(Truckee, Calif.) – The free Truckee Tahoe AirShow & Family Festival just keeps getting bigger and better. Most recently signed on to soar through Truckee’s Sky on July 12 are high-flying aerobatic performers Bill Cornick, Tim Just and Craig “Brute” Teft.
Cornick is not only one of the finest, but he’s the oldest pilot on the AirShow circuit. See him at the AirShow performing inverted flat spins in his custom modified “Super” Pitts S-2C along with executing rolls, lomcevak tumbles, the “pin-wheel”, a double hammerhead and other intense aerobatic maneuvers.
Cornick started flying in the United States Air Force in 1953. After serving for ten years, he returned to civilian flying as a charter pilot, corporate pilot and a flight instructor with United Airlines. He’s logged over 26,000 hours in the air. Now he devotes his time to performing at air shows and teaching aerobatics. In 1980, he started performing and has since continued to repeatedly thrill crowds.
Certain to put the Truckee Tahoe audience in awe, Just flies a maximum performance handling Extra 300S. Flying out of Victorville, Calif., he has been a test pilot in the aerospace industry for the past 27 years and has flown as a competition aerobatic pilot since 1986. He began his competition flying in a Pitts S2-S which was replaced by an Extra 300 in which he competed at the Advanced level. He’s competed in four U.S. Nationals, and in 2010 he became a member of the 2010-11 United States Unlimited Aerobatic Team which represented the U.S. in Italy.
“Tim Just is currently training for the 2015 World Championships to be held in France, so we feel very fortunate to have him take the time to fly our air show; his performances include many maneuvers that are included in international competitions,” said AirShow Chairman, Tim LoDolce. “He and Bill Cornick are going to really complement our AirShow.”
Craig “Brute” Teft joined the Air Force in 1986 and has been active in competitive aerobatics in his
military trainer CJ6, as duty allows, since 1988. In 1995 he was selected to attend the USAF Fighter Weapons School (aka Top Gun) and completed this demanding five and a half month school by winning the academic and outstanding graduate awards. In 2000 he won a bronze medal at the U.S. National Aerobatic Championships. His performance is called, “Disciplined Precision”, in which he incorporates his skills learned from over 20 years as an Air Force Fighter Pilot and precision flying from being involved in competitive aerobatics.Other AirShow featured performers include:
Kent Pietsch, “Jelly Belly” sponsored pilot, flies an Interstate Cadet Airplane and executes three different acts leaving spectators mesmerized.
Dan Buchanan who six months after an accident that left him unable to walk ever again began flying his NorthWing designed hang glider.
RedStar Formation Team, a show pleaser for the past two years, is a Precision Warbird Mass Formation Display Team highlighting precision flying capabilities.
The AirShow’s 2014 “Women in Aviation” themed-event will welcome numerous women from both near to and far from Truckee on July 11 – 12 at the Truckee Tahoe Airport.
The featured women in aviation line-up includes world-renowned, three-time national Aerobatic Champion and National Aviation Hall of Fame member, Patty Wagstaff to speak at the AirShow’s pre-event honorary dinner on July 11; Truckee local and Retired Flying Tiger/Fed Ex captain, Sandy Wiederkehr as the AirShow’s Grand Marshal; another Truckee local and a Persian Gulf veteran pilot, Kimberlei Northrop; Jeanne Slone, author of “She Flew Bombers”; Julia Hamlin, pilot from Cessna’s Discover Flying Challenge, and several female pilots and jumpers from the U.S. Air Force Parachute Team “Wings of Blue”.
“Opening ceremony is set for 11:15 a.m. The AirShow plans to make event goers’ hairs rise from the sights of planes swirling and thundering in the sky with numerous aerobatic performances,” added LoDolce. “This event might just be the most family-friendly event in the Truckee North Tahoe region.”
Saturday, July 12 event offerings include free admission, free parking, world-class aerobatics, parachute demonstrations, static aircraft displays, Vendor Village, Kids’ Fun Zone, food court, beer garden, helicopter rides for a cost, radio activated planes, free speaker forums, pre-event dinner on Friday, July 11 and free flights for kids ages 8-17 on Sunday, July 13. Sign-ups for free flights take place Saturday at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Building at the Airport.
The pre-event Friday, July 11 Honorary Dinner under the stars at the Airport will feature, keynote Speaker, Wagstaff, who will address guests with a presentation on women in aviation and short video. The evening will also include just for ticket holders, a “teaser” air show, a catered dinner by Mountain Magic Catering, a silent auction by the Nevada County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, a no-host bar, live music and much more. Dinner cost is $50 per person. Tickets are on sale at the Truckee Tahoe Airport or online at www.truckeetahoeairshow.com.
The Truckee Tahoe Airport District 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.
KidZone Museum, Truckee Optimist, Experimental Aircraft Association, Clear Capital, Tahoe Mountain Resorts Foundation, KRNV MyNews 4, Surf Air and Suddenlink are major sponsors of the AirShow. All proceeds, including sponsorships, go to local youth.
For more information, please visit www.truckeetahoeairshow.com and the AirShow’s Facebook page
About the Truckee Tahoe AirShow & Family Festival
Re-established in 2011 after a 16-year hiatus, the free Truckee Tahoe AirShow & Family Festival is generously funded and presented by the Truckee Tahoe Airport District. Some of the world’s finest aerobatic performers will soar through Truckee’s pristine skies on July 12, 2014. TTAS&FF offers an exhilarating and enriching family experience that showcases Truckee Tahoe Airport’s commitment to giving back to its community through inspiring youth to learn more about career and educational opportunities in aviation, aerospace, aeronautics, science and technology.
All event proceeds from sponsorships, vendor booth sales, food and beverage sales and miscellaneous items go to Truckee North Tahoe youth through scholarships, youth program funding and various donations. Three non-profit organizations, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 1073, Kid Zone Museum and Truckee Optimist Club, plan, organize and run the event. The 2012 and 2013 events combined raised over $97,000. For more information, please visit www.truckeetahoeairshow.com.
