighting aircraft and, second, to demonstrate the high degree of skill maintained by Air Force members serving in a variety of career specialties.

Leveraging a broad range of military experience, team members will carry out the unique Thunderbird mission with a special salute to their brothers and sisters in arms who are literally fighting America’s battles in air, space and cyberspace.

It’s both a privilege and a responsibility for the Thunderbirds to represent Airmen around the world.

Binding all Airmen together is a devotion to integrity, unselfish service and excellence in all efforts.  As the face of the U.S. Air Force, that’s what the Thunderbirds strive to demonstrate time and time again.

In every conversation with show goers, in every choreographed ground ceremony preparing the jets for flight, and in every gravity-defying performance maneuver, the Thunderbirds put on display the most advanced and respected airpower and support capabilities in the world.