Saturday, July 12, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Truckee Tahoe Airport
Free Admission; Free Parking
Truckee/North Lake Tahoe, Calif. – February 5, 2014 – Some of the world’s top air show performers have committed to perform at the 2014 Truckee Tahoe AirShow & Family Festival (TTAS&FF), including three-time national Aerobatic Champion and National Aviation Hall of Fame member, Patty Wagstaff. Immediately following Wagstaff’s commitment to perform, show coordinators themed the 2014 event “Women in Aviation”.
Featured women in aviation will include the AirShow’s Grand Marshal, Truckee local Sandy Wiederkeh. Her extensive aviation background includes being a Retired Flying Tiger/Fed Ex captain, holding helicopter and glider ratings and logging hundreds, if not thousands, of skydiving jumps. AirShow speaker forums and vendor booths will feature local women aviation clubs and women aviation authors such as Jeane Sloan, author of “She Flew Bombers”. Highlighted aerobatic performers for this year include Dan Buchannan; Jon Melby; Kent Pietsch, Patty Wagstaff and the RedStar Formation Team.
“Now in its third year since a 16 year hiatus, the Truckee Tahoe AirShow is getting more world-renowned pilots involved in our free event,” said Tim LoDolce, president, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 1073 and AirShow Chairman. “I believe we are getting great interest from some of the finest performers because Tahoe is a gorgeous place to fly; and all event proceeds from sponsorships, vendor booth fees, food sales and other miscellaneous items go to local youth organizations,” added LoDolce. “It’s a great cause to get involved with.”
The Truckee Tahoe Airport is the “Golden Wings” sponsor of the 2014 TTAS&FF fundraising event, funding all operational costs associated with the event as a gift to its community. Three non-profit organizations and their volunteers make the event come to life while raising money for children’s scholarships and various programs. All proceeds from sponsorships, vendor fees, pre-event dinner ticket sales and food and beverage sales go directly to local youth. The three non-profit organizations include The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) local Chapter 1073, KidZone Museum and the Truckee Optimist Club.
Here’s a glimpse of the 2014 committed aerobatic pilots:
Patty Wagstaff flies an Extra 300S. Made in Germany, the plane combines superb quality and maximum performance that exceeds most fighter aircraft. Wagstaff is recognized as one the most decorated aerobatic pilots in American history. She is a six-time recipient of the “First Lady of Aerobatics” Betty Skelton Award. As a low-level performer, she captives audiences with her creative competition-style and hard-core unlimited aerobatics, including an inverted ribbon pickup.
Dan Buchanan, who flies a NorthWing designed hang glider, has often been heard saying, “I can’t walk, so I fly.” Six months after an accident that left Buchanan unable to ever walk, he started to fly again. In his performance he launches his hang glider from a moving winch trailer, driving down the runway at about 35mph with a flag, streamers with bright orange smoke trailing. He’s “one of the few performers who has been able to add magic to powerless flight, and he has done so through his ability as a showman,” noted Dave Weiman, founder & former publisher, World Airshow News.
Jon Melby’s aircraft is an awesome looking black and yellow factory Pitts “Muscle” Bi-Plane. There are only two factory-built S-1-11B aircraft flying in the world today. The bi-plane has a classic look like that of an era long gone. Melby’s aggressive performance style in the sky keeps the audience in awe. On the ground, he really enjoys mingling with the crowd and signing autographs.
Kent Pietsch, flying an Interstate Cadet Airplane, executes three different acts that leave spectators mesmerized. The dead-stick (turning the engine off) routine from 6,000 feet and a rooftop landing on a moving RV engage spectators, but this courageous pilot is best known for a comedy act that features a detached aileron (wing flap) and a mesmerizing wingtip-scraping pass down the runway.
RedStar Formation Team, a spectacular show pleaser for the past two years, is a Precision Warbird Mass Formation Display Team. Demonstrations are non-aerobatic and display the precision flying capabilities of the RedStar Pilots Association (RPA) formation of qualified pilots. The Team is actually comprised of several teams across the United States, staffed by FAA qualified warbird formation pilots who have been trained and evaluated to the standards of the RPA.
The OV-10 Bronco flying performance captivates spectators with its white shark teeth painted across its front. The North American Aviation Rockwell OV-10 Bronco is a turboprop light attack and observation aircraft. It was developed in the 1960s as a special aircraft for counter-insurgency (COIN) combat, and one of its primary missions was as a forward air control (FAC) aircraft. It can carry up to three tons of external munitions and loiter for three or more hours. The aircraft is kept at Cactus Air Force, LLC, a privately owned and operated military aircraft and vehicle museum located in Carson City, Nevada. It will also be on static display at the air show.
“With the 2013 attendance estimated at over 16,000, we feel confident that we have room to grow, and that our show line-up, along with festival activities will appeal to all ages,” said LoDolce.
The big day and what more to expect – Saturday, July 12, 2014
Back by popular demand, scheduled speakers’ forums throughout the day give people a chance to meet up close and personal with big name aerobatic performers and published aviation authors.
Free flights for kids from the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1073 will happen this year on Sunday, July 13. Sign up in advance on Saturday at the AirShow in the EAA Building.
Other highlights include the Reno Radio Club Radio Aircraft Demonstrations throughout the day. “These radio-controlled aircraft are giant scale planes,” notes LoDolce. “We’re thrilled to have another fascinating element added to our AirShow this year.” The AMA Chartered Reno Radio Control Club (RRCC) was established in 1965 to promote and enhance the hobby of RC flying, including gas and electric airplanes, helicopters and gliders.
Festival activities will include a Vendor Village, static aircraft displays with pilot docents, a Kid’s Zone and a food and beer garden. More details and newly committed attractions can be found at www.truckeetahoeairshow.com.
The pre-event Friday, July 11 Honorary Dinner, under the stars at the Airport, will feature Keynote Speaker, Patty Wagstaff, a six-time recipient of the “First Lady of Aerobatics” Betty Skelton Award and world-renowned aerobatic performer. The evening includes, just for ticket holders, a “Teaser” air show prior to dinner, a silent auction by the Nevada County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, a no-host bar, catered dinner by Mountain Magic Catering and much more. Dinner cost is $50 per person. Tickets go on sale May 12 at the Truckee Tahoe Airport or online at www.truckeetahoeairshow.com.
Major sponsors to date include Truckee Tahoe Airport, Tahoe Mountain Resorts Foundation, Suddenlink, Sierra Sun and The Weekly.
For more information and updates about the 2014 Truckee Tahoe AirShow & Family Festival, please visit www.truckeetahoeairshow.com and follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/truckeetahoeairfair.
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