Civilian Acts

E Team Skydivers

Exciting… Entertaining… Explosive!

Paul McCowan, Owner and Team Captain, E Team Skydivers has been performing skydiving exhibitions since 1971. The team has performed over 5,000 exhibitions throughout the world, including England, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Canada and all across the United States.

In 2006 Paul McCowan introduced “the FLAG”! The FLAG is 5000 square feet, larger than an NBA basketball court and weighs over 140 pounds. The visual display of our flag waving high in the sky, while the Star Spangled Banner is sung, communicates the beauty and majesty of our flag to many, many thousands each time the flag jump is performed.

Spectators are in awe of this beautiful massive flag flying in the skies above them. Some comments: “Absolutely stunning. The most beautiful Flag in the world. I am soooo proud to be an American! God Bless America. Many Thanks and Prayers to our soldiers who continue to fight for our country.” Some said it made them cry. Another commented, “If this doesn’t stir you, please consider relocating!” Yet another said, “God Bless the USA!!!! That was simply inspiring!!! I still have goose bumps!!”

The POW/MIA Flag, which was added in their 2008 season, is 1,800 square feet. One of, if not the largest of its kind in the world. More info at their Facebook page

Kent Pietsch

Kent Pietsch in his 1942 Interstate Cadet, flies a comedy act, which includes extreme maneuvers, such as the aileron falling off in mid air!! In addition, Kent performs a dead stick (total power off) aerobatic routine from an altitude of 6,000 feet. The finale of this performance includes Kent landing in front of the crowd and placing the spinner into the hand of an individual! Kent has thrilled and entertained crowds with this unique act. Everyone with an RV has added aftermarket items to suit their individual taste. Kent has added a runway to the top of his RV and lands on it during his RV Top Landing show. This is one awesome act. While landing on his RV, Kent cannot see the RV, making this landing very difficult.

Red Eagle Air Sports

Providing a singular blend of low-level precision formation and solo aerobatics with fascinating transitions, Red Eagle Air Sports is nationally known for its eye-popping, spectacular performances. Prepare to witness inverted flat spins, inside and outside loops, multiple snap rolls, tail slides, torque rolls, plus our signature maneuvers: the Torqued Eagle, Topcoat This, the Squirrel Cage, The Centrifuge, The Farvel Loop and the Tuck-Under Break.

Flying the Red Eagle and one-of-a-kind Talon Eagle, Buck Roetman and Dan McClung demonstrate the awesome power of these highly-modified aerobatic aircraft.

The Horsemen P-51 Flight Team

The Horsemen Aerobatic Team are the world’s only P-51 Mustang aerobatic team, comprising three warbird pilots who have a passion for showcasing the P-51 Mustang. The mission of The Horseman is to bring greater interest to the world of historic aviation and to remind future generations of how these powerful machines helped the Allies change the outcome of WWII. The Horsemen are brought to you by ASB.TV

Younkin Air Shows Sons of Legends

For over 30 years, the definition of airshows has been Jimmy Franklin and Bobby Younkin. These two brought the most innovative, insane, and impossible acts to life with their super-human ability to fly. By keeping the tradition alive, the next generation of Franklin and Younkin are showing the world that they have what Bobby used to call “that defective gene.”

Kyle and Amanda Franklin and Matt Younkin are all third generation pilots who come from rather well known families in the aviation community. Kyle is the son of legendary airshow pilot Jimmy Franklin, Matt is the son of legendary airshow pilot Bobby Younkin, and Amanda, being Matt’s sister and Kyle’s wife, obviously ties the two families together.

The “Sons (and daughter) of Legends” have partnered up to bring people a little taste of the type of aviation that they were privileged enough to experience growing up.

Bobby Younkin always said “An airshow act has to be unique and original to be great. People come to air shows to see the impossible take place.” Matt, Amanda, and Kyle have certainly taken this lesson and many others that Bobby and Jimmy taught them to heart. Visit their site for more info!

Michael Goulian

Michael Goulian is one of only a few aerobatic aviators who are popular on a global scale. Michael is living a childhood dream of performing in front of millions of fans each year at over twenty venues around the world.

On most weekends from April through November, Michael can be seen flying a mesmerizing and intense high performance solo aerobatic display accompanied by a high tech choreographed music system that leaves spectators emotional and wanting more.

Always one driven by a passion for competition, Michael can also be seen racing around the skies in beautiful foreign locations in the Red Bull Air Race, where millions of fans get a chance to see Michael “up close and personal”.

Flying is, Goulian likes to say, a high-performance sport. So he lives his life along those lines: he pays close attention to nutrition and works out almost every day with a personal trainer.

The forty-year-old Goulian has over two decades of experience performing at the world’s top air shows, having started in the business at age eighteen. Although he enjoys his reputation as a great aviator with a flawless safety record, he is also a dedicated professional with his fans. After his flight, you can find Michael signing autographs and interacting with the spectators along the flight line.

With Michael Goulian, the sky is NEVER the limit! Also visit his sponsor’s site: ASB.TV

Billy Werth

Growing up in an Air Force family, Billy has been around some sort airplane his whole life. He started flying in 1988 and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Professional Aviation Technology from Indiana State University in 1994. In 1992 he started teaching aerobatics and has been hooked ever since.

In 1997 he graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training and started flying for the Air Force Reserves out of Grissom Air Reserve Base, IN where he is an Instructor Pilot on the KC-135R Aerial Refueler. He is a veteran of Operation Northern and Southern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. He was part of the initial bomber strike on the opening of the Iraqi war staged out of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

He was hired by Chautauqua Airlines in 2001 and is a Captain on the Embraer 145, based in Indianapolis. Billy has over 8000 hours of flight time in 20 different aircraft, with 900 of it training pilots how to fly upside down.

“I fell in love with this baby the first time I flew her. Every single flight leaves me with this terminal grin on my face. Whether it’s hard-core, rockin and rollin aerobatics, or a leisurely barnstormer ride, I’m having the time of my life. This airplane has awesome performance, amazing maneuverability, and incredible feedback.”

If anyone might be interested in a ride, check out Grayout Aerosports for more details.

John Klatt

John’s inspiration for flying came from his father, Robert. Robert retired after a forty-year career with Republic/Northwest Airlines as an Aviation Mechanic. When John was a young boy, Robert took him to the convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin (the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture annual convention). This implanted a spark for flying in John. His parents, Robert and Phyllis, consistently aided and encouraged John to pursue a career in aviation.

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.

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. John also is a Pilot for United Airlines where he has been employed since 1997.

John is proud to bring you some fast-paced, hard-core, high-energy aerobatics. Find out more at John’s site!

Air Force Reserve Above & Beyond Jet Car

The Crew
The driver of the Air Force Reserve Above & Beyond Jet Car, Scott Hammack, is a Vietnam veteran who has been involved with motor sports since 1956 when he began his career in drag racing. In the late 1970s, Scott decided to combine his two loves—drag racing and aviation. Scott built his jet car in 1979 and has raced in more than 3,000 performances with a 100 percent safety record. His wife, Linda, has been a full-time crew member for more than 10 years. Bill Braack, a flight engineer with the Air Force Reserve, became a member of Scott’s crew more than five years ago.

The Car
The Air Force Reserve Above & Beyond Jet Car is powered by a Westinghouse J-34 jet engine that develops 10,000 horsepower and 6,000 pounds of thrust. This engine was originally used in a North American Buckeye T-2A aircraft. The car is made of aluminum and magnesium, weighs 2,300 pounds, is 26 feet long and uses 40 gallons of diesel fuel for each performance. Two ring-slot parachutes (one is a back-up) can bring the car to a stop in less than 2,000 feet. It also houses an on-board fire extinguisher system. The car is the first jet-powered ground act to break into the air show industry.

The Show
First there’s an audible rumble—an earth-shaking roar you feel deep in your stomach. It’s no aircraft. It’s the Air Force Reserve Above & Beyond Jet Car preparing to accelerate. An airplane above has challenged Scott to a race. Within seconds the car overtakes the airplane at speeds approaching 400 mph. During acceleration Scott is pulling 4.5 Gs, and as he deploys the parachute to bring the car to a stop, he experiences 11 Gs of negative force.

For more information, visit Smoke and Thunder Jet Shows

Rich’s Incredible Pyro

Rich Gibson has every little boy’s dream job…He flies planes, and he makes things explode! Rich owns and operates “Rich’s Incredible Pyro”, an air show pyrotechnic business, and he has been traveling all over the world for 30 years blowing things up.

Rich Gibson loves things that go BOOM! When Rich was just 8 years old, he asked his mother if there was anything in the medicine cabinet that would explode. Of course, she said NO! Ten minutes later, the medicine cabinet exploded!

Later, in the U.S. Army, Rich learned how to safely handle explosives and spent a year in Viet Nam disarming booby traps and mines. When he returned home, he learned how to fly and operated an air cargo business for 30 years. Rich has flown everything from Falcon Jets to twin-engine turbo props and helicopters and has logged over 10,000 hours in various aircraft.

He saw an opportunity to combine and use his knowledge of explosives and his background as a pilot in the air show industry, creating special effects for modern military aircraft, Warbirds, and as part of team of aerobatic and jet truck professionals in TINSTIX of DYNAMITE!

Long before the show date, Rich coordinates with the Air Show Directors, the local Fire Department Chief, the Airport Manager, and the ATF to choreograph the simulated attack on the airport seen today. Hundreds of pounds of explosives and fuel will be assembled to create the special effects in this show. Hours and hours of coordination, assembly, and detailed checks and rechecks are put into the setup by Rich’s well-trained and experienced crew – a critical element in the tremendous success and safety record of Rich’s Incredible Pyro!

Rich and his team of Rich’s Incredible Pyro will strive today to make your Indianapolis Air Show experience absolutely “Mind Blowing”!

For more information, visit Rich’s Incredible Pyro.

Rob Reider – Air Show Announcer

Rob is “The Voice” of the Indianapolis Air Show! Rob Reider has been an important fixture at the Indianapolis Air Show since its beginning in 1996. This year marks Rob’s 31st year as an announcer and his 4th as a full-time air show announcer. His 2009 schedule will take him to 19 shows, making him one of the busiest and most sought-after announcers in North America. He’ll be working at shows from Rhode Island to California and he’ll be teamed up with Danny Clisham at EAA’s AirVenture air show in July.

Starting early in the morning, and working through the heat of the day until the gates have closed, Rob is always striving to keep the audience engaged and informed of all matters that pertain to the pilots in the air and the aircraft they are flying. It’s been said of Rob Reider, “He’s excited and supercharged! He’s a performer with the unique ability to meet an audience where they are, touch their hearts, make them laugh, make them cry, and leave them with a feeling that they have been totally entertained.”

Learn more about Rob Reider.


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