Northern Ireland Aviation Enthusiast's Forum
Aviation Events => International Airshows => Topic started by: waldo on December 28, 2005, 05:19:47 PM
-
I am a transplant from a different air show forum.
As a civilian performer I travel North America for over 6 months a year flying my 450 Stearman as a professional perfomer.
When some of the pioneer barnstormers were still alive they often allowed me to be an inside member of their groups and gatherings.
That was an honor that no award or plaque could communicate
I am always happy to discuss te history and evolution of airshows in North America. This is a more moderate showcase to do that.
-
Hi Waldo,
first of all welcome to the forum. Many thanks for taking the time to sign up.
We also have the privilege of seeing the Spearman in action in the forum of the 'Utterly Butterly' Wing Walkers.
If you have any additional images or stories I/we would love to see/hear them.
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
Thank you Casper.
For your welcome message. Yes I have been aware of Utterly Butterly for nearly 20 years, when they were recieving thier Stearmans from the states.
In this country we have the Red Baron Stearman Squadron. It is a well funded and well equipped. The winter training area is only 20 miles from my hangar. I believe the season starts for them in only a few days at nearby Tampa Florida. The pilots are all good friends of mine and we very often cross paths at airports in our travels.
I am looking forward to more air show chat
-
Hi Waldo
and just to echo Casper, welcome. It's nice to see someone who is actually involved in the display circuit signed up. One of our other members also happens to be an air traffic controller :)
As for the Utterly Butterly crew I didn't realise they were around for that long, I thought they were a recent act (5-10 years anyway). If memory serves they also fly an Antonov An-2.
So when does your display season kick off and when does it end? How many shows would you do in a year? Sorry for all the questions but it's not everyday I get the chance to converse with a real display pilot. :)
-
Hello Alert5
It is nice to chat with you. I could be wrong about my time frame with Utterly Butterly but it seems like it was mid or late 1980s that I was called asked to provide prints for a wingrack, which I did not have. Soon afterward I learned of a Stearman being crated at a nearby town and where it was going and the purpose of that. It became a team airplane.
My spring training is always in March after some combined maintenance and sometimes a winter
event or commercial usually done in south Florida.
The end of spring training is a dress rehearsal at the Lakeland Florida Sun-N-Fun gathering of sport aircraft. The season then runs from April until the weather becomes cool in the mid-west US. That normally is late October.
I fly every weekend that we can book between January and November. With the hundreds of performers in this country to compete with we seldom fly more than 10 events. Some of the events are 3 days long.
Always glad to paint word pictures of the industry as it is in North America.
-
Hey Waldo, I've seen you over on the ICAS boards too. You got any shows around the Great Lakes this year?
-
Hi tomcatboy,
Right now the first one to commit any where close is Martinsburg WV. We are working on a few that are closer to you but no paper signed yet. We will post our schedule in March.
Thanks for the responce
-
Found some more photos of a Spearman display team. Don't know if this is just the Utter Butterly team with a different sponsor.
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
I believe those are older photos taken before the current color scheme and theme. I remember the engines were sometimes uncowled and before that there were no tail cones below the rudder.
Are Crunchie and Utterly Butterly related brands of candy?
-
Hey Tomcatboy,
We wil be performing at Burke Lakefront over the Labor Day weekend.
Please come see us
Walt
-
Crunchy is a candy bar and Utterly Butterly is a butter-like spread :)
-
Hey Tomcatboy,
We wil be performing at Burke Lakefront over the Labor Day weekend.
Please come see us
Walt
Sweet! Cleveland is a great show, I'll definately be there.
-
Thank you Casper,
I have been assuming it was the same company.
I think maybe I am tainted by American big business and marketing strategy. Not throwing rocks at it, just a different way of doing things.
-
I think the UK wingwalking team started with Vic Norman just flying a solo as the 'Yugo Cars' wingwalker in the early 80's. Soon after they received sponsorship from Cadburies and became the Crunchie Flying Circus. This lasted for many years and about 5 years ago they got fresh sponsorship from St Ivel and became the Utterly Butterly's. For a while they also operated an Anotonov AN-2 also in the Utterly Butterly scheme. Now they can provide a display using upto 4 x PT-17 Stearman. Their website is......
http://www.aerosuperbatics.com
hope this helps :D
-
One picture of the AN-2 coming up :)
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
from Tomcatboy:
Sweet! Cleveland is a great show, I'll definately be there.
Great - I look forward to meeting you, too. I was born and raised in Cleveland, so performing there is going to be a real treat for me! I can't wait!!
Jenny
-
Hi everyone.
Both Bob Essell Airshows and American Barnstormer Walt Pierce & the Double Trouble Team have been working hard to get ready for the upcoming Sun 'n Fun Fly-In and Airshow in just under 2 weeks. I figured this was a good time to introduce our newest American Barnstormer, Nicole Rodriguez.
Nicole is just 18 years old and is Walt's grand-daughter! When she heard I needed a new partner for the Double Trouble act, she stepped up to the occaision and convinced Grandpa to let her give it a try. She and Walt have been training hard over the past couple months, and in particular, this week during her Spring Break. I've included a couple photos of her below. We hope to get some good photos of the complete team in action when I head south to Florida in just 10 days...
(http://www.bobessellairshows.com/Nicole4.jpg)(http://www.bobessellairshows.com/Nicole5.JPG)
Cheers!
Jenny
-
Hi Jenny,
please pass on our congratulations and best wishes to Nicole. I'm sure she'll fit right in. Looking forward to seeing some new photos.
-
We just got back from Sun 'N Fun 2006. We had a great time there - Double Trouble was a huge hit! I hope to get my hands on some photos soon, but in the meantime, here are some links to browse...
photo of last pass:
http://imgsrv.theledger.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=LL&Date=20060411&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=604110338&Ref=AR&Profile=1004&MaxW=580&title=1
article:
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20060411&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=604110342&SectionCat=news11&Template=printart
Jenny
-
Glad you had a great time. Looking forward to seeing more photos. I take it Nicole enjoyed her debut
-
And another from the same article
http://imgsrv.theledger.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=LL&Date=20060411&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=604110342
-
Just a short note to say-
You cannot believe how much talent I have in my two ladies on the wings!
Way beyond what you see from the fence line.
-
Hi Casper,
I'm Nicole I really did enjoy my first Fight at Sun N' Fun. this is all so new, the flying. looking forward to a long career.
-
Hi Nicole
and welcome to the forum. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. To be honest you and Jenny have more guts than I have - I enjoy flying but from inside the plane :)
-
The Labor day weekend was a chance for Tomcatboy and our team to all meet each other face to face and have a nice visit after our performance there.
My two wing walkers did one of the best jobs ever.
I can say "Double Trouble" was well received in the debut of our midwestern U.S. performances. This forum has been good for us to make contact with our friends behind the fence and those with the cameras that work very hard to capture the moments. Looking forward to the next time that happens.
Walt
-
Hi Walt,
glad this site has been of some help :) I'd love to meet up too but unfortunately there's a big lake between us (the Atlantic I think :) ). Have you ever done displays over here or have you any planned in the future?
-
Hello again Casper,
In answer to your question,
Because of the huge task of communication and logistics I seldom respond to requests to perform outside the USA except for a few considerations in Canada and Mexico.
Also the money is a challenge to most all events because of transportation expenses, Ireland would be on the top of the list for ALL of our team if we were to plan any overseas activities.
I know without a doubt we would feel like we were citizens of the country from the time we landed.
The internet makes it the next best thing to being there.
Walt
-
know without a doubt we would feel like we were citizens of the country from the time we landed.
We had a pair of f-15s display at the Salthill Airshow in June and they were very well received. A part from the fact that Irish people are so friendly we very rarely get any of the big events that other countries may take for granted - airshows, concerts etc. So when they do happen we do show our appreciation :)
-
Waldo, Jenny & Nicole - just wanted to draw your attention to this post
http://www.dalesplanes.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=756
Some videos of you all in action :)
-
I had a very busy October - a show every weekend...wingwalking from sea to shining sea! Here are some links to more info/pics:
http://www.bobessellairshows.com/PhotoGallery/Photos_friends2006.html
http://www.bobessellairshows.com/October2006.html
Jenny
-
Hi Jenny,
you did indeed seem to have a fantastic time. I've been looking at the photos and videos etc on the site and one question has sprung to mind - have you ever been airsick during a performance?
-
The only time I was ever close to feeling airsick was in Al Ain back in January, but that was instigated by an already upset stomach from all that spicey food I'm not used to...
-
That would have left a new type of 'smoke trial' :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
-
Hello Casper
I am back in the loop. I got locked out because my email address changed. Jenny and I are putting together our 2007 schedule. Right now she is at home for the hilidays in Ohio and I am in Texas with my huge family.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to my Irish friends.
-
Hi Waldo,
A very Merry Christmas and a Prosperus New Year to you and all of your family. PLease pass this on to Jenny as well (if you get talking to her :) ).
Hope to hear from you in the next year.
Best Wishes
Casper
-
Thank you for the nice holiday greeting Casper. Jenny and I are now working on our 2007 schedule. I am in Florida getting dead of winter maintenance performed and Jenny is in snow country working the computer for her first full time airshow season.
Now that she has no blocked out dates for other activities she can reach the sky with possible dates. Our first confirmed show for 2007 was Dayton Ohio. We have many others in the cooker and will release the sites and dates as they are confirmed.
-
Thank you for the nice holiday greeting Casper. Jenny and I are now working on our 2007 schedule. I am in Florida getting dead of winter maintenance performed and Jenny is in snow country working the computer for her first full time airshow season.
Now that she has no blocked out dates for other activities she can reach the sky with possible dates. Our first confirmed show for 2007 was Dayton Ohio. We have many others in the cooker and will release the sites and dates as they are confirmed.
I saw that schedule a bit ago, would love to meet you all again at Dayton!
-
Yes, thank you,
And I am looking forward to seeing you again also.
Walt
I saw that schedule a bit ago, would love to meet you all again at Dayton!
[/quote]
-
Hi Jenny,
long time no hear. Came across these photos recently and I think the girl on the right is you. Am I right?
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=368641