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2017 Dayton Airshow Marred By Thunderbird Accident But Highlighted by Other Performers
By Mike Heilman
The Thunderbirds diamond practices upon arrival to 2017 Dayton Air Show. The Thunderbird arrived on Monday before the show but had to cancel their performances due to mishap with the team’s two-seat F-16D. (Mike Heilman)In 2106 the Dayton Air Show attendance suffered from a cancellation of the headline act two weeks before the show, when the U.S. Navy Blue Angels experienced a tragic accident at an air show in Tennessee. Once again in 2017, the show experienced another cancellation of the headlining act due to a near tragic accident of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. The mishap happened at the Dayton International Airport less than 24 hours before the show was scheduled to open.
Thunderbird number 8, the two-seat F-16D “Fighting Falcon,” was conducting a crew familiarization flight in the Dayton area when upon return to the airport the jet skidded off the runway and flipped over trapping the pilot Capt. Erik Gonsalvas and Tech Sgt. Kenneth Cordova for almost two hours. The Thunderbird crewmembers were transported to a local hospital in good condition. There was heavy rain at the time of the mishap from remnants of tropical storm Cindy.
On Friday Michael Emoff, Chairman U.S. Air & Trade Show Board of Trustees, held a press conference to discuss the weekend’s show after the mishap. “When you first hear about something like this you pray that everything is okay and for the health of those involved. Once you understand that everything is under control, you then start working on what I can do. My job as Chair of the air show is to ensure that we produce a safe and quality show for our community.”
The Dayton Airshow
By Mike Heilman and Joe Gust
The U.S. Air Force next fifth generation fighter the F-22A Raptor made its second appearance the 2016 Dayton Airshow. The F-22 made its initial Dayton appearance in 2008. (Mike Heilman)The Dayton Airshow recently has seen a decline in attendance due to the government budget and weather issues. The United States Military has been limited with the amount of static aircraft that could be sent to civilian airshows. In 2016, the U.S. Military decided there would no limitations on the amount of aircraft they could send to civilian airshows.
The 2016 Dayton show was primed for a huge year with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Demonstration Team scheduled to perform, but two weeks before the Dayton show, Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, who flew the number six jet, was tragically killed in a fatal practice crash at the Smyrna, Tenn. Airshow.
The Navy’s Blue Angels canceled their appearance at the Dayton show, and organizers were left to find a replacement for the show’s headlining act. The Navy quickly responded with scheduling the West Coast F/A-18 E/F Demonstration Team as the replacement for the Blue Angels. The show organizers were concerned that losing the headlining military jet team just two weeks before the show would dramatically affect the attendance.
On the Wings of Young Eagles
By Donia Moore
(Donia Moore)The magic carpet shot into the sky like an arrow heading straight and true into the heart of the young adventurers on board. They were taking their premier step to becoming Young Eagles, and they were in their first small aircraft ride. Eyes grew larger and stomachs grew tighter with the excitement of flying above the clouds for the first time in a small plane. They would never forget the feeling of euphoria brought on by their 20 minutes of freedom from the ground as the plane climbed to altitude. When asked how long he’d like the flight to last, one young potential aviator said “forever!”
Hands on the Controls
Robert Baker, an FAA Safety representative and veteran EAA Young Eagles host pilot understands that sentiment. He has been involved with the Young Eagle program in Southern California for close to 10 years, personally flying “first flights” for nearly 200 kids. “1.9 million Young Eagles have safely enjoyed flying through the Experimental Aircraft Association program since its start in 1992,” says Robert. The Young Eagles program was designed to give children from the ages of 8 to 17 an opportunity to experience flight in a general aviation airplane. Spearheaded by donations and help from EAA’s network of volunteer pilots, this program is offered free of charge with the goal of educating our next generation about the possibilities in the aviation field. For many, their first flight is the beginning of their journey towards a career as a pilot, aircraft mechanic, air traffic controller, or other aviation related possibilities. Interest in the program is growing. EAA is an international aviation membership association founded in 1953 and headquartered in Oshkosh, Wis. Local chapters are located in all 50 states and many countries. Members are aviation enthusiasts of every age group, including many airline and commercial pilots, engineers, business people and even astronauts.
Three laps Around the Bay with the Blues and Sean D. Tucker
By Sagar Pathak
The 2 F/A-18C Blue Angels fly at near stall speed while Sean D. Tucker flies as fast as he can to stay in formation. (Sagar Pathak)For as long as I can remember, the United States Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration team and San Francisco’s Fleet Week was synonymous with each other. Having grown up in the Bay Area, every October I was guaranteed two things: in early October, I would be turning a year older and the sweet, sweet sound of jet noise. So when the city of San Francisco cancelled Fleet Week in 2013, I was devastated. Was it really even my birthday if I didn’t see the six blue and gold jets flying over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge? It didn’t feel right.
When it was announced that in 2014, the city would be bringing back Fleet Week, and were having the Blue Angels headline, I was beyond elated. Balance had been restored.
Editorial: Pilot in Command
By Ed Downs
Before I launch into a variety of viewpoints and opinions, please read the following news announcement that was recently received by In Flight USA from the EAA:
EAA Declines FAA Exemption for Young Eagles, Eagle Flights Pilots
EAA has notified the FAA that it is declining a partial grant of exemption that would have allowed Young Eagles and Eagle Flights pilots to obtain reimbursement for fuel costs and logging of flight time. While EAA welcomed the time the agency spent considering and formulating the partial exemption, its mandated record-keeping, coordination, and notification requirements would cause complete restructuring of the program with enormous time and expense burdens.
Sean Elliott, EAA’s vice president of advocacy and safety, stated in a letter to John S. Duncan, FAA director of Flight Standards Service, that, “EAA sincerely appreciates the substantial efforts of the FAA in reviewing, publishing for comment, analyzing, and finally granting an exemption in response to EAA’s petition dated April 17, 2012. Unfortunately, EAA is unable to accept the exemption because of the severe requirements imposed by the FAA grant.”
Supporting Aviation's Future
This year’s Gathering of Eagles fundraising event at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh brought together the aviation industry and private aviation enthusiasts to support aviation’s future. The event raised $2.679 million, and after expenses, EAA will invest approximately $2.17 million in its youth programs. The Gathering is presented by Cessna Aircraft Company.
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Edition Ford Mustang Celebrates Aviation Team’s 60th Anniversary, Supports Young Eagles
The engineering and design teams at Ford Motor Company have produced a unique U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Edition 2014 Ford Mustang GT. This car was donated by Ford and was sold at a charity auction at the Gathering of Eagles charity event on Aug. 1 during AirVenture Oshkosh 2013. The one-of-a-kind mustang sold for $398,000.
All proceeds from the car donation and sale will benefit the EAA Young Eagles program, which has provided free introductory flights to more than 1.6 million young people since 1992, helping inspire and motivate the next generation of leaders, aviators and innovators.
Oregon Pilot Flies His 5,000th Young Eagle
EAA Chapter 495’s Larry Durst flew his 5,000th Young Eagle, Cole Brecht, 12 (far right), on Friday, June 7. Also pictured are Young Eagles Jesse Brecht, 10, and Lily Creekmore, 11. (Photo courtesy of Joe Messi)Larry Durst, EAA Lifetime 38651, of EAA Chapter 495 in Roseburg, Ore., achieved something Friday that only one other pilot had done before: flying 5,000 kids in the EAA Young Eagles program.
Larry, a semi-retired dentist, flew No. 5,000 during the first of several flights at the Roseburg Airport in his Cessna 182 on June 7. That day Larry flew a total of 34 kids. Previously the 5,000 club had only one member - EAA’s Pioneer Airport volunteer pilot Fred Stadler.
Cole Brecht, 12, of nearby Looking Glass, Ore., was registered as No. 5,000. He told KPIC-TV, “It’s really great to fly. You just see everything up there.”
US Sport Aviation Expo Wraps-Up with Record Breaking Numbers
The US Sport Aviation Expo ended on Sunday, January 22 with record-breaking numbers. Stated Bert Simpson, FAA Staff Manager, North Florida District, “There were a total of 3,434 flight operations during the four-day event with Saturday being the biggest at 1,256. The busiest hours were Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. with 222 flight operations taking place at that time, making Sebring Regional Airport (SRA) the busiest airport in the country. Expo recorded a total of 156 exhibitors with 149 aircraft on display. Mike Willingham, Executive Director of SRA said, “The show saw huge numbers of visitors on Friday and Saturday —approximately 16,000 attendees. Exhibitors were very pleased.”
“The success of Expo was a culmination of great weather, increased marketing, and the addition of new events by SRA, the host for this eighth annual Expo,” stated Mike Willingham. This year saw the addition of an AvBid Aircraft Auction, model airplane contest, food and wine pairing events, a seaplane base and Splash-In at Lake Jackson and more.
Sport Flying with In Flight USA - December 2010
The Gift
By Ed Downs
This holiday column is being written early Sunday morning, with the expectation of a good day. Shortly, this writer will be heading to church, ready to partake of a terrific service followed by our calibration of Thanksgiving. The holiday season is in full swing and most of America is getting serious about selecting the perfect gift for loved ones as “Black Friday” approaches. This early hour promotes reminiscing, and the LSA theme of this column brings to mind a gift I received almost 20 years ago, to the day. Allow an old pilot a moment of sharing.
My local community airport had decided to take advantage of beautiful Indian-Summer weather to hold an open house and mini-airshow. Although late in the season, with Thanksgiving decorations having already given way to the wonders of commercial Christmas paraphernalia, a well-known resident airshow pilot agreed to participate in the program. The local EAA chapter pulled together a fine selection of planes to be displayed, including a couple of warbirds. My company fired up a major EAA Young Eagles event with the intent of setting records by flying at least 100 kids. The Young Eagles program was new at that time and my wife, Sue, set up an assembly-line system to process the paperwork and conduct the educational program that accompanied each flight. The idea was that two planes (both meeting today’s definition of LSA) and three pilots would spend minimum time with ground activities, giving them the ability to offer each participant the best flight experience possible. I signed up to fly a feisty little tail dragger (later to earn fame at major airshows) and all was ready to go.
What's Up!? October 2010
King of Dumb
By Larry Shapiro
I love stories like this:
“Unlicensed pilot is charged with flying under the influence_
Michael Dana McEnry, 56, was sentenced to prison for flying under the influence. McEnry flew a single-engine Cessna in 2009, and attempted to land at Eastern Sierra Regional Airport in Bishop, Calif. McEnry did not have a pilot’s license, but did have a student pilot certificate that expired in 1988.” (Central Valley Business Times (California))
See, I don’t make these stories up… why should I, when suicidal morons like this dude keep walking the face of this planet?
If you haven’t seen and read this story, please find and it read it carefully. If I wrote forever on this subject I’d never be able to tell this story better.