BLUE ANGELS High energy aerobatics meets power on the prairie. And you've got a front row seat. For the second time in a row, the Blue Angels, the Navy’s famous flight demonstration squadron, will headline at the Sioux Falls Airshow. The Blue Angels serve as positive role models and goodwill ambassadors for the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps and entertain select crowds through the world with their amazing, heart pounding performances. Throughout the United States each year, the Blue Angels perform 70 shows at 34 locations for more than 427 million spectators worldwide. The Sioux Falls Airshow is proud to welcome the Blue Angels back for another highly anticipated show. Saturday and Sunday July 25 & 26, 2009 **FREE**
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Sioux Falls Airshow Announcers
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Jeff Randall The Vanguard Squadron narrator is Jeff Randall. Randall is a 1982 graduate of USAF pilot training. Following pilot training, Jeff became a fighter pilot with the South Dakota Air National Guard flying the A-7D attack jet fighter. Jeff holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate. Jeff flew for 8 seasons with the Red Baron Squadron and was the Red Baron's original narrator. He was team support pilot and narrator for the Holiday Inn Aerobatic Team from 1987-90. The father of two daughters, Jeff is a chiropractor in the civilian world. |
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Lisa Hirsch Growing up at the airport and around airplanes it is a natural that Lisa is involved in the Sioux Falls Airshow yet again this year. Her father’s love of airplanes and airshows inspired her to want to follow in those footsteps. Lisa’s first flying lesson was when she was 9 years old in a Cessna 150. Shortly after that she graduated to flying the family’s Dehaviland Chipmunk which she soloed on her 16th birthday. Lisa then earned her private pilots license when she was 17. During this time she spent her summers assisting her father (Ken Hirsch) with announcing airshows around the upper Midwest. Currently Lisa is a manager for a major airline and is based out of Fargo, ND and she finds that she is happiest when at the airport working around airplanes!! A mother of three boys: Tony-14, Doug-12, & Mitch-10 Lisa hopes that the love of aviation will be inherited by the 3rd generation. |
P-51 Gunfighter II
The P-51 Mustang was the first fighter based at Joe Foss Field.
The Mustang's top speed is 505 MPH, with a top cruising speed of 437 MPH (at 25,000 feet). The average fuel consumption is 60 gallons per hour at economy cruise. During WWII combat conditions, pilots confirmed speeds of 600 MPH in a vertical dive in pursuit of enemy aircraft and both the pilot and aircraft survived to fly and fight in future air battles.
The P-51 originally cost the U.S. Government $51,000. As late as 1959, they were sold at surplus auction for an average sales price of $1,490. Today these aircraft are valued in excess of $1,000,000, depending on aircraft condition. Gunfighter II is being piloted by Doug Roozendal of Mason City, Ia.
The Vanguards
The Worlds Only 100% Ethanol Powered Airshow Team. Based out of Tea, SD (Y14), the Vanguards perform precision formation aerobatics in Ethanol powered RV-3A aircraft.
Ethanol is taking flight as America's premiere renewable fuel. The Vanguard Squadron flies a dazzling four ship formation aerobatic airshow powered by ethanol. The Vanguard Squadron has been ethanol powered since the team began flying together in 1993. Ethanol adds power and performance to the Squadron's aircraft without any major engine modifications. The team has over 3,000 flight hours using 100% ethanol. The Squadron shares their love for flying and raising ethanol awareness by flying airshows across the country. The Squadron flies 10-15 airshow events each year. Flying across the country promoting ethanol as the fuel for the future has introduced the Squadron to many people interested in aviation and alternative fuel solutions. Vanguard pilots are Gary Kuhns (Lead), Todd Eslick, (Right Wing), Steve Thompson (Left Wing), Todd Schaufenbuel (Slot).
Melissa Pemberton – Melissa Aerobatics
Melissa's air show routine is a high energy and action packed display of Unlimited Aerobatics in the Edge540 Aircraft. Her performance will highlight everything from the thrill of gyroscopic maneuvers to the extremely complex and technical maneuvers learned through competition. Melissa, 24 years old, has been flying competitive aerobatics for over 7 years. A Champion in a number of aerobatic competitions, Melissa was a United States Unlimited Aerobatics Team Member 2006-2007 as the Youngest Female Ever.
Manfred Radius
With his act called 'The Ultimate', Manfred Radius demonstrates the capabilities of his fully aerobatic sailplane (H101 Salto) to the fullest. This unique act contains samples of all aerobatic maneuver families as well as maneuvers performed only by Manfred with a glider at air shows. Included in this outstanding act are: outside loops - snap rolls - tail slides - a rolling turn - a vertical 8 - an inverted spin and others. Manfred began his career in flying sailplanes in 1961 at age 17 in Hamburg, Germany. He has logged in excess of 4,000 flights and accumulated over 1,900 hours in at least 60 types of sailplanes.
Steve Falon – Sierra Hotel Airshows
Steve’s flying began in Cherokee 140s and, as all pilots are aware, the quest for “more aviation” is non-stop. His first airplane was a Mirage Ultralite. Since then, he has owned a Sonerai, RV-4, Christen Eagle, Pitts S2B and now flies the Pitts Special S1S in his air show routine.
The Pitts Special, first developed and flown by Curtis Pitts in the early 1940s, has been the “best bang for the buck” aerobatic biplane for 60 years. The Pitts is powered by a stock 180 hp Lycoming engine with a fixed pitch propeller. It has an empty weight of only 770 pounds which provides an excellent weight to horsepower ratio. As a result, the Pitts is an impressive little performer. During Steve’s air show routine the airplane will meet its design limits of +6 Gs and -3 Gs. While gathering energy the airplane will attain speeds in excess of 200 mph and slow to almost 0 mph on the top of some maneuvers. Steve was born and raised in Sioux Falls.
Lucas Oil Air Show Pilot Michael Wiskus
Mike has accumulated more than 23,000 flight hours and has qualified in more than 30 aircraft. Today, Mike keeps busy by flying for Corporate America as well as keeping a full time air show schedule from April through November.
As a 2002 U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, and a member of the 2004 United States Aerobatic Team, Mike has traveled the World with the same aircraft you will see him performing in at the air show. His excitement for aviation and willingness to share his aviation experience with people around the country is nothing short of contagious.
This year, Mike’s schedule will include more than 20 air shows with more than 60 performances throughout the U.S. and Canada.
This is Mike’s 6th Season flying air shows and his 4th year to fly for Lucas Oil.
“It’s incredible to be part of the Lucas Oil Team. Their products as well as their integrity makes what I do even more rewarding”.
Mike lives in the Minneapolis area.
Jim Peitz – Peitz Aerosports
Jim Peitz has come a long way from the Piper Cub on the prairie outside of Pierre, South Dakota where his father taught him how to fly. In 31 years, Jim has amassed more than 8,000 hours of flight in 90 different aircraft models.
Almost everyone at an airshow has seen a Bonanza, but never dream it could be capable of doing the aerobatic routine Jim puts it through. Jim puts this unique airshow aircraft through its paces with head turning loops, point rolls, snap rolls, Cuban eights, hammerheads and more! This Bonanza handles it all in style, and with Jim’s expert touch he makes it all look easy.
John Klatt – Air National Guard
John has been flying for about 23 years and has over 13,000 hours of flying time. John was introduced to flying by one of his friends shortly after he graduated high school. John continued to take flight lessons during college and in his senior year, John discovered the Air National Guard. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, John went to the Air National Guard pilot training program where he got his wings from the Air Force in Texas and was assigned to the Air Guard in Minnesota. Now he flies both the C-130 Hercules and the F-16 for the Guard. When he is not flying C-130 turboprop transport aircraft around the world or the F-16 Fighting Falcon in air support and combat roles, John serves as first officer with a major U.S. commercial airline.
In his quest to continually improve his skills as a pilot, John began to train and participate in competitive aerobatic contests on both the regional and national level. This led him into air show performing and ultimately to flying air shows for the Air National Guard. It happens fast and furious. John’s air show routine is packed with excitement and planned explosive maneuvers. At the air show, it can be a challenge to follow along and grasp the nature of each element of John’s flight. So follow along as John puts his Staudacher S-300D though the paces in 10 minutes of world class power aerobatics.
SD Skydive Adventures
There is nothing that compares to the world's most exciting sport, skydiving. Advances in equipment and training have made it safer and easier for more people than ever to enjoy the incredible experience of falling from an airplane or surfing the clouds under a modern sport parachute.
