Air Show Performers

The AeroShell Aerobatic Team is a familiar name in air show lineups, having performed in the industry for more than 35 years. Alan Henley founded the team after meeting Steve Gustafson at an air show in Mississippi and flew with the team until 2008, when a non aviation-related accident left him paralyzed from the chest down. Now his twin brother Mark Henley, team lead; Bryan Regan, right wing; Steve Gustafson, left wing; and Jimmy Fordham, slot; perform a series of loops, rolls, and bomb bursts in close formation for a classic aerobatic routine.

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Made famous by the Vietnam War, the MiG-17F was the primary enemy aircraft engaged in the skies over Vietnam by U.S. aircraft, such as the A-4, A-7, F-8, B-52, F-100, F-105 and its primary nemesis, the F-4 Phantom II. The MiG-17F can maintain 8g turns (8g = 8 times the force of gravity on the pilot’s body), attain a maximum speed of 715 mph (Mach 1.04) and can climb to 30,000 feet in only 3 minutes, with an initial rate of climb better than 14,000 feet per minute.

Randy Ball’s MiG-17F spent almost four years in restoration, and is one of only a handful of vintage jets flying the North American air show circuit. It has an authentic paint job and is the only MiG available for ground display with fully restored guns. Randy’s MiG has been seen by millions of air show fans across North America and has been featured in numerous publications, appearing on t-shirts, newspapers, posters, and more. It has been filmed on several occasions including performing as the enemy aircraft with the USAF’s F-4 Phantom for the Discovery Channel and History Channel.

Randy has done well over 1,300 performances, has more than 28 years of air show experience, and has flown over 44 different types of aircraft manufactured in nine countries.

Bob Carlton does a stunning performance in his Super Salto jet sailplane. With its military-grade 250-pound-thrust PBS TJ-100 jet engine, the Super Salto self-launches and performs a high-speed aerobatic climb to altitude without a tow plane, followed by a spectacular exhibition of graceful sailplane aerobatics. The Super Salto sailplane is the only sailplane on the airshow circuit capable of performing a low-level, jet-powered air show performance.

Bob is a retired rocket scientist known for creating spectacular one-off designs. He has been flying since 1979 and has experience across the board in aviation, from hang gliders to sailplanes, helicopters, and airplanes. He is always working on the next great project!

Kevin Coleman is one of the younger pilots on the airshow circuit, flying an Extra 300 SHP with a roll rate of 400 degrees per second and +/-10g capabilities. He is a second-generation pilot and air show performer, flying his first show at only 18, and took lessons and aerobatic training with late aviation and aerobatic legend Marion Cole at age 10. Since then, Kevin has logged more than 2,500 hours, has flown at the Red Bull Air Races, and has earned a spot on the U.S. Advanced Aerobatics Team.

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Dell Coller flies the Jet Waco. Dell started his career as a crew chief on the C-130 in the Delaware Air National Guard and he started flying aerobatics in 2005. Dell has continued this passion in aviation through building, restoring and flying aerobatic aircraft.

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Susan Dacy is one of only a few women performing airshows in a biplane. Along with Big Red, her Super Stearman, Dacy steps back in time performing a dazzling display of barrel rolls, slow rolls, Cuban eights, hammerhead turns, loops, and much more, in a style reminiscent of the barnstorming era of flying.

Kyle Fowler is living out the dream of being an aerobatic pilot — a dream that he has had since the age of 12, when he would announce his own father’s aerobatic performances at air shows. He performs a thrilling routine in a homebuilt yellow 1986 Long-EZ.

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Kyle Franklin, son of late air show legend Jimmy Franklin, was destined for the sky the moment he was born. He began flying at age 8 in a Piper Super Cub, by age 14 he performed his first wing walk, and at 17 he was wing-walking professionally for his father. In addition to crawling out of the cockpit and dangling from airplanes, Kyle started his own piloting career performing in air shows at age 21.

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Mike Goulian doesn’t just fly an air show; he attacks it. Every roll, pull, and tumble of his flight is deliberately and precisely executed. With his aggressive approach to the air show arena, he has mastered the ability to convey his message of passion through flight. Mike soloed on his 16th birthday and won the United States Unlimited Aerobatic Championship at 27 years old. He represented the U.S. at the World Aerobatic Championships on three separate occasions and competes as one of two U.S. pilots vying for the World Championship in the famed Red Bull Air Races. He earned first place in Budapest, Hungary, in 2009. He is one of seven people to be awarded all three of the air show industry’s most prestigious awards: The Art Scholl Memorial Showmanship Award (2006), the Bill Barber Award for Showmanship (2009), and the ICAS Sword of Excellence (2012). Mike was also inducted as an honorary Blue Angel. Today, Mike’s performance is the perfect marriage between man and machine — the world’s most high-performance aerobatic airplane, the Extra 330SC.

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R.J. developed a passion for aerobatics through RC flying. He started competing in RC aerobatics at age 16 in national and international events, representing the US in indoor precision and freestyle aerobatic championships. He got his Decathlon at the end of 2015 and has since flown more than 800 hours in the airplane, flying his first airshow in 2016. Since then, he's flown hundreds of performances.

Until 2002, Greg flew jet aircraft for an Alabama corporation and performed airshows in his spare time. Today, Greg is a full time airshow and aerobatics professional. Greg is known throughout the USA and parts of Latin America as the foremost authority on the Super Decathlon aircraft. Besides doing an inverted ribbon cut 15 feet above the ground in airshows, Greg specializes in teaching pilots how to fly aerobatics in his Super Decathlon.

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Nathan Hammond made his debut at Oshkosh in his Super Chipmunk during AirVenture 2018 and he has made a name for himself in the aviation community by entertaining large crowds with his skywriting skills. In 2016, Nathan named his Chipmunk GhostWriter. His routine is action-packed with loops, rolls, and vertical maneuvers. During his night performance, GhostWriter lights up the sky with 200 pounds of wing-mounted pyrotechnics.

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Over the years, Rob completely immersed himself in aviation, spending time as a corporate, commuter, and ferry pilot, a banner tower, and a flight instructor, all while running his own aerobatic school. He is the only pilot to ever have achieved the titles of five-time, consecutive World Four-Minute Freestyle Champion and nine-time U.S. Four-Minute Freestyle Champion, making him one of today’s most decorated air show pilots. Rob continues to push himself in his one-of-a-kind MXS-RH to develop maneuvers never before seen.

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Jerry "Jive" Kerby is a retired US Air Force fighter pilot having flown the F-15C Eagle and F-4 Phantom during his 23-year active duty military career. He currently flies the T-28 Trojan, T-33 Shooting Star, L-39 Albatross, and Wild Blue...the RV-8A that wants to be a fighter jet.

Erik can’t remember his first airplane ride…because he wasn’t born yet! He began “training” at the age of six. He sat on his father’s lap and flew on instruments. Erik was ready for solo at the age of eight thru the use of a tailor-made seat and control extensions. At age 10, he learned spins, which sparked his lifelong passion for aerobatics. Erik is a full-time farmer, living on the same farm upon which the original settlers' log cabin was built…now with a grass runway and airshow practice box!

The “T-Clips” was originally built by Taylorcraft in 1939. It was “clipped” for aerobatics in 1997 by Steve Givens using a mix of both the Swick and Legendary Duane Cole plans. Erik has further modified the T-Clips with inverted fuel and oil and airshow smoke systems, making it an optimal and unique up close and personal, crowd-pleasing airshow machine.

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Lee Lauderback, EAA Warbirds of America 2013 Hall of Fame inductee, performs his signature solo Mustang routine at air shows around the country. His expertise and vast experience in both corporate and private aviation has earned him the distinction of being an FAA specialty aircraft examiner. Lee has expanded his aviation knowledge and experience to include flying the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Viper, F/A-18 Hornet, as well as test flying the Hawker Beechcraft T-6 Texan II.

David Martin began performing aerobatic routines for the public at the age of 19. His lineage is full of aviation history, his grandfather having been a barnstormer in the 1930s so his success comes as no surprise. He is an eight-time member of the U.S. Aerobatic team and has won numerous World gold medals. At one point, David flew every day for five years, or 1,826 consecutive days.

David will wow the crowds this year in this light twin-engine aircraft, a truly unique and non-standard platform for aerobatics.

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Jessy Panzer started flying when she was 18 years old and earned her aeronautical science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is a CFI in airplanes, rotorcraft, and seaplanes. Though employed as a corporate pilot for most of her career, Jessy actively pursued her passion for aerobatics and began flying in competitions in 2000. In 2012 she made the U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team. Jessy has also flown as a member of the Stars of Tomorrow formation aerobatic team and is a certified air racer in the Sport Class at Reno, flying a Glasair III. Jessy is honored to be flying her Pitts Special biplane, rated +6/-3 gs, and to be able to share her passion for flight with airshow fans across the country.

Jim Peitz will probably throw a surprise at you when he takes off in a Beech Bonanza and jumps into an aerobatic routine. The specialized Bonanza is capable of a wide range of aerobatic maneuvers including loops, point rolls, barrel rolls, snap rolls, Cuban eights, and hammerheads. Jim’s father taught him how to fly back in the 1970s, and since then Jim has logged over 20,000 hours in more than 100 aircraft types.

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With gold medals in virtually every discipline and numerous world records to their credit, the team members combine for over 100,000 skydives and 6,000 BASE jumps. Throughout the year, they perform more than 60 demos including air shows, NFL games, and NASCAR and motocross races, as well as skydiving, BASE jumping and paragliding competitions in the U.S. and abroad.

Bill Stein puts on a thrilling performance in his unique Edge 540, the paint scheme of which changes color depending on lighting and viewing angle. Bill began flying aerobatics while he was still a student pilot, and has since logged more than 5,000 hours of aerobatic and formation flight. He has been part of the air show performance scene since 1995, and enjoys mentoring new air show pilots as a way to give back to the aviation community.

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Jim Tobul is the man behind the stick in "Korean War Hero", but rather than the owner, he considers himself more the caretaker of this beautiful warbird and her storied history. An avid pilot for over 40 years, Jim takes great pride in carrying the legacy of the veteran Corsair to airshows all over North America. He lives in Bamberg, SC, and performs at 18 or more airshows per year, bringing tears to the eyes of veterans and awakening the curiosity of upcoming generations to learn more about the fight for freedom waged by those who came before. He also is proud to participate in the U.S. Navy Legacy Flight program, in which he flies alongside a modern Navy F-18 Super Hornet fighter in a poignant display of military heritage and tribute.

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(Photo curtesy of Jim Tobul Airshows)

Hubie Tolson has flown in the US National Aerobatic Championships, earning gold, silver, and bronze medals. He has also participated in aerobatic displays in countries all over the world, including Brazil, Spain, China, the United Arab Emirates, and many locations in the USA. Be sure to stick around until the very end of Tolson’s performances as he is the only pilot in the world who performs his unique final maneuver.

Based out of Mid-Way Regional (KJWY), just south of downtown Dallas and southeast of downtown Fort Worth, the Trojan Phlyers own and operate two T-28B Trojan aircraft. The lead pilot Chip Lamb and the Wing pilot Robert Johnson perform formation and solo aerobatics, and appear each year at air shows and events across the nation in an effort to remind us of the engineering brilliance and manufacturing excellence of the former North American Aviation Company. These same pilots, offer a salute to the veterans of our great nation, and to the men and women who continue to protect us and preserve the American way of life.

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(Photo from Trojan Phyler website)

Bernie Vasquez began flying at age 11 where he traded pumping gas for flying lessons which eventually led him to a solo flight on his 16th birthday. He was the director of maintenance for the Texas Flying Legends which is now rebranded to be the Dakota Territory Air Museum. Bernie is currently in charge of all the maintenance for the fleet and fly’s airshows mostly during the summer.

To Patty Wagstaff the sky represents adventure, freedom, and challenge. She grew up surrounded by aviation, first taking the controls of an airplane — a DC-6 her father was flying — at age 10. After moving to Alaska in 1979 her new job required her to charter a bush plane for travel. After the first airplane she chartered crashed, Patty decided she would learn to fly herself. Five years after earning her pilot certificate she landed a spot on the U.S. Aerobatic Team. A six-time member of the team, Patty has won the gold, silver, and bronze medals in Olympic-level international aerobatic competition and was the first woman to win the title of U.S. National Aerobatic champion. She is also a six-time recipient of the “First Lady of Aerobatics” Betty Skelton Award and in 2004 was inducted to the national Aviation Hall of Fame.

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Scott “Scooter” Yoak has more than 1,000 hours behind the controls of a P-51 alone, and more than 6,500 total time. He beautifully demonstrates the capabilities of the famous World War II warbird at air shows across the country. The P-51 he flies has a special story: Rather than being an original production-line aircraft, it was built by Scott’s father, Bill, and is composed of the parts of many P-51s. The entire paint scheme, from the black and white stripes on the wings to the feathers at the back of the canopy, serves as a tribute to the veterans of World War II.

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Matt Younkin, the first second-generation recipient of the Bill Barber Award for Showmanship, will fly his famous twin-engine Beech 18. This act is described by producers and fans alike as one of the most beautiful and graceful displays the industry has to offer. Younkin’s latest achievement is perfecting the world’s only night aerobatic display in a Beech 18. Equipped with more than 50 externally visible lights, the top of the airplane appears to glow in the dark while the bottom side actively twinkles. Younkin continues to amaze air show goers with his unique ability to capture the crowd in the moment, much the same way his father, Bobby, and sister, Amanda, did for so many years. Matt was the 2020 Art Scholl Showmanship award recipient.

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