THIS YEAR’S PERFORMERS

AEROSHELL

The AeroShell Aerobatic Team has been entertaining crowds with their precision performances for over 25 years across North America. Pilots fly the North American AT-6 Texan, nicknamed “The Pilot Maker,” which started as the training plane for the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Shell Oil’s AeroShell Lubricants has sponsored the team since 2003. We welcome them once again!

U.S. ARMY GOLDEN KNIGHTS

The U.S. Army Parachute Team, nicknamed the Golden Knights, is the Army’s demonstration and competition parachute team. It consists of teams drawn from all branches of the Army. Its members demonstrate the very best in parachuting. The Golden Knights, founded in 1959, are part of the Marketing and Engagement Brigade of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command based at Fort Bragg, N.C. They are one of only three Defense Department-sanctioned aerial demonstration teams. Don’t miss the thrills overhead!

Golden Knights

F-18 DEMO TEAM

An aviation favorite for both its profile and performance, the F-18 is the centerpiece of jet demo that is equal parts powerful and majestic. This is the U.S. Navy’s West Coast “Rhino” Jet Demonstration Team, flying the F/A-18 F Super Hornet. The Demo Team demonstrates the abilities of the Navy’s workhorse carrier-based fighter. This twin-engine beast puts out 44,000 pounds of bone-vibrating thrust. It’s a dynamic display of speed and maneuverability!

KEVIN COLEMAN

Kevin Coleman is a second-generation aerobatic pilot. He’s a young star who flies likes a seasoned professional — because he is one, having started at such an early age. He flew his first show at age 18 and took lessons and aerobatic training with aviation/aerobatic legend Marion Cole at age 10. Since then, Kevin has logged more than 2,500 hours, flown at the Red Bull Air Races and earned a spot on the U.S. Advanced Aerobatics Team.

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RANDY BALL

Randy Ball gives a high-powered aerobatic demonstration of the remarkable capabilities of the Soviet-built MiG-17F. He routinely pulls 8-G turns, performs vertical afterburner climbs and reaches speeds approaching 700 mph, sometimes flying less than 100 feet off the ground. The MiG-17F was the primary enemy aircraft in the skies over Vietnam. It could carry bombs, rockets, or extra fuel tanks under its wings, and carried some of the largest guns ever used for air-to-air combat. Its power and maneuverability make the MiG-17F one of the best airshow jets in the world.

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HOT STREAK JET TRUCK

The world-famous Hot Streak Jet Truck is a ’57 Chevy truck powered by two Westinghouse J34 engines that were rescued from a J34-48 Navy T-2A Buckeye. The result is 25,000 horsepower and 12,500 pounds (with afterburner) of thrust. You’ll see an incredible fire and smoke show followed by a blistering speed run down Chennault’s two-mile-long runway. Learn more about the Shockwave Jet Truck here: http://smoke-n-thunder.com/jet-truck

RJ GRITTER AIRSHOWS

In his high-wing airplane, new-generation performer RJ Gritter — he’s an aerospace engineer in his 20s! — puts on an incredible aerobatic act. RJ stays low and right in front of the crowd — looping, rolling, spinning and doing maneuvers like you’ve never seen. You’ll see him bounce around the field, fly sideways, loop, spin, and take you along for a thrill ride. rjgritter.com

GHOSTWRITER AIRSHOW

GhostWriter Airshow gives a screaming, smoking, 350-horsepower, 200-mph display with looping, rolling and long verticals! For our Friday night (May 19) twilight show, it’s a celebration of light with 4,000 LED lights and more than 200 pounds of pyrotechnics attached to the airplane. GhostWriter Airshow also does custom skywriting! ghostwriterairshows.com

GO EZ AEROBATICS

Kyle Fowler’s plane, the 1986 Long EZ, is the perfect combination of comfort and style — with a unique look because of its delta wing canard design. This small tandem seating airplane has an impressive range of 1,000 nautical miles, cruising at speeds of 160 knots! longez.ca

FULL THROTTLE FORMATION TEAM

New for 2023 — and there’s nothing like it! Full Throttle Formation Team is the largest precision-formation airshow team in America. The team flies Vans RV aircraft — many of which were built by the pilots who fly them — in close formation, enticing you to turn your eyes skyward to enjoy the spectacle of precision, noise and smoke. The team’s mission is to entertain U.S. airshow audiences and educate future aviators about STEM-related careers in aviation. Website: https://www.fullthrottleairshows.com. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FullThrottleFormationTeam.

LELAND KRACHER

Flying the beautiful Christen Eagle biplane, Leland is a new-generation performer bringing back a legendary airshow airplane to the national circuit. Mentored by the Iron Eagle Aerobatic Team, he learned to fly the Eagle in a one-of-a-kind, thrilling and engaging show. With tons of smoke and beautiful colors, Leland’s show in this historic airshow plane is one you don’t want to miss! Learn more at lelandkracher.com

GREATEST
GENERATION
AIRCRAFT

C-47

Thrill to the sight of a restored World War II C-47 flown by Greatest Generation Flights of Fort Worth, Texas. The Army Air Forces (as was it called in 1941) adopted this modified DC-3 — the C-47 Skytrain — as its standard transport aircraft. As a supply plane, the C-47 could carry up to 6,000 pounds of cargo. It could also hold a fully assembled jeep or a 37mm cannon. As a troop transport, it carried 28 soldiers in full combat gear. As a medical airlift plane, it could accommodate 14 stretcher patients and three nurses. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower called it one of the most vital pieces of military equipment used to win the war.

EXECUTIVE SWEET

The Liberty Foundation is honored to continue the legacy of Executive Sweet—a post-World War II B-25—by educating the public about its history. Built in Kansas City and finished in 1945, Executive Sweet served as a transport and utility aircraft at Maxwell Field, Alabama, before being used for Flight Surgeon proficiency and transport in Texas. She was converted to a VB-25N in 1954, then returned to Maxwell Air Force Base for the remainder of her service. Since then, she starred in Catch-22 as Vestal Virgin and has been fully repainted by Landlocked Aviation to feature updated nose art.

PRECISION EXOTICS

Precision Exotics will take over the runway with thrilling drives where speed meets performance. Taking the wheel of this collection of dream cars are drivers with a combined 50 years of military and aviation experience. Their performance this time remains an Airshow secret, but they’ve been known to speed side by side, race an overhead aircraft, and even transfer passengers car-to-car as they roar down the runway.

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