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Blue Angels Arrive at Sun ‘n Fun to Kick-off their 75th Anniversary

Charles Atkeison
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Blue Angels Arrive at Sun ‘n Fun to Kick-off their 75th Anniversary

LAKELAND, Fla. — The thrust of six blue and gold Super Hornet jets blended with the cheers from thousands onlookers on Thursday as the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels arrived at the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo.

Sun ‘n Fun marks the Blue Angels’ first public air show performance in the last 17 months. This season is special to all involved as the squadron celebrates their 75th anniversary with new aircraft.

This weekend marks the public debut of the squadron’s more powerful F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. The Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron upgraded last autumn to the larger and faster jets.

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The Blue Angels new C-130J Super Hercules “Fat Albert” arrived Thursday at Sun ‘n Fun. This is the aircraft’s first airshow and the first time Bert has attended a show since 2018. (Charles A Atkeison)

“We are honored to be the first airshow performance site for the Blue Angels to help launch this exciting new era of their 75-year history,” Sun ‘n Fun director Greg Gibson said Thursday.

The Blue Angels’ jets were smoke-on as their signature delta formation arrived high over the airfield. Minutes later, each jet touched down, one by one, at Lakeland Regional Airport.

As the Super Hornets parked, the aircraft maintainers greeted the arriving pilots. The canopy’s of the aircraft opened in unison and the pilots egressed in a synchronized formation.

The Blue Angels are scheduled to perform a practice flight on Friday afternoon. Their full formal demonstration is scheduled for about 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The team’s opposing solo pilot LCDR Cary Rickoff is excited to perform for the crowds each day. A Super Hornet pilot prior to joining the Blues, Rickoff looks forward to showcasing the aircraft.

“The jets will look a new shiny blue and the delta formation will look a little bit bigger,” LCDR Rickoff explained to AvGeekery.com following their arrival. “You will notice about a 30% size increase — the jet is bigger.”

A fully upgraded ‘Fat Albert’ also touched down at Sun n’ Fun on Thursday. The Blue Angels new C-130J Super Hercules cargo transport is a huge crowd favorite not seen at air shows since 2018.

“This is one heck of a venue!” Blue Angels executive officer Cmdr Todd Royals said. “I was looking out the window of Fat Albert as we were coming in and it’s just a sea of airplanes. It’s so amazing to be back on the road displaying our aircraft and our people to represent over 800 thousand sailors and marines.”

The squadron’s air show schedule lists 29 locations, including their annual flyover of the U.S. Naval Academy’s graduation. One visit will include the interior of Alaska to perform at Eielson AFB, on the edge of the Arctic Circle.

The Blue Angels aircraft have gone from the single prop aircraft and mature into a jet plane with an increasingly faster thrust. The aircraft and personnel have changed during their 75 years, but their pride and teamwork continues to endure.

The professionalism of the Blue Angels has been handed down from generation to generation. From their ground show to their flying, professionalism will be on full display as they celebrate their 75th year.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

Thunderbirds, Top Military Aircraft Arrive for Cocoa Beach Airshow

Charles Atkeison
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Thunderbirds, Top Military Aircraft Arrive for Cocoa Beach Airshow

COCOA BEACH, Fla. — Top Air Force display teams including the Thunderbirds will headline this weekend’s two-day air show over Florida’s Space Coast.

The Cocoa Beach Air show will host the nation’s top military aircraft plus civilian aerobatic planes. Guests are invited to arrive early each day to the beaches near Lori Wilson Park.

The Thunderbirds, along with the A-10C Warthog and B-52 bomber, touched down at Patrick Space Force Base on Thursday. The F-22A Raptor and B-1B Bomber are also scheduled to perform across the ocean waters.

“We are incredibly excited to kick off the 2021 season over Cocoa Beach,” Thunderbirds right wing pilot Maj. Ian Lee expressed from the flight line at Patrick. “We are fired up to get out there and showcase the pride, precision, and professionalism of your United States Air Force.”

For 2021, the Thunderbirds have completely changed their show with new maneuvers and a new music list. For the first time in 38 years, their flight demonstration will look, sound, and feel different.

At the Kennedy Space Center, the runway used to support space shuttle landings is supporting another supersonic craft. The swept wing B-1B bomber will call the Shuttle Landing Facility home this weekend.

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The Air Force will demonstrate the B-52 Stratofortress over the beachline this weekend. (USAF)

Civilian aerobatics include Mike Wiskus piloting his Pitts bi-wing and John Black flying his Super Decathlon. A 1945 Douglas C-47 Tico Bell is also scheduled to fly each day.

The six World War II aircraft of the GEICO Skytypers will highlight the show each day. Their formation flying includes maneuvers used by the pilots of the Greatest Generation.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

WATCH: VAW-123 Screwtops Chronicled Their Record-Breaking Deployment

Bill Walton
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WATCH: VAW-123 Screwtops Chronicled Their Record-Breaking Deployment

Thanks to COVID the USS Eisenhower and CVW-3 Were at Sea for a Record 206 Days.

Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron ONE TWO THREE (VAW-123) Screwtops were deployed with the rest of Carrier Air Wing THREE (CVW-3) Battleaxe aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) for a record-breaking seven months (206 days) at sea. That’s right- seven months at sea. No port calls. 60,000 miles. The Strait of Gibraltar. The Suez Canal. The Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Bab el Mandeb (I had to look that one up- it’s at the south end of the Red Sea). The video, uploaded to YouTube by Screwtop JOPA, is awesome and features a Screwtops Hummer (side number 600) flying a single engine rails pass with the port engine out at 15:07 into the video. Check it out.

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image captured from featured video
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image captured from featured video

The Rest of the Cast

During the 2020 Quarantine Cruise aboard the IKE, CVW-3 consisted of VFA-32 Swordsmen flying the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, VFA-83 Rampagers, VFA-105 Gunslingers, and VFA-131 Wildcats all flying the Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet, VAW-123 Screwtops flying the Grumman E-2C Hawkeye, VAQ-130 Zappers flying the Boeing EA-18G Growler, VRC-40 Rawhides Detachment 4 Mad Dogs flying the Grumman C-2A(R) Greyhound, HSC-7 Dusty Dogs flying the Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk, and HSM-74 Swamp Foxes flying the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk.

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VAW-12 BATS AD-3Ws in 1950. image via national naval aviation museum

VAW-123 Born on Date: 1945

VAW-123 can trace its lineage all the way back to 1945 when the squadron was formed as a Composite Squadron (VC-12) first flying Grumman TBM Avengers and later AD-3W and AD-5W Skyraiders. In 1956 the squadron was redesignated Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron Twelve (VAW-12) Bats. The Bats flew Grumman WF-2/E-1B Tracers beginning in 1961. Since 1967 the Screwtops have been flying variants of the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye. VAW-123 was embarked aboard the carrier Enterprise (CVN-65) for her last deployment before she was decommissioned in 2013. On 1 January 2020 the designator for the squadron (and the other Airborne Early Warning squadrons) was changed to Airborne Command and Control Squadron. It was a Screwtops Hawkeye crew that made the best of a bad situation back in 2016- also aboard the IKE.

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image via US Navy/DVIDS

WATCH: Listen as P-51 Mustangs Go Roaring and Whistling By

Bill Walton
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WATCH: Listen as P-51 Mustangs Go Roaring and Whistling By

Sweet Merlin Music and Whistling Gun Ports is All You’ll Hear in This Video Captured at a Drive-In Airshow

There are more than 200 airworthy P-51 Mustangs around the world. The majority of them are based in the good old U S of A, but flyable Mustangs inhabit hangars in Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, South Africa, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Naturally there are fewer airworthy P-51Bs and P-51Cs than there are P-51 Ds and P-51Ks, but it’s still a thrill to see (and hear) any Mustang in the blue. Enjoy this video of a P-51B and a P-51D performing at one of Yankee Air Museum’s “Friday Night Flights” drive-in mini-airshows in 2020. The video was uploaded to YouTube by our friends at AirshowStuffVideos.

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The P-51B That Won at Hide-and-Seek for Decades

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image via bud anderson’s website

The P-51B in the video is P-51B-1-NA AAF SN 43-12252 completed in 1943 as CN 102-24700 and registered as NL551E. On 14 November of 1944 the aircraft crashed into Lake Louisa in Florida. The pilot, Lieutenant Dean Gilmore, perished in the crash. The aircraft sat in the lake until 2001, when low water levels revealed the wreckage. In 2002 the wreck was acquired by Jack Roush. Over the next six years the Mustang underwent restoration at Cal Pacific Airmotive in Salinas and was flown again in 2008. The aircraft wears the colors (and the Malcolm hood) of Clarence “Bud” Anderson’s P-51B AAF SN 43-24823 coded B6-S and named “Old Crow.”

Formerly Wrecked Racer Rescued by Jack Roush Too

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image captured from featured video

The P-51D in the video is P-51D-30-NA AAF SN 44-74320 completed in 1945 as CN 122-40770 and registered as N551J (previously registered as N5466V and N51CY). This aircraft went into service with the Arkansas Air National Guard (ANG) in 1947. By 1958 the Mustang had been sold into civilian hands. Involved in at least two accidents, the airframe was restored and during the 1970s the aircraft raced in the unlimited class at the Reno Air Races as #76 dubbed “No Name Dame.” In 2000 Jack Roush acquired the Mustang and restored it to stock military configuration. After restoration the P-51D first wore the colors of Check Yeager’s P-51D AF SN 44-14888 coded B6-Y and named “Glamorous Glen III.” In 2005 the colors were changed to those of Captain Jim Browning’s P-51D AF SN 44-14937 coded B6-P and named “Gentleman Jim.”

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Jack Roush flying a P-51D. image via video capture

Air Force Thunderbirds Unveil a Redesigned Airshow Routine

Charles Atkeison
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Air Force Thunderbirds Unveil a Redesigned Airshow Routine

COCOA BEACH, Fla. — The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds unveiled their redesigned air show demonstration on Tuesday featuring new maneuvers plus an updated ground show presentation.

For the first time in nearly 40 years, the Thunderbirds have overhauled their entire flight demonstration. The announcement comes on the eve of their first air show weekend of the year.

During an exclusive video conference which included this reporter, the squadron discussed their updated performance layout. The team acknowledged they designed a performance that is more than just ‘aerial maneuvers all over the place’.

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Thunderbirds Advance Pilot and Narrator, MAJ. JASON MARKZON, taxies out for take off last month. (USAF)

Thunderbirds New Demonstration is Go!

Their shortened air show season in 2020 allowed for the Thunderbirds to redesign their entire demonstration. Changes to the ground and aerial shows now provide a reduction in total time from 90 down to 50 minutes.

“One of the main goals we had was to take a look at our show sequence,” Thunderbirds commander and lead pilot Col. John Caldwell explained. “We’ve changed the high, low, flat, and contingency shows. That is an incredible lift for this squadron.”

America’s Ambassador’s in Blue looked to the air show organizers across the country, and the guests in attendance last season. The public’s feedback provided the Thunderbirds with enough information on how to change their show for the better.

“We looked at all of our maneuvers,” Thunderbird’s right wing pilot Maj Zane Taylor said during our call. “We looked at ones that were redundant that probably showed the same thing to the crowd and be illuminated.”

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The Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform at 23 locations across the United States in 2021. (USAF)

Six maneuvers were cut trimming their flight time from 45 to 30 minutes. They added new maneuvers, too, including a few sneaky passes.

During the last decade, their high show averaged up to 47 minutes forcing their F-16 Fighting Falcons to land on fumes. Col. Caldwell noted that the Thunderbirds have only changed their demonstration two previous times in their 68 year history.

“That’s when we started the team and we had nothing, we built a 15 minute show. It was done again unfortunately in 1982 when we had the diamond crash and we had to rebuild the show with the F-16.”

New Phases of the Thunderbirds Aerial Show

The updated show will highlight many sequences beginning with the grand opening with high vertical maneuvers. They then reset the tempo to their precision section – ‘formation flying at it’s finest’.

Precision maneuvers will include lower, flat formations close to the crowd line. As the show continues the guests will then watch as the jets move higher in altitude.



The next phase is speed and motion in which the jets fly fast at each other from multiple locations. The tempo increases the excitement as they build to a high energy portion of the show.

Their first finally begins with their slow high alpha maneuver. They then move to their strength and power phase as they demonstrate how tight the F-16C can turn. Expect a lot of afterburner usage.

They will then move to their patriotic pride and teamwork phase with all six aircraft.

“We’re doing really slow kind of beautiful maneuvers,” “It’s going to be very graceful and cascading as guests looking high in the air.”

The final finally then gets underway with the delta burst coming back together. The solos will make a few final maneuvers, and the high bomb burst will close out the demonstration.

The ground show by the aircraft maintainers has also been shortened from 35 minutes to 15 minutes. Hand signals now replace voice communications as they replicate an actual Air Force jet launch.

“We’ve shortened down the number of steps to launch the aircraft,” Thunderbirds maintenance officer Capt. Mike Bell said during the video call. “What we want the crowd to feel is how fast those aircraft went from engine start to taxi to airborne.”

They kept the important ground aspects including the precision, facing movements, and aircraft taxi. Bell added, “We preserved all that, but we made it more efficient.”

Col. Caldwell, now in his third season with the Thunderbirds, is excited for the public to watch them at an air show. He hopes the Thunderbirds will inspire air show guests and the future of America’s Airmen.

“The best is to be on the air show line, feeling the thunder in your chest, hearing the jets roar by,” Col. Caldwell added. “Seeing the speed and motion, and seeing the heights that this demo team can fly 18-inches apart for the American public.”

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

WATCH: A Whale of a Flight to Whidbey Island

Bill Walton
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WATCH: A Whale of a Flight to Whidbey Island

Take a Seat in the Cockpit on a Skywarrior Flight to the Pacific Northwest

The Douglas A3D/A-3 Skywarrior served with the United States Navy from 1952 to 1991. During the Whale’s time the aircraft was used in the attack, photo reconnaissance, electronic reconnaissance, electronic attack, training, tanking, VIP transport, and several combined roles. The jet was the largest and heaviest ever regularly operated from American aircraft carriers (including the Essex-class). After being withdrawn from service with the Navy, Hughes/Raytheon utilized several Skywarriors as testbeds for the company’s various radars, missile systems, and other electronics. This video, uploaded to YouTube by iusedtogomach, was shot during a flight aboard NRA-3B Skywarrior BuNo 144825, registered as N878RS to Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island on 29 April 2011. Turn up the sound!

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A Jet With a History

The jet in the video, BuNo 144825, was built by Douglas as an A3D-2P photo reconnaissance variant and accepted by the Navy in December 1958. The designation of 825 was changed to RA-3B when the Tri-Service designation changes occurred on 18 September 1962. 825 served with the Naval Air Test Center (NATC) at NAS Patuxent River before being assigned to the Naval Missile Center (NMC)/Pacific Missile Test Center (PMTC) at NAS Point Mugu where the jet continued to be utilized as a testbed- often with the side number 75. For many years (until 1990) the jet wore an outsized radar housing for a nose, earning the unlikely sobriquet of “Snoopy.” After being stricken from Naval Service, Hughes/Raytheon began flying her in similar test roles out of Van Nuys (KVNY) in California. This video of 825 arriving at NAS Whidbey after the flight shot in the video above was uploaded to YouTube by Be44321.

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The Whidbey Whale

While flying with Raytheon/Hughes the jet first wore civil registration number N578HA. The aircraft spent more time at Point Mugu while in service with Raytheon/Hughes. As of 1992 the civil registration was changed to N878RS and the jet began wearing side number 78. 825 wore the N878RS registration until June 2000, when the jet’s airworthiness certificate indicated a revised registration number of NX878RS. The jet made the flight to Whidbey in the videos above wearing N878RS/side number 78 markings. Today, thanks to thousands of volunteer man-hours, the jet is on outdoor display at NAS Whidbey Island wearing VAH-123 “Pros” colors on her port side and VAH-10 “Vikings” colors on her starboard side with the same side number (263).

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144825 arriving at NAS whidbey. image via dvids
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144825 during dedication ceremony 2017. image via dvids

WATCH: Little Lea Experiences the Joy of Aerobatic Flight

Bill Walton
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WATCH: Little Lea Experiences the Joy of Aerobatic Flight

This Little Girl’s Reactions Are Guaranteed to Make You Smile!

Chances are you’ve seen little Lea before. We don’t know that much about her, and that’s fine. What we do know is that her enthusiastic reactions to aerobatic maneuvers like rolls, spins, inverted flight are some of the purest expressions of joy we’ve ever seen. Despite attempts to learn more about the pilot and passenger in these short clips, we’ve been unable to get in contact with ARL Aviation. No matter, because if these clips don’t make you smile you need to check your pulse! The first video was posted to YouTube five years ago; the most recent three years ago. All of the videos were uploaded to YouTube by ARL Aviation.

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Image captured from featured video

This is the video that introduced little Lea to the world. We’re fairly sure the pilot is her father, but we haven’t been able to confirm. Just try not to smile!

First Aerobatic Flight in a Citabria

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Lea demonstrates her aptitude for performing tasks while subject to negative Gs (now properly attired in her own flight suit).

Microgravity in a Cessna 152 Aerobat

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Another video of Lea, a little bit older this time, enjoying aerobatics.

Another Aerobatic Ride in a Citabria

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Lea graduates to the Yak 52. Even though her mic is not live, you can tell she’s having a great time.

Aerobatic Ride in a Yak 52

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Lea, again a little bit older and more experienced, getting her smile on during some aerobatics. Priceless.

Another Aerobatic Ride in a Yak 52

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Image captured from Featured video

The Numbers Tell Us That Passengers Are Coming Back!

Chris Turner
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The Numbers Tell Us That Passengers Are Coming Back!

Good News for the Airlines and Travelers Alike

Many of us AvGeeks are tracking the progress of the passenger counts supplied by the Transportation Security Administration during the COVID pandemic.  Avid numbers geeks also know that raw data should always be converted to associated cool charts! 

Numbers in the Raw

The first chart below displays the raw data.  Because the TSA lists the most current day first, the chart reconstructs a chronological visualization for the same time periods January – December.

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Making Sense of It All

Well aren’t those some squiggly lines? Because these are daily points, the lines show large amplitudes that correlate to high traffic (Fridays) and low traffic (Tuesdays).  Let’s smooth out the lines using a rolling 7 day average to provide a better picture. 

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Deriving Some Encouraging Conclusions

The 7 day chart shows some interesting facts.  The first part of 2020 on a rolling average basis, had approximately 5% increase in traffic over 2019 (grey line).  The precipitous drop from February to April highlights the extent to which passenger traffic decreased.  One could follow the 2020 line from right and then see the 2021 line in Blue to left as a continuation.  Although 2021 began at less than 50 percent traffic compared to 2020, passenger counts have rapidly increased since January 2021.

Playing the Percentages

Speaking of percentages, the chart below indicates the raw percentage differences and a smoothed 7 day average. Note that there are only 2 lines – the orange line is the difference between 2019 and 2020.  The blue 2021 line shows the difference between 2019 and 2021.

DPC Percent
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A What-If Scenario

When trying to identify when normalcy will return, Here’s a “what if” scenario: What if passenger traffic grew by 5% year over year from 2019 to 2020 through 2021?

DPC Growth
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Lost Passengers

What would be the point in identifying where passenger traffic might be at 5% growth?  That answer rests in the below graph that shows the approximate “lost passenger counts” due to pandemic. 

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Some Bad/Good News

In just over a year, roughly 600,000,000 passengers did not travel. But if the 2021 pace of passenger counts continues, by August we could surpass 2019! That would be GREAT news for the aviation industry!

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Image via Airbus

AeroAngel: The All-Volunteer Air Force Helping to Save Children’s Lives

Bill Walton
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AeroAngel: The All-Volunteer Air Force Helping to Save Children’s Lives

This Non-Profit Flight Service Fills a Critical Need at No Cost to the Children or Their Families

When Mark Pestal was a youngster growing up under the approach path to runway 12 at Offutt Air Force Base (AFB) in Omaha, Nebraska, he had no way of knowing that his interest in aviation would take him where he is today. His passion for flight increased dramatically as a 7 year-old when a neighbor and he went on an introductory flight in a Cessna 152. When Pestal arrived at the University of Colorado in Boulder to pursue a degree in Business, he fell in with several roommates who shared his interest in aviation. There Mark began taking lessons, eventually soloing in a 152 in 1982.

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Image via Cessna

Working With the Department of Justice

After Mark graduated with his undergraduate degree he entered law school at UC Boulder. He then went to work for the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington D.C. in the Office of Legislative Affairs. While working in Washington, Mark flew with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) during the early 1990s. Mark then became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Denver, where he was involved in aviation accident investigation and litigation on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Throughout his time with the DOJ, Pestal remained interested in aviation, eventually earning an ATP and jet-type rating.

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Mark Pestal. image via aeroangel. used with permission

An Idea Develops Into a Compassionate Mission

During the early 2000s some of Pestal’s spare time was spent on the board of a Midwestern aviation charity. It was during this time that Pestal realized there was an unfulfilled need for critically ill passengers to travel long distances for treatment aboard jet aircraft, but many of them did not require, or could not justify, an air ambulance for their travel to treatment. Commercial flights were not an option for these passengers because of their serious health challenges and requirement for medical support en route. For a child with no immune system a commercial flight is simply not a viable option. While there are some 250 children’s hospitals in the United States, the distances children must sometimes travel for life-saving treatment keep them from that treatment.  

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image via aeroangel. used with permission

Taking Off and Starting Small

Mark Pestal founded AeroAngel as a non-profit organization in 2010. The first flight was made in a Beechcraft 58P Baron, and before long they were flying Piper Meridians, Pilatus PC-12s, and Cessna Citation Mustangs. Since then, Mark and his five-member team of volunteers, along with many more volunteer pilots, have provided more than 200 flights, primarily for children, across the country. The unexpected donation of a Learjet 55 aircraft in the summer of 2018 provided the impetus for Mark to retire from his work with the DOJ in August of 2019 after 30 years of service. When he’s not in the right seat aboard an AeroAngel flight, Pestal now volunteers as AeroAngel’s full time Executive Director.  

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aeroangel learjet 55. image via aeroangel. used with permission.

How Does a Family in Need Connect With AeroAngel?

Requests for AeroAngel flights come from several sources:  Social workers at various children’s hospitals, the AeroAngel website, and perhaps most often, referrals from previous passengers and their families. Once a request comes in, first the child’s ability to travel aboard a business jet for the required duration is verified. Then the donor aircraft, crew, and other logistics are handled by AeroAngel. While Pestal says they can provide transport for patients with critical need in as little as a few hours, that’s the exception rather than the norm.

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aeroangel passengers. image via aeroangel. used with permission

For the Rest of the AeroAngel Story, Bang NEXT PAGE Below

Cocoa Beach Airshow to Host Air Force Thunderbirds, GEICO Skytypers

Charles Atkeison
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Cocoa Beach Airshow to Host Air Force Thunderbirds, GEICO Skytypers

COCOA BEACH, Fla. — The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and F-22A Raptor will provide the thrust over America’s Space Coast next weekend during the Cocoa Beach Air Show.

Popular military and civilian aerobatic aircraft are scheduled to fly on April 17 and 18 over the sugar beaches. Lori Wilson Park will be air show center during an exciting weekend.

Demonstrations by the Air Force A-10C Warthog plus a B-52H Stratofortress and B-1B Lancer are also planned. Civilian aircraft include the GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team, Michael Wiskus, and popular warbirds.

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The U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demo Team, Led by pilot Major Joshua “Cabo” Gunderson, will perform high speed maneuvers and tight precision flying over Cocoa Beach on April 17 and 18, 2021. (U.S.A.F)

“We’re glad to be bringing the show back to the beach at a time where it can help the ailing tourism industry that has been so badly impacted in the past year,” Air show organizer Bryan Lilley told AvGeekery. “Having the double headliner of the Thunderbirds and F-22 Raptor will kick the destination appeal of the Cocoa Beach Air Show into afterburner.”

Homecoming for a Thunderbird and a F-22 Pilot

The Thunderbirds six red, white, and blue F-16C Fighting Falcons are scheduled to perform each afternoon. Led by Col. John Caldwell, the pilots perform an array of close maneuvers and high speed passes.

For one Thunderbird, Cocoa Beach will mark a homecoming. SSgt. Joshua Williams is one of the squadron’s tactical aircraft maintainers who regularly inspects their jets and replaces worn avionics.

“I am extremely excited to start the Thunderbirds 2021 season,” SSgt. Williams told AvGeekery.com on Tuesday. “2020 was a challenging year for everyone and the team’s thrilled to get back on the road performing air shows.”

Williams entered the Air Force in 2010, inspired by the aviation and space launches across Cape Canaveral. The sugar white beaches of Cocoa Beach is all too familiar to the veteran Thunderbird.

“I grew up camping at Patrick Air Force Base, going to space camps, lounging on the beaches, watching shuttle launches out of the Cape, and going to air shows,” SSgt. Williams added. “The air show at Cocoa Beach is the perfect way to cap off my four years as a Thunderbird.”

The Air Force will be on full display as the F-22A Raptor launches into a new season. This fifth generation stealth fighter will display spin maneuvers and high speed flat passes, plus the crowd favorite Heritage Flight.

Led by pilot Major Joshua “Cabo” Gunderson, the F-22 Demonstration Team is a must see at air shows. A Tampa native, Cabo himself grew up attending air shows in central Florida.

“I am extremely excited about returning to my home state of Florida,” Maj. Gunderson said. “I loved seeing the military jets, so it’s an honor to pay that forward to future aviators.”

Civilian Aerobatics to Perform over Cocoa Beach

The world famous GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team begin their new season above Cocoa Beach. Their six Navy SNJ-2 aircraft perform a nearly 18-minute display of exciting maneuvers.

“Following a year where most cities were unable to host events of any sort involving large groups of people, we’re especially excited to participate in the Cocoa Beach Air Show,” Flight leader and pilot Larry Arken said on Tuesday. “This will be our first appearance in Cocoa Beach in 10 years.”

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the World Famous GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team will highlight Cocoa Beach. (Brenda Little/ GSAST)

The pilots of these historic warbirds will perform dogfighting maneuvers used by World War II aviators. The GEICO Skytypers precision flight to a colorful narration makes this a memorable performance.

Recent additions to the show include the Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, and the Douglas C-47 Skytrain Tico Bell.

Air show tickets remain available for select VIP viewing and beach areas known as Sand Boxes. Each are designed to ensure social distancing in the guidelines of the CDC. Food, beverage, and restrooms will be located along the beachline.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

The World’s Only Two-Place Warthog in Action, The A-10B

Bill Walton
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The World’s Only Two-Place Warthog in Action, The A-10B

Rare Footage of the Senator from Arizona Flying the A-10B Night/Adverse Weather Prototype

Fairchild Republic’s A-10 Night/Adverse Weather (A-10 N/AW) was the company’s proposal for a two seater all-weather attack version of the A-10 Thunderbolt II knowns as the A-10B.

The company built just one of these jets. The idea was to incorporate an Electronic Warfare Office (EWO) in a second seat behind the pilot, who could operate the additional mission equipment required to make the aircraft as dangerous at night and in adverse weather as the standard Warthog (still) is during the day. This video of Senator Barry Goldwater going for a familiarization ride in the A-10B Warthog was uploaded to YouTube by Periscope Film. More about the aircraft after the video.

Building a Two-Place Thunderbolt II

The first preproduction Demonstration Testing and Evaluation (DT&E) Republic A-10A (SN 73-1664) was returned to the Fairchild Republic factory for conversion to a prototype two-place variant of the A-10 during March of 1979. In addition to reworking the forward fuselage to incorporate a second seat and dual controls, the canopy was changed from the standard clamshell type to a side-opening type with an A frame structure between the two cockpits. The ejection seats were changed to ACES-IIs designed to fire through the revised canopy.

A large rear cockpit instrument panel to house the additional displays for the Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR), Low Light Level Television (LLLTV), Terrain Following Radar (TFR), Inertial Navigation System (INS), radar altimeter, laser range finding device, and an electronic moving map display was added.

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image via national archives

Packing a Passel of High-Tech Sensors in the A-10B Warthog

The FLIR and laser range finding device combination was housed in a single external pod mounted on the center fuselage station (pylon six). The TFR emitter/receiver was housed in another external pod mounted on the center wing station closest to the left main landing gear (station four).

The LLLTV replaced the Pave Penny pod usually carried on the pylon mounted on the starboard side of the forward fuselage. 20 inch extensions were bolted on to the vertical stabilizers. The GAU-8/A 30mm Gatling Gun was retained but a smaller ammunition drum with a capacity of 750 rounds (about 50% of normal capacity) was substituted. In all the modifications required about three months to complete.

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image via national archives

Why was the A-10B Warthog not successful?

On 23 October 1979 the Air Force Preliminary Flight Evaluation of the A-10 N/AW commenced, with flight testing of the aircraft performed by the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) in California. There, over the next 42 days (and nights), the jet was flown for a total of 48.6 hours during 28 flights, with roughly one third of the flights being flown at night.

Even though the A-10 N/AW test program was successful, the program was canceled- primarily because of advancements in night attack equipment such as the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) pod system that could be, and still is, bolted on to many of the tactical aircraft already in the inventory.

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image via national archives

The Night/Adverse Weather Legacy

The A-10 N/AW was redesignated the YA-10B early in the 1980s. The Air Force looked at converting a small number of A-10As into two-place Warthog pilot training aircraft. These trainers would have been designated A-10B, but the program was canceled before any aircraft were modified. Today the singularly unique YA-10B can be seen at the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards AFB.

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image via national archives

The Senator With Stars on His Shoulders

The late Senator Barry Goldwater was a USAAF Ferry Command pilot flying Curtiss C-46 Commando and Douglas C-47 Skytrain transports from India over the “Hump” to China during World War II. After the war ended, Goldwater flew with the Arizona Air National Guard until 1952, after which he remained in the Air Force Reserve until 1967.

Goldwater wore Command Pilot wings, flew more 15,000 hours in more than 250 different aircraft, and attained the rank of Major General as a Reservist before becoming the Senator from Arizona in 1969. Goldwater passed away 29 May 1998.

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image via arizona memory project/luke air force base

Blue Angels Super Hornets, Air Force F-22 to Headline Sun ‘n Fun

Charles Atkeison
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Blue Angels Super Hornets, Air Force F-22 to Headline Sun ‘n Fun

LAKELAND, Fla. — The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and top aerobatic aircraft will kick-off the 2021 air show season next week during the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo.

The popular air show and pilot fly-in returns on April 13 at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. Aerospace workshops and static aircraft will also highlight the largest air show in the south.

Tickets to the family friendly events are available online. Gates will open each day at 8:00 a.m. EDT, Tuesday through Sunday.

Blue Angels Super Hornets Airshow Debut

Sun ‘n Fun will mark the Blue Angels first public demonstration flying the F/A-18E Super Hornets. The Navy’s elite flight squadron also launches into their 75th anniversary season at Sun-N-Fun.

The Blue Angels new C-130J Super Hercules is also poised to fly during the air show weekend. Known as Fat Albert, the squadron’s cargo transport is a crowd favorite not flown at air shows since 2018.

“We are honored to be the first airshow performance site for the Blue Angels to help launch this exciting new era of their 75-year history,” SUN ‘n FUN airshow director Greg Gibson said on Sunday. “The Blues’ display of precision, excellence in flight, and character on the ground is exactly the inspiration we want to bring to our fans.”

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Blue Angels F/A-18E Super Hornets piloted by opposing solo LCDR Cary Rickoff (left) and LCDR James Haley soar over the central United States in March en route to Pensacola, Fla. (U.S. Air National Guard)

The Blue Angels one hour of flying will be divided into Fat Albert’s 12 minute demonstration followed by the Super Hornets display.

“We are thrilled to return to the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo, where we will have the opportunity to debut our new jet platform, the F/A-18 Super Hornet and logistics support aircraft, the C-130J Super Hercules”, Blue Angels Boss Cmdr. Brian Kesselring said.

“We are humbled by the support and hospitality the Lakeland community provides us,” Kesselring added. “We are excited to showcase the capabilities of Naval Aviation.”

Lakeland to Rumble Under the F-22s Thunder

The Air Force F-22A Raptor Demonstration Team is scheduled to perform April 16 thru 18. For the team’s commander and pilot, Sun ‘n Fun will be a homecoming as he returns to his aviation roots.

Maj. Josh “Cabo” Gunderson grew up in nearby Valrico, and attended air shows as a teenager. Upon high school graduation, Cabo headed to Colorado to attend the Air Force Academy.

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U.S. Air Force Maj. Josh Gunderson is the F-22A Demo Team pilot during the 2021 air show season. (USAF)

“I am extremely excited about returning to my home state of Florida and flying at Sun ‘n Fun,” Maj. Gunderson said. “I attended many Sun ‘n Fun events as a kid and loved seeing the military jets, so it’s an honor to pay that forward to future aviators.”

Cabo will pilot the F-22A through a demonstration filled with high speed climbs, precision turns, and low flat passes. Near the conclusion, the Raptor will join a P-51D Mustang to perform the Air Force Heritage Flight.

“We are very pleased to welcome Cabo and his team to Lakeland,” Gibson said. “The Raptor is one of my personal favorites. The incredible maneuverability and its ability to demonstrate such agility and power while literally disappearing from the enemy in combat is truly amazing.”

Civilian aerobatic aircraft will also take to the skies each day beginning April 13. Michael Goulian, Patty Wagstaff, Rob Holland, Thom Richard, and Jerry Kirby are only a few of top aerobatic performs on the schedule.

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The AeroShell Aerobatic Team will pilot their four Army AT-6 Texans at Sun N Fun 2021. (Charles A Atkeison)

The pilots of AeroShell Aerobatic Team — Mark Henley, Steve Gustafson, Jimmy Fordham, and Bryan Regan — will perform over the airport aboard the Army’s AT-6 Texan. AeroShell’s four aircraft will perform aerobatic maneuvers flown by the Army Air Corps. 80 years ago.

An exciting addition to this year’s show is the first drone light show public performance. Sixty aerial robots will take to the night sky, launching in unison, twice during the week.

Classroom sessions and events for pilots, aircraft owners, and companies are available. There are in depth forums, areas to network with fellow pilots and buy or sell their aircraft. Workshops educating the latest in aircraft mechanics will highlight the expo side.

Daily admission tickets for the 47th annual Sun ‘N Fun remain available. All tickets are available online and include most of the classroom sessions, air show, the Florida Air Museum, and much more.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

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