We are proud to welcome Rob Reider, considered to be "the voice" of world-class Air Shows, as the official announcer for the 2007 MCAS Beaufort Air Show. Rob will provide interesting and educational commentary that is sure to satisfy the novice air show attendee and aviation enthusiast alike as our top-notch line up of aerobatic performers take the stage. For more information on Rob, visit http://www.robreider.com/.
The performers for the 2007 Beaufort Air Show are still being booked, but the following is a current list of the acts who are scheduled to perform.
U.S. Navy Blue Angels
A Blue Angels flight demonstration exhibits choreographed refinements of skills possessed by all naval aviators. It includes the graceful aerobatic maneuvers of the four-plane Diamond Formation, in concert with the fast-paced, high-performance maneuvers of its two Solo Pilots. Finally, the team illustrates the pinnacle of precision flying, performing maneuvers locked as a unit in the renowned, six-jet Delta Formation.
The Blue Angels are scheduled to fly 66 air shows at 35 air show sites in the United States during the 2007 season, as the team celebrates 20 years of flying the F/A-18 Hornet. Last season, more than 15 million spectators watched the Blue Angels perform. Since its inception in 1946, the Blue Angels have performed for more than 427 million fans. For more information, visit http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/
Red Baron Pizza Squadron, Stearman Biplanes
Originally built as a WWII training plane for U.S. Army and Navy pilots, the Stearman biplane went on to become one of the most respected primary trainer planes in the military. After the war, many Stearman biplanes found new life as cropdusters. The current Red Baron Pizza Squadron planes were built between 1941 and 1943. Since then, they have been slightly modified to include fuel and oil systems which allow the planes to fly inverted, and are equipped with engines that double their original power. For more information, visit http://www.redbaron.com/
F-104 Starfighters
The Starfighters Team operates three F-104 Starfighters. Two of the aircraft were originally in service with the Royal Canadian Air Force. They both later served with the Royal Norwegian Air Force before being imported into the U.S. in private hands. For more information, visit http://www.starfighters.net/.
U.S. Air Force B-2 "Spirit" bomber (Will perform on Saturday only!)
The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. A dramatic leap forward in technology, the bomber represents a major milestone in the U.S. bomber modernization program. The B-2 brings massive firepower to bear, in a short time, anywhere on the globe through previously impenetrable defenses.
For more information, visit U.S. Air Force Link web site.
Geico Skytypers
The aircraft flown by the Skytypers are the venerated North American SNJ-2s that served as the trainer for most of the Allied pilots who flew in World War II. Also known as the T-6 Texan by the Army Air Force, the Harvard by the RAF, and affectionately known as "the pilot maker" by its crews, the SNJ was designed as a transition trainer between basic trainers and first-line tactical aircraft.
The Skytypers Air Show Team also delivers a form of aerial messaging known as
"sky typing." During sky typing aerial exhibitions, the pilots fly their aircraft in a line-abreast formation, and a computer in the lead aircraft sends signals to the smoke systems in each of the other aircraft in the formation. As the aircraft fly across the sky, they sky type messages like: "Come to the MCAS Beaufort Air Show" or "Spend 15 minutes and save 15% - GEICO."
For more information, visit http://www.geicoskytypers.com/
U.S. Air Force Reserve Jet Car Team featuring Smoke-N-Thunder
The Air Force Reserve Jet Car is a 26-foot long rocket that never leaves the ground. Its Westinghouse jet engine churns 10,000 horsepower and pumps about 6,000 pounds of thrust. Although there are brakes, well, it’s better to have a two-ring slot parachute drag the Jet Car to a stop, isn’t it? For more information, visit www.afreserve.com/airshow/.
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multirole fighter aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. It provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the United States and allied nations.
In an air combat role, the F-16's maneuverability and combat radius (distance it can fly to enter air combat, stay, fight and return) exceed that of all potential threat fighter aircraft. It can locate targets in all weather conditions and detect low flying aircraft in radar ground clutter. In an air-to-surface role, the F-16 can fly more than 500 miles (860 kilometers), deliver its weapons with superior accuracy, defend itself against enemy aircraft, and return to its starting point. An all-weather capability allows it to accurately deliver ordnance during non-visual bombing conditions.
The F-16 was built under an unusual agreement creating a consortium between the United States and four NATO countries: Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway. These countries jointly produced with the United States an initial 348 F-16s for their air forces. Final airframe assembly lines were located in Belgium and the Netherlands. The consortium's F-16s are assembled from components manufactured in all five countries. Belgium also provides final assembly of the F100 engine used in the European F-16s. The long-term benefits of this program will be technology transfer among the nations producing the F-16, and a common-use aircraft for NATO nations. This program increases the supply and availability of repair parts in Europe and improves the F-16's combat readiness.
USAF F-16 multi-mission fighters were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm, where more sorties were flown than with any other aircraft. These fighters were used to attack airfields, military production facilities, Scud missiles sites and a variety of other targets. Read more...
The North American F- 86 Sabre
The F - 86, the US Air Force's first swept-wing jet fighter, made its initial flight on October 1, 1947. Originally designed as a high-altitude day fighter, it was subsequently redesigned into an all-weather interceptor (F - 86D) and a fighter bomber (F - 86H). Armed with six 50 caliber machine guns, the Sabre pilot had to be in visual contact with the enemy in order to attempt a shoot-down, thereby making it the last true 'dogfighter' in the Air Force inventory. Before production ended, nearly 10,000 Sabres had been produced in 20 different variants (including the Navy FJ series known as the Fury), with five different engines. . Some of these variants had major design differences; consequently, the F - 86 must be considered as a whole family of related aircraft.
During its long service life, the F - 86 formed a part of the air forces of 24 different countries. As late as 1980, eight developing nations still included a number of F - 86 fighters in their inventories. Production lines were established in four foreign countries, with the last aircraft coming from the Japanese line in 1961. The Sabre saw extensive service with the USAF during the Korean war, in which it achieved an outstanding exchange ratio of nearly 14 to I in combat with the Soviet-built MiG-15. Surely the F - 86 must be ranked, along with its illustrious World War II ancestor the P-51 Mustang, as one of the great fighter aircraft of all time. Read more ....
Tinstix of Dynamite Featuring
Jim LeRoy, Jurgis Kairys and Rich’s Incredible Pyro
What do you get when you take two world class solo demonstration pilots and mix them with a world class pyrotechnician? The answer is the title of this act – Tinstix of Dynamite. From the same team that brought you the Masters of Disasters Aerial Stunt Show (MOD), X-Team has once again lived up to its reputation and delivered what air show fans want – something new, something big, something different, but most of all something that will again put them on the edge of their seats. Tinstix of Dynamite consists of veteran U.S. air show performer Jim LeRoy and Lithuanian World Champion Jurgis Kairys performing together in a series of aerobatic stunts, hair-raising near collisions, and death defying maneuvers all set to a chorus of intricate ground pyro-technical effects courtesy of world record holding pyrotechnical expert, Rich Gibson. For more information, visit http://www.bulldogairshows.com/.
Jim LeRoy
The recipient of the 2002 Art Scholl Showmanship Award and the 2003 Bill Barber Award for Showmanship, Jim is one of only eleven performers ever to receive both of these highly prestigious honors. His entertaining flying style coupled with his dynamic personality and tireless energy has made Jim one of the most recognized performers in the history of the business. Jim is one of only a handful of full time “stunt pilots” in the world and actually makes his living by performing for air show audiences, world-wide.
Jim, a former Marine Corps Scout/Sniper, holds a B.S. degree in Aeronautical/Aerospace engineering as well as an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license. His list of pilot ratings includes single-engine, multi-engine, airplane instructor, helicopter, helicopter instructor, instrument instructor, and aerobatic competency evaluator. Because of his dedication and commitment to excellence, Jim has established himself as one of the busiest and most sought after air show performers in the industry today. For more information, visit http://www.bulldogairshows.com/
Jurgis Kairys
Jurgis' interest in flying started at an early age when watching planes landing and taking off at an airstrip near his home in Lithuania. His engineering and piloting skills were recognized when he was asked to work with the Sukhoi Design Bureau to develop the Sukhoi 26, 29 and 31 series of completely new aerobatics aircraft using new ideas to dominate the Unlimited World Aerobatics Championships. This was achieved with the aircraft winning many championships from the European Championships to the World Grand Prix of Aerobatics piloted by Jurgis and the Russian team members. This legacy continues to this date with the Su31 winning again in the 2003 WAC in Lakeland, Florida. For more information, visit http://www.jkairys.com/
Rich’s Incredible Pyro
You’re bound to “Feel the Heat” at the MCAS Beaufort Air Show when Rich and Dee Gibson of Rich’s Incredible Pyro light up the airfield with their assortment of pyrotechnics. Using a carefully balanced combination of dynamite and gasoline, Rich & Dee have added an “explosive” dimension to modern military and World War II simulated attacks at airshows throughout the world. For a finale, their crew will create a “Wall of Fire” on the airfield here at MCAS Beaufort. It is truly incredible. You have to see it, hear it, and feel it (yes, feel it) to believe it!
For more information, visit http://www.richsincrediblepyro.com/effects.html
Please check this page regularly for additions to the show. We hope to see you, your friends and family in April! |
