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Get Ready for a Double Air Show!
While the Valkaria Air Fest is much more than what
happens in the air,
the fact remains that it centers around flying... so it's only natural
that we have some flying events! We're proud to bring some of the
finest aerial performers to Valkaria Air Fest, with the hope that we
can share the beauty, wonder, and all-out fun of flight that we love so
much with everyone in our community.
We will have TWO Air Show sessions. One will
continue through the
afternoon, and after a bit of a break, we'll have the rare treat of a
spectacular TWILIGHT AIR SHOW!
This show starts around 6:00 pm (we have to wait for it to start
getting dark, of course!) and is a very special and rare opportunity to
see amazing aerial performances right alongside the beauty of a Space
Coast sunset. DON'T MISS THIS!
Air Show Performers:
Scheduled performers include Patty Wagstaff, Gene
McNeely, John Black, Fred
Cabanas, Corkey Fornof, Mark Sorenson, Chuck Vincent,
the
Mavericks Formation Team,
fly-bys
by planes ranging from the famous P-51 Mustang
to homebuilts, and even a Hot-Air
Balloon Glow.
We are also working on some other demonstrations and surprises as
well... to find out what they are, you'll just have to come out and see
for yourself!
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Patty Wagstaff
Olympic
and
National
Champion
-
To
Patty Wagstaff the sky represents adventure, freedom and challenge. A
six-time member of the US Aerobatic Team, Patty has won the gold,
silver and bronze medals in Olympic-level international aerobatic
competition and is the first woman to win the title of US National
Aerobatic champion and one of the few people to win it three times.
Patty
flies
one
of
the
most thrilling, low-level aerobatic
routines in the world. Flying before millions of Airshow spectators
each year,
her breathtaking performances give spectators a front-row seat
view of the
precision and complexity of modern, unlimited hard-core aerobatics. Her
smooth aggressive style sets the standard for performers the world
over.
See the complete bio of Patty Wagstaff HERE.
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Gene McNeely
T-6 Texan Aerobatics
Gene
will
be
flying
his
T-6
Texan trainer from World War 2. Gene is a
world-renowned airshow performer, known both for his superb flying
skills with the award-winning Aeroshell Aerobatic Team and his solo
routines such as we'll see at the VAF. Gene also looks forward to the
Reno Air Races each year... he consistently finishes in the front of
the pack in the T-6 class (and you can be sure he's grinning all the
way through the race!) Gene lives just up the coast a bit at the Spruce
Creek Fly-In community near Daytona Beach. 2010 will mark Gene's third
year performing at the Valkaria Air Fest.
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John Black
Super Decathlon
Aerobatics
We
welcome back as well LtCol John Black, USAF, who has perhaps the
world's best "real" job... he's a full-time fighter pilot, flying F-15
Eagle fighter jets for the Florida Air National Guard in Jacksonville.
But during his off-duty hours, he has been keeping himself quite busy
on the airshow circuit. John puts his classic American Champion 8KCAB
Super Decathlon (named "Blue" because of it's Bahama Blue color scheme)
through some really great "low, slow, and smooth" aerobatic routines,
and has a reputation for exhibiting a great bit of good, old-fashioned,
stick-and-rudder flying skills. John lives in Cocoa Beach and
bases his plane at the Merritt Island Airport. John learned to fly
while in high school in Dayton, OH, and before he had even gotten his
private pilot certificate, he had started taking aerobatics lessons! He
attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach,
graduating with a BS in Aircraft Engineering Technology. Commissioned
in the US Air Force in August 1989, he completed pilot training in
April 1991 after a year of flying T-37s and T-38s. For the next ten
years of active USAF duty, John flew the F-15C Eagle air-superiority
fighter jet and still flies F-15As as an active-duty (ie, full-time)
member of the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing based in
Jacksonville. John is also an F-15 Instructor and Evaluator with over
3000 hours in the Eagle, and has over 4100 sorties over the last 23
years. John has never gotten far away from his love of aerobatics,
though. His airshow mount, the Super Decathlon, is a type that's been
near and dear to him throughout his flying career. He bought his "Blue"
in 2002 and flies her as often as he can... but then, who wouldn't! Visit John's Website
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 Fred
Cabanas
Pitts Special S-2C
Aerobatics
Fred
started flying at the age of 16 and has over 20,000 hours of total
flight time. He holds Airline Transport Pilot, Multi-Engine,
Instrument, Commercial, and Seaplane ratings. He is also "typed" in the
North American T-28 Trojan and Hawker Sea Fury. Racing at the Reno Air
Races since 2005, Fred flies the "Conch Fury" Sea Fury, blasting around
the race course at 450 mph. Fred attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical
University in Daytona Beach and is an Aerobatic Competency Evaluator
for ICAS. Operating an aviation business out of Key West, FL, Fred also
performs air shows around the world, flying quite a variety of aircraft
including the Pitts Special S-2C biplane, Sea Fury, T-28 Trojan, T-6
Texan, P-51 Mustang, Waco, and Piper J-3 Cub. Fred is a member of the
Screen Actors Guild, and has been featured in numerous movies and TV
shows. Fred and his wife of over 30 years Susan have two children,
Kelly and Raymond. Lt. Kelly Cabanas flies S-3 Vikings for the US Navy,
while her brother Raymond is in college in Florida working towards an
aviation career. Not surprisingly, Fred dedicates his air shows to the
Men and Women of the United States Armed Forces. Visit Fred's Website
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Corkey
Fornof
James
Bond
007
Pilot
Corkey Fornof, the REAL James Bond of aviation, has been touring the
country with the LoPresti Fury for the past year. Corkey is the
perfect pilot/ambassador for this flying Ferrari. If you’re going to
show off a fast, sexy, high performance aircraft, it helps to have a
secret agent as your pilot.
"Corkey" is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, the Motion Picture
Pilots Association, and holds a current Motion Picture/Television
Flight Operations Manual. Corkey’s memorable aerial roles include
James Bond’s 007s License To Kill, Moonraker, and Octopussy and the
amazing scene where he flew through the hangar sideways.
“Corkey’s” movie list is endless and includes Harrison Ford’s “6 Days/7
Nights”; John Travolta’s “Face Off”; Tom Cruise’s “Mission Impossible
II”; Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park”; Robert Redford and Demi
Moore’s “Indecent Proposal”. He has also been in over 100
commercials and on MTV. “Corkey” is a popular man across the
generation.
"Corkey" has 17,000-plus hours in over 287 different
types of aircraft and has flown for every major air show in
the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, Mexico and South Africa.
He has flown on every continent of the world but Antarctica.
"Corkey" has flown over 2600 low level aerobatic performances in eight
different type aircraft. Some of these aircraft were the Pitts Special,
Christian Eagle, Bellanca Super Viking, LoPresti Fury, BD-5J, T6, P-51
and F8F Bearcat.
“Corkey’s” expertise in the motion picture and aviation field includes:
Aerial Coordinator, Stunt Pilot, Fixed Wing Camera Pilot, Technical
Advisor - All Fields of Aviation Equipment & Personnel, Aviation
Stunt Doubles, Locations & Scouting, Custom Camera Mounts for
Aircraft Stunt Work, Script Consulting & Writing
On-Screen Talent Actor, Story Aircraft, Camera Aircraft |
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Mark Sorenson
Titus
the
Tumbling
Tiger
TITUS was born April 1993, in
Eastern Russia. Migrated to the United States in September of 1993.
From there it began his training as a future aerobatic star only to wow
the crowds with its unlimited aerobatic and SKYWRITING capabilities at
an airshow near you.
The future is here and beginning February 20, 2010, TITUS will make
it's airshow debut in
Valkaria, FL.
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Chuck
Vincent
Extra 300 Aerobatics
Pilot
An aviator since
1971, Chuck has flown a variety of rotorcraft, single engine, and twin
engine airplanes and worked in aviation through the 1970's and 80's.
His involvement in aerobatics during the past ten years has "changed
his life forever" and "made him a better pilot".
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High-Performance Fly-Bys
P-51 Mustang, Midget
Mustang Racer, others
We'll
be treated to a variety of fly-bys, including some high-performance
performances by aircraft like the legendary North American P-51
Mustang of World War Two, arguably the most important fighter plane
in history! Pilot Jeff Michael
will tear up the skies over South Brevard with the thunderous, sweet
roar of the Mustang's 1,200 horsepower Merlin engine, the plane that
helped save the free world from dark forces of evil in World War Two.
When you see the Mustang, remember... this is what FREEDOM sounds like!
We'll also have high-speed passes by Valkaria-based Art Irvine
in his Bushby Midget Mustang,
a sleek homebuilt that's found widespread success both in air racing
circles and as a fast and sporty personal aircraft. We are working on
other fly-bys and flight demos, so stay tuned for more!
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The Mavericks Formation Air Show
Team
Local Military Veterans in their high
performance RV-8s
Based at the Spruce Creek Fly-In in Daytona Beach, the Maverick
Formation Air Show Team has been performing together for over ten
years. The pilots—former Navy pilot and author Bob Gandt, Air
show veteran and dentist Ron Keilin, and ex-Air Force pilot and airline
captain Jim Weldon—have a collective flight time of over 70,000 hours.
The Mavericks recently transitioned from Marchetti SF.260s to their
red-white-and blue super-RV-8s. For a second year, the Mavericks
will be returning to Valkaria, flying their polished, precision
formation aerobatic routine.
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Hot-Air
Balloon Glow
(Evening Airshow Only)
Hot-air
balloons will be part of the sunset airshow. While the balloons aren't
going to actually take off, be sure to bring your camera as the sight
of huge hot-air balloons inflated and glowing brightly in the fading
twilight is a truly beautiful sight! Usually, there are opportunities
to help the balloonists out, if you're so inclined... it's a unique and
fun experience. Bring the kids!
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Evening Balloon Glow
(Photo: Timothy O'Connor,viaAvWeb.com) |
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- And More...
We're working on a few more surprises...
you'll just have to wait and see what else might happen!
Please keep in mind even though aerial
performances are what many
folks think of when attending an aviation event, there is much more to
the Valkaria Air Fest than just the air show! Be sure to check out all
the other great things going on like the History Hangar, the many static aircraft
displays, the R/C airplane demos, and the displays by the many Sponsors & Participants who make this event
possible!
(Please note that all events and participants
are subject to change)
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