Airspeed Online: It's Up! Airspeed Posts "Tuskegee 3" to Complete its "Inside Airshows" Series

Check out a classic Airspeed episode like Making Good on a Deal. Visit the Airspeed website at  www.airspeedonline.com. Visit the Acro Camp website at www.acrocamp.com. Share Tweet Forward to Friend Facebook Twitter Tuskegee 3 Hits the Airspeed Feed A note from Steve: It's up! The third and final installment of the Inside Airshows series. It's called Tuskegee 3 and it's the story of a nine-month period during which I began ab initio training in TG-7As and then followed the opportunity all the way into the waivered airspace, performing for airshow crowds. If you know me, you know that I'm a huge airshow fan. Airshows are why I started Airspeed almost eight years and more than 200 episodes ago. But even though you might have stood right next to me at the fence as we cheered for our favorite performers - or even if you're a performer who's taken me up on a media ride - you probably didn't know what was really on my mind. I wanted to do more than just watch. I wanted to climb over that fence and go see for myself what it was like to fly in an airshow. Prior to that time, I was a private pilot, CAP SAR/DR pilot, and aerobatic competitor at the IAC Primary (most basic) level.  Nothing wrong with that mix of general aviation flying but, at the end of the day, it's not airshow flying.  Then, through an unlikely set of circumstances, a huge amount of work, and the trust and efforts of many people, I flew show performances as part of a three-ship demo team.  This two-hour episode contains the story of that journey, complete with cockpit and other audio, music, and lots of commentary.   Epic stuff?  Yes and no.  And the end of the day, you could point out that I'm flying USAF Academy surplus motorgliders that suffer bird strikes from behind, that what my team does in the box isn't that flashy or complicated, and that I'm way too into this. And you'd be right. But that's the point of the story. This is what happens when a fan becomes a player.   For airshow fans: This is two hours of answers to the questions that you probably never thought to ask about heat, humidity, peer pressure, standards, desire, effort, sweat, Nomex, avgas, loneliness, quiet, focus, flow, glory, and excitement - all in good measure. For airshow pilots: This is the story of a guy who admires you so hard it hurts and who understands that perfection is expected and excellence will be accepted. A guy who wanted to demonstrate the most sincere form of flattery by imitating you as best he's able. We each choose our heroes.  A very lucky few of us find ourselves suddenly and unexpectedly walking a ramp or sharing a box with those heroes.  This is an ode to those heroes.  Especially to those who turn out to be as human as any airshow fan, but are all the more heroic because of it.  And for all of the above: This is a story about what every one of us owes to his or her 10-year-old self. The show notes to the episode, complete with pictures and credits, are right here and there's even a direct link to the MP3 audio.  You can listen right there on the Airspeed website or subscribe and download it through iTunes or your favorite other podcatcher. I'm very proud of this episode and of the series.  I think that Tuskegee 3 in particular is the best stuff I've ever put in the feed.  It took more than a year to fully write, edit, and record it and it includes cockpit audio, briefing audio, character voicing, specially-licensed music, and everything else that I thought it would take to tell this story of what it's like to be a first-time airshow pilot.  I hope that you'll listen to it and, if you like it, I hope that you'll pass it along to others. In the meantime, thanks for letting me fly for you and with you.  And for listening when I tell you the stories that you inspire.  I'll fix my safeties and I'm glad to be here. Smoke on! - Steve __________________________________________ You can listen to the entire Inside Airshows series by subscribing to the Airspeed feed or by checking out the show notes page for each episode: Part 1 - Running Away to Join the Circus (Ramp Crew and Pyro) Part 2 - With a Mic in My Hand - (Team Narrator) Part 3 - Tuskegee 3 (Airshow Pilot)

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Pensacola Beach Air Show Goes On Without The Blue Angels (Photos) - NorthEscambia.com | For the first time in over 20 years, the Blue Angels were missing from the Pensacola Beach Air Show on Friday. The crowds were light for the practice show, a warm up for the big Saturday show with two dozen civilian aircraft. But about the only way the dress rehearsal could have gone better would have been to have the iconic Blue Angels in the air....

Blue Angels announce 2014 team members - DVIDS | PENSACOLA, Fla. – The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, announced the officers selected for the 2014 team July 12. The squadron selected an administrative officer and a public affairs officer to join a pre-selected C-130 pilot and a maintenance officer on the 2014 team...

Wings over North Georgia comes to town - Calhountimes | The Black Diamond Jet Demonstration and AeroStars Aerobatic Flight Teams will take to the North Georgia skies above the Richard B. Russell Regional Airport in Rome, Ga., on Oct. 12-13 as headliners for the 2013 Wings Over North Georgia air show, but the weekend will include plenty of other amazing performers, including the Lucas Oil Airshow team featuring Mike Wiskus....

Flying high at AirFest - The Union | The Nevada County AirFest kicked off Friday night with a dinner and dance. Then the show begins today at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast lasting until 11 a.m., concurrent with a full day of activities that start at 8 a.m. at the Nevada County Airport, 13083 John Bauer Ave., Grass Valley. One highlight this year will be a Douglas C-54 Skymaster, as well as four P-51 Mustangs....

'Greatest Show on Turf' set to take off today, Sunday - The Livingston County News | Nearly 100 individual planes, pilot and crews from across the United States and Canada are expected this weekend at the Geneseo Airshow. “The Greatest Show on Turf” at Geneseo Airfield, 3489 Big Tree Lane (off Route 63), Geneseo, will feature performances of vintage warbirds and civilian aerobatics beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing every 10 to 20 minutes through late afternoon Saturday and Sunday....

Gathering of Eagles – Willoughby – Arrival · Steve Tupper | I spent the afternoon and part of the early evening packing and then heading to Lost Nation Airport at Willoughby, Ohio for the Gathering of Eagles airshow. Team Tuskegee is flying the show with its three-ship TG-7A demo. No T-6G this time. It’s just the longwings....

50th fly-in breakfast Sunday - Evening Observer | For 50 years, people have flocked to the Chautauqua County Airport during summer - but not to take off on a trip. The annual Rotary Fly-In Breakfast is held the second Sunday of July.

Briefs: Annual Fly-in scheduled - Colusa County Sun Herald | The 17th annual Old Time Fly-in is scheduled for July 20 at the Colusa County Airport. The Colusa County Aviation Association hosts the event, which attracts dozens of aircraft from around the state, including some military and other unique planes...

Stunning book of Bournemouth Air Festival - Bournemouth Echo | STUNNING PICTURES: The book | BOURNEMOUTH Air Festival has been thrilling the summer crowds for five years. To mark the occasion, the Daily Echo is publishing a book filled with stunning pictures of the action....

AIR TATTOO CELEBRATES BEST OF BRITISH! | Royal International Air Tattoo | Two spectacular joint flypasts featuring the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows have just been announced for next week's Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in the Cotswolds. To see these flypasts in person, click here to buy tickets. On Saturday, July 20, the world's premier aerobatics display team will fly in formation with British Airways' brand new Airbus A380, the world's largest commercial aircraft....

CAF Minnesota Wing Hosts Autistic Group Visit ·Warbirds News | The Commemorative Air Force’s Minnesota Wing recently hosted a group of guests from Erik’s Ranch & Retreats, a premier residence and workplace for adults with autism, giving one of the group’s members, Ricky, who has an encyclopedic knowledge of World War II, a chance to demonstrate his prodigious talent...

From Antique Airfield:

• Harman Dickerson's Test Flight for Jimmy Allen Race
• Second Antique Airplane Association Newsletter
• Dan Shumaker's 50th Anniversary Of His First Solo
• Pre-Registrations for 2013 Fly-In
• Jeremy Young's Fleet Arrival at Hood River
• Very First AAA Publication

The June edition of Photos of the Month is available. · Fence Check The June edition of Photos of the Month is available.

NH Teen Becomes Youngest Person With Both Private Pilot And Helo Tickets - Aero-News Network | Achieves Both Goals Within Days Of His 17th Birthday | A New Hampshire teenager has become the youngest person ever to hold both a private pilot and helicopter license, receiving both within days of his 17th birthday....

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EAA takes FAA to court over AirVenture fees - Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog) | In May, the FAA told EAA officials the cost for 87 air traffic controllers and supervisors to come to Oshkosh for AirVenture would be $447,000. Last month, AirVenture made a partial payment with the remaining sum to be paid after the FAA completes its ...

Air show offers high-speed spectacle - StarPhoenix | The third Canada Remembers Our Heroes Air Show offers entertainment, but just as importantly education, organizer Brian Swidrovitch says. “It’s a very important event, especially for younger generations to come out and be around veterans who fought in one of the great wars.” This year is the 60th anniversary of the Korean War and the air show is the only annual community event dedicated entirely to honoring veterans, the Canadian forces, law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel, he said....

The Back of the Yak · Steve Tupper | It’s another great day here at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Airshow and Balloon Festival! This is my eighth year covering Battle Creek and it’s my favorite airshow. It’s different this year, as it is with many shows. Where, in light of sequestration, the shows are even still on this year! Battle Creek usually has a jet team. Not so this year. Thus it’s an interesting year and the civilians are working hard to...

Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival just getting off the ground in ... - WKZO | BATTLE CREEK (WKZO) -- They got the balloons off yesterday at the Field of Flight event at Kellogg Field, and concluded the night with a spectacular fireworks show. Today is a transitional day for the 5 day event. They will have the Michigan Mile Car race, two balloon launches as the competition continues, and they also have some unique events you will only see tonight....

After 17 years, Tahoe Truckee Airport puts on free air show - RGJ.com | After the air show was canceled 17 years ago, it’s being brought back as a real air show for the first time this weekend after hosting static planes and flybys last year. And ...“It’s totally free,” LoDolce said....

Snowbirds put on show in brief homecoming - Moose Jaw Times-Herald | After a long swing into Eastern Canada, the 431 Squadron Snowbirds returned to Moose Jaw to perform over the Friendly City as a part of the Sidewalk Days festival. “There’s always a special element when you get to fly in your hometown and do a little something for your neighbours, friends and the people you meet in town,” said Capt. Thomas Edelson, 431 Squadron’s public affairs officer. “The show has a hometown feel.”...

Pancakes and airplanes grab the spotlight in Sunday’s annual Fly-In Breakfast | The Wild Rivers Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will celebrate 40 years of community service with its annual public fly-in, drive-in pancake breakfast and open house Sunday, July 7, at the Sawyer County Airport two miles north of Hayward...

Phuket Airshow & Family Picnic ready for takeoff - Phuket Gazette | PHUKET: On behalf of the U.S. Navy League, the organizers, suppliers, sponsors,pilots, cooks, clowns, face painters and the scores of others engaged in presenting the Airshow & Family Picnic at Phuket Airpark this weekend, we at the Phuket Gazette would like to invite you to join us...

Reno Air Race 2013 UAV Navigation - ASDnews | UAV Navigation, a leading developer of flight control avionics and motion processing solutions, today announced that it will sponsor a plane at the Reno National Championship Air Races and Air Show from Wednesday 9 thru 15 September 2013. Guillermo Parodi, UAV Navigation's CEO and co-founder, will once again be piloting the aircraft. Plane no36, callsign 'N-A-RUSH', is a Cassutt Special III, a single-seat monoplane racer designed in the United States in 1951 by ex-TWA captain Tom Cassutt.

Advance Ticket Sales Rocketing Sky High at RAF Waddington International Airshow | With the RAF Waddington International Airshow only days away, the organising team are delighted to report that advance ticket sales are so high that there is a strong possibility that all available tickets will have been purchased prior to the event and that there may not be any tickets on sale on the day....

Airshow to fly again - News North Wales | THE success of this year’s Bob Jones Memorial Air Show means planes will be taking to the sky again in 2014. A record 8,000 people attended the air show in Welshpool last month and organisers have confirmed the event will take place again next year, despite discussions about making in a biennial occurrence....

Geneseo Airshow flying higher - The Livingston County News | Volunteers at the upcoming Geneseo Airshow may be flying just a little bit higher next weekend. After nearly two decades the Geneseo-based 1941 Historical Aircraft Group reacquired its old name — the National Warplane Museum — in the spring. The news, announced just before Memorial Day in May, brings the story of the Museum full circle....

Frecce Tricolori on 6 and 7 July in Capo d'Orlando: this is the program and other... - Resapubblica
(Translated ) | On 6 and 7 July the town of Capo d'Orlando will host for the second time the world's most famous aerobatic team: The "Frecce Tricolori". Countless institutions charged with an extraordinary commitment to ensure all services to tens of thousands of people are expected in the first weekend of July. In total there will be over 200 units present in these (Carabinieri, Police, Financial Police, Firefighter, Fire, Air Force, Harbour Office, Municipal Police and ASP), plus over 100 volunteers of Civil Defence and several employees of the Aeroclub Capo d'Orlando and Reggio Calabria....

Some of the most interesting aircraft that have taken part in the Paris Air Show 2013 · David Cenciotti | The following images were taken at Le Bourget, by Erwan Malgras.

Salute from the Shore thrills patriots in air, on ground - MENAFN.COM | Alvin Strasburger, an 89-year-old World War II veteran from Columbia, is just as comfortable using an iPhone as he is flying a vintage World War II aircraft.Strasburger, one of five Columbia veterans selected to ride in the 4th annual Salute from the Shore on Thursday, was texting his family while he flew along the Grand Strand. He also took many pictures with his smartphone.Strasburger entered the Army in 1943 and piloted a B-25. He flew 60 missions during World War II, starting at age 19, and earned the Distinguished Service Cross. Thursday was his first time back in the cockpit of an old plane since he was a young man, and Strasburger said it was fantastic...

Video and photo gallery: Cromer carnival helper takes to the air during Wildcat display team ‘recce’ - Norfolk Eastern Daily Press | ...The 30-year-old volunteer looped the loop over the landmark pier on board a smoke-trailing bi-plane when she joined the Wildcats display team for a “recce” of the resort. The Norfolk-based fliers will provide some of the aerial action on carnival day next month, as they and the The Blades aerobatics team fill a vacuum in the sky left by the absence of the Red Arrows this year....

Cracker Fly-In canceled - Access North Georgia | GAINESVILLE - For only the second time in its nearly 50-year history, the Cracker Fly-In at Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport in Gainesville, which was to be held Saturday, has been canceled. "Due to rain and low clouds planned for Saturday, we are scrubbing the 45th Cracker Fly In," said one of the organizers, Winn Fletcher. "Only the second time in 45 years (we've had to cancel)."...

The Two Day French Event Honoring the 1943 B-17 Crew - Second Line of Defense By Robbin Laird | The families of the 10-crew members who crash-landed onto the waters of Noirmoutier Island, France on July 4, 1943 were invited to attend the unveiling ceremony honoring their World War II combat crew members. Thousands of French joined the ceremonies on Sunday June 30, 2013. It was indeed a festive occasion. For the families and the participants in the ceremony, the event was a two-day experience....

Germany bids farewell to the F-4 Phantom - Peter Grant | On June 29th, the Luftwaffe retired its last F-4F Phantom jet fighters after flying them for almost 40 years. To commemorate the occasion, one was painted in a special livery and labeled 'Phantom Pharewell'....

Aviation Pioneer Tom Gunn Exhibit at the Pacific Aviation Museum . Warbird News | The Pacific Aviation Museum of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii is opening a new exhibit on Saturday July 13th. Entitled “Pacific Aviation Pioneers”, the inaugural exhibit will be on aviation daredevil and stunt pilot Tom Gunn and will also mark the debut of the remodeled Doolittle Gallery in Hangar 37, redesigned to host ongoing exhibits with flexibility and modern display technology. It is the first major change in Hangar 37 since the museum opened its doors in late 2006...

Air Force Week in Photos | This week's photos feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

SR-71 — the whole 9 yards by travelforaircraft | There are many other books on ultra-advanced-even-after-retirement Lockheed SR-71, including by the author, and each serves a use. The niche of this book, by former SR-71 pilot Col. Richard Graham, is:...

Johnny Summers · Karlene Petitt | Friday's Fabulous Flyer | ... Johnny began his flying career as a US Army helicopter pilot. But after completing his degree, he transferred to the US Air Force and flew KC-135s refueling the SR-71 and then the F-117...

ESA Tests the IXV Re-Entry Vehicle - Spaceports | The European Space Agency (ESA) tested splashdown on its Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) - Photo gallery here: http://goo.gl/BViOJ , a wingless body with movable rear flaps for control, on June 19, 2013. Review found that parachutes provided such a gentle landing that the inflators never detected the splashdown. The ESA plans an orbital launch test next year of the IXL on the Vega rocket booster from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana, South America.

Airspeed Update: Behind the Scenes at Airshows, Acro Camp, A Pilot's Story, and Team Tuskegee

Updates about upcoming Airspeed coverage, the Acro Camp film, other film projects, and Team Tuskegee. Visit the Airspeed website at  www.airspeedonline.com. Visit the Acro Camp website at www.acrocamp.com. Check out a classic Airspeed episode like Making Good on a Deal. Share Tweet Forward to Friend Facebook Twitter Welcome to the first Airspeed Update of 2013!  2012 was a big year.  Huge, in fact!  And Airspeed has been aggressively gearing up for 2013.  Here's a quick update to let you know about some projects in process. Behind the Scenes at Airshows – Episodes Coming Soon! Airspeed set out last year to do a series from behind the scenes at airshows.  Climbing over the airshow fence and actually getting into the box to give you an insider's perspective on what it takes to put on one of our favorite forms of entertainment. In March, Steve went to the TICO Valiant Air Command Airshow in Titusville, Florida and spent parts of three days as ramp crew for Mark Sorenson's Tiger Airshows and The Ringmasters.  Everything from wiping down the aircraft to heading out to show center with the pyro crew and helping to make those big smoke rings through which Mark flies.  And, yeah, Steve had to put out the airport several times when it caught fire.  It you though he looked funny running already, you should see him run with a large water-based fire extinguisher in tow.  Later, in April, Steve crewed and played video guy for Paul Wood, who brought the Warbird Heritage Foundation's A-4 Skyhawk to Thunder Over Louisville. In June and July, Steve returned to the Battle Creek Field of Flight Airshow and Balloon Festival for the seventh year, this time arriving in formation as pilot of one of the three USAFA-surplus TG-7A motorgliders of the Tuskegee Airmen Flight Demo Team.  Steve's Battle Creek coverage centered around being the team narrator for the weekend, as well as ferry pilot, videographer, and crew dog. Then, things got entirely out of hand.  A mere two days after completing his commercial glider checkride, Team Tuskegee asked Steve to join the team as a demo pilot.  He flew shows at Rogers City, Michigan and Scott Air Force Base near St. Louis as Tuskegee 3, breaking out of the figure-eight to perform 180-aborts ("the impossible turn") back and forth in front of the crowd while 1 and 2 gaggle-climbed up in the Tuskegee Tornado to return engine-off. We're putting together a whole series on the airshow experience and you can expect to hear it soon in the Airspeed feed. Acro Camp Progresses The first Acro Camp film is nearing completion!  Believe it when you actually sit down with a bucket of popcorn, but there really is a light at the end of the tunnel. Will Hawkins is fond of saying something to the effect that "the movie's done, it's just 40 hours long."  We don't know who said, "it's 80% finished, all we need to do is get the other 80% done," but that captures it equally well. All 41 sorties and all ground footage is logged, the entire soundtrack is complete, and all eight airshow performer cameos are edited and ready to go.  A rough cut of the ground school (including the parachute inspection) is done.  The process is largely in storyboard mode now, with figuring out what goes in, where it goes, and how best to punch it up with the piles of great music that we've amassed.  In parallel with that, we're writing narration to make it all hang together. We'll be out with a release date as soon as we're really sure of it.  The idea all along has been to eschew vapor media and only announce things that we know will happen.  We haven't taken any pre-orders or made any promises and that has taken a lot of the heat off.  We think that a better movie will come out the other end.  We know that that has meant a whole lot of silence over the last couple of years, but it also means that, when you hear stuff, it'll be a reliable indication that you'll soon have a DVD in your hands. In the meantime, you can check out some of the sneak peeks that we've posted on Vimeo as we've edited material. Smoke on the Weaver With Friends Like These Formation A Pilot's Story Progresses Even Faster We recently watched a full rough cut of Will Hawkins and Rico Sharqaui's film, A Pilot's Story.  It's really going to be great.  It's an aviation documentary that tells the story of the state of general aviation.  Airplanes, helicopters, balloons, you name it.  And who's in it?  It would take less time to tell you who's not in it. Airspeed's Steve Tupper has been heavily involved with the film, contributing B-roll, original music (some of which you'll recognize from Airspeed), and writing.  And Steve (and his son, callsign FOD) even appears on screen in a few places. Steve and Will have a bet.  Whomever gets his movie out first gets a shot of Jeramiah Weed.  Second place?  Two shots of Jerehiah Weed. Check out trailers and other information about A Pilot's Story at www.apilotsstory.com. Team Tuskegee Prepares for 2013 Airshow Season Steve has been flying regularly with the Tuskegee Airmen Glider Club, a program of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum and the organization from which the Tuskegee Airmen Flight Demo Team draws its members. Sequestration and its potential adverse effects on airshows is on everyone's lips and we're watching developments as closely as anyone.  But, in the meantime, Team Tuskegee is diligently preparing for another airshow season. Team leads John "Outhouse" Harte and Mark "Granite" Grant have become the first two pilots ever to receive FAST cards in the glider category.  Both hold FAST wingman cards and plan to upgrade as soon as possible to FAST lead cards.  Steve has been training diligently (35 hours in formation to date) for his wingman card and at least two other Tuskegee pilots will likely be ready for checkrides when the opportunity rolls around. Although the team performed at many airshows last year, it is in the strange position of being able to do much more outside waivered airspace than it can inside waivered airspace.  The largest single factor is that, unless team members have FAST cards, team aircraft must be separated by at least 500 feet while in the box.  Once all of the airshow team members have fast cards, the team will be able to take its show demo to the next level by flying formation passes and doing different ingresses and egresses. In the meantime, if you live near Detroit (or fly into or out of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (KDTW)), watch the skies for a three-ship of yellow motorgliders.  The team is practicing hard so that it can bring you exciting, beautiful, and safe demos in 2013.                            Copyright © 2013 Airspeed, LLC, All rights reserved. You're receiving this e-mail because you signed up or otherwise expressed interest in receiving updates from Airspeed. 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