Author Topic: American Air Shows (Read 36164 times)

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.

casper · « **Reply #1 on:** December 28, 2005, 05:41:35 PM »

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]

waldo · « **Reply #2 on:** December 29, 2005, 01:32:15 PM »

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

alert5 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 29, 2005, 05:38:32 PM »

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.

waldo · « **Reply #4 on:** December 29, 2005, 06:18:01 PM »

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.

Tomcatboy48237 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 02, 2006, 05:42:31 AM »

Hey Waldo, I've seen you over on the ICAS boards too. You got any shows around the Great Lakes this year?

waldo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 02, 2006, 12:42:30 PM »

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

casper · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2006, 10:05:32 PM »

Found some more photos of a Spearman display team. Don't know if this is just the Utter Butterly team with a different sponsor.

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waldo · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2006, 10:54:40 AM »

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?

waldo · « **Reply #9 on:** February 17, 2006, 11:01:45 AM »

Hey Tomcatboy,

We wil be performing at Burke Lakefront over the Labor Day weekend.

Please come see us

Walt

casper · « **Reply #10 on:** February 17, 2006, 11:04:31 AM »

Crunchy is a candy bar and Utterly Butterly is a butter-like spread

Tomcatboy48237 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 17, 2006, 11:41:00 AM »

Quote from: "waldo"

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.

waldo · « **Reply #12 on:** February 17, 2006, 06:22:26 PM »

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.

Chris G · « **Reply #13 on:** February 18, 2006, 06:01:15 PM »

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

casper · « **Reply #14 on:** February 18, 2006, 06:09:48 PM »

One picture of the AN-2 coming up

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Jenny · « **Reply #15 on:** February 18, 2006, 11:03:48 PM »

from Tomcatboy:

Quote

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

Jenny · « **Reply #16 on:** March 23, 2006, 10:27:51 PM »

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...

Cheers!

Jenny

alert5 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 28, 2006, 04:38:17 PM »

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.

Jenny · « **Reply #18 on:** April 12, 2006, 06:12:23 PM »

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

casper · « **Reply #19 on:** April 12, 2006, 09:45:14 PM »

Glad you had a great time. Looking forward to seeing more photos. I take it Nicole enjoyed her debut

alert5 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 13, 2006, 11:20:18 AM »

And another from the same article

http://imgsrv.theledger.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=LL&Date=20060411&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=604110342

waldo · « **Reply #21 on:** April 13, 2006, 10:24:24 PM »

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.

Nicole · « **Reply #22 on:** April 14, 2006, 01:48:04 AM »

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.

casper · « **Reply #23 on:** April 14, 2006, 09:16:50 AM »

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

waldo · « **Reply #24 on:** September 06, 2006, 11:37:44 AM »

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

News:

Author Topic: American Air Shows (Read 36164 times)