NAS Jax Air Show Birthplace of the Blue Angels. The Dates of the air show this year are October 25th and 26th. Gates open at 9 a.m. Show begins at 10 a.m. There will be free parking, admission and Kid’s Zone and the event is open to the public. At the NAS Jax Air Show you will witness thrills like never before from a variety of military and civilian demonstrations. The new Spitfire Jet Semi will be racing down the runway at speeds more than 300 mph. The grand finale will be the Navy’s flight demonstration team: The Blue Angels. While you are at the show enjoy military and civilian aircraft displays, shop at novelty, food and beverage booths, or head to the free Kid’s Zone for games and activities for all ages.
2014 Performers:
US Navy Blue Angels
The Blue Angels flight demonstration team is more than just a group of individuals; brought together to represent the United States Navy and Marine Corps. This team combines the best and brightest, at the top
of their craft. Their camaraderie and chemistry assure the team mission is more than just a job – it’s a passion!
Since 1946, the Blue Angels have flown for more than 260 million spectators. The team performs at both military and civilian airfields, and often performs directly over major cities such as San Francisco's "Fleet Week" maritime festival, Cleveland's annual Labor Day Air Show, the Chicago Air and Water Show, and Seattle's annual Seafair Festival.
During their aerobatic demonstration, the Blues fly six F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, split into the Diamond Formation (Blue Angels 1 through 4) and the Lead and Opposing Solos (Blue Angels 5 and 6). Most of the show alternates between maneuvers performed by the Diamond Formation and those performed by the Solos.
F-22 Demonstration Flight
The Air Combat Command F-22 Demonstration Team at Langley Air Force Base performs precision aerial maneuvers to demonstrate the unique capabilities of the world's only operational fifth-generation fighter aircraft. The team also teams up with Air Force Heritage flight exhibiting the professional qualities the Air Force develops in the people who fly, maintain and support these aircraft.
The F-22 Raptor is the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft. Its combination of stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability, represents an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities.
Dan McCue in the F4U Corsair
Definitely one of the most distinctive designs ever employed by a fighter aircraft, the Vought F4U-5NL Corsair lives as one of the most famous fighters built during WWII. Its gull-wing design to allow the propeller to rotate without hitting the ground made it an icon for a generation of plane "buffs" who knew the stories of such groups as the "Black Sheep Squadron" who utilized the F4U-5NL. Used in Korea as a carrier-based fighter and night fighter, the Corsair showed it technologically advanced features to survive in an era where propeller-driven fighters were being replaced by jets.
Matt Chapman
Matt is recognized as an extraordinary aerobatic pilot who thrills millions of air show fans each summer. He began flying aerobatics in 1984 and quickly worked his way up to the highest level of competition aerobatics – the Unlimited category. Recognized for his skills, he won one of only five slots on the U.S. Unlimited Men’s Aerobatic Team in 1996 and 1998.
At the 1998 World Aerobatic Championships, Matt was the highest-ranking American pilot, finishing third in the world with a bronze medal. He led the Men’s Team to a silver medal. Along with this impressive finish came the coveted Hilliard Trophy, awarded to the highest finishing U.S. pilot at the WAC.
Matt also won the prestigious International Aerobatic Club Championships in 1994 and the Fond du Lac Cup in 1995.
Matt’s exciting competition aerobatics led him to air show performing. Matt is both a solo performer and flies formation in a thrilling show with fellow performer Mike Mancuso.
Matt has flown in front of millions of fans at air shows all over. He has appeared on ESPN, ESPN2, Fox Sports Network, Real TV, The Learning Channel’s “Amazing America” and SpeedVision.
John Klatt
It happens fast and furious. John’s air show routine is packed with excitement and carefully choreographed 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 amazing MXS aircraft through its paces in 10 minutes of world class precision power aerobatics.
Sean Tucker
Sean D. Tucker's life is marked by a search for excellence and perfected skill. He is not satisfied unless he is learning, refining a skill, or conquering a fear. Whether he is climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, heli-skiing, cave SCUBA diving, golfing, or flying his one-of-a kind aerobatic dream machine, Sean D. Tucker is full-throttle and extremely accomplished. He has been flying air shows world-wide since the mid-70's and has won numerous aerobatic competitions. In that time, Sean has flown more than 1200 performances at more than 450 air shows, in front of more than 100 million fans. The level of professionalism and excitement in Sean's air show displays is no coincidence. Sean practices his air show routine three times every day. To endure the extreme physical demands of each routine, Sean maintains a rigorous physical training schedule by working-out over 340 days per year.
Sean has been named as one of the Living Legends in Aviation, National Aviation Hall of Fame inductee, recipient of the Crystal Eagle Award, the General Charles E. Yeager International Aeronautical Achievement Award, inductee at the 2001 USAF Gathering of Eagles, and named as one of the Living Legends of Flight. This raises Sean into an elite group of aviators and astronauts that includes General Jimmy Doolittle, General 'Chuck' Yeager, Bob Hoover, Gene Cernan and John Glenn.
Skip Stewart
Skip Stewart is one of the most entertaining air show pilots in the world today. He has over eight thousand hours of flying experience, is an airline transport pilot, certified flight instructor, has owned and operated an aerobatic flight school, earned gold medals in regional aerobatic competitions, served as a chief pilot for a fortune 100 company and has spent more than ten years entertaining air show fans around the world.
Skip practices tirelessly in the airplane he custom built himself to insure the highest level of entertainment. His flying has been featured in magazines that include Smithsonian Air & Space, AOPA, Sports Illustrated, World Air Show News, Auto Pilot as well as in multiple international publications. He is the first pilot to fly an airplane under a jumping motorcycle at an air show and has also been known to fill in as the driver of the “world’s fastest dodge ram jet truck!”
Patty Wagstaff
To Patty Wagstaff the sky represents adventure, freedom and challenge. A six-time member of the US Aerobatic Team, Patty has won the gold, silver and bronze medals in Olympic-level international aerobatic competition and is the first woman to win the title of US National Aerobatic champion and one of the few people to win it three times.
Patty one of the world’s top air show pilots, flies thrilling, low-level aerobatic demonstrations before millions of people each year. Her breathtaking performances give air show spectators a front-row seat view of the precision and complexity of modern, unlimited hard-core aerobatics. Her smooth aggressive style sets the standard for performers the world over.
Melissa Pemberton
Melissa's air show routine is a high energy and action packed display of Unlimited Aerobatics in the Edge540 Aircraft. The show will give your audience everything from the thrill of gyroscopic maneuvers to the extremely complex and technical maneuvers learned through competition. Melissa believes that mastering the skills of both competition and air shows will make her the most skilled and safe pilot that she can be. You will be provided with a full and entertaining display for every type of audience.
Melissa views each venue as a new palate where she can create a beautiful painting in the sky to please the eyes, ears and imaginations of all. As a young female in aerobatics, Melissa attracts the harder to reach audiences. The younger viewers can relate to her and be encouraged to pursue their own dreams of aviation!
Spitfire Jet Semi
Indianapolis, IN- Today Indy Boys, Inc. is unveiling a one of a kind jet semi for 2014. It will be the first truck in the motorsports entertainment world to be powered by four jet engines. The truck is based on a classic ‘56 Ford Cabover Truck with the looks of a WWII Warbird. Paul Stender, the builder of the jet semi he named “Spitfire” added a unique feature known as the Gatling Gun Burner Pop System, allowing the four J-85 jet engines to fire off in sequence, resulting in a rapid fire “boom, boom, boom!”
The Spitfire Semi features pop-riveted paneling, a checkered tailfin, and fuel tanks that lived a former life as drop tanks on an aircraft. A classic ‘shark face’ paint scheme is another nod to Warbirds. Stender added two propane-fueled machine guns on the front of the truck, which pepper the air with loud gunfire noise.
“I have built many jet powered trucks in my career, but nothing comes close to the excitement I feel as getting to install four engines on one semi. This will be the lightest and most aerodynamic truck yet and I am expecting to approach speeds near 400 MPH.”
Kyle Franklin
For over 45 years, the Franklins have thrilled audiences around the world with unique and exciting acts. Always focused on entertainment, always striving for perfection in their flying and their ideas, the Franklins never wanted to be known merely as pilots. Their fans wanted more than precision flying, so Kyle and Jimmy delivered a now legendary mix of flying, entertainment, and of course - a great story. Their showmanship and talent have not gone unrewarded. Jimmy was the first person to receive the Art Scholl Award for showmanship and the only performer to receive this honor twice. He was also inducted into the Air Show Hall of Fame and the International Aerobatic Hall of Fame. Kyle’s skill as a performer has been recognized in numerous magazine and publication covers, a reality TV show appearance, media interviews, and of course - the support and admiration of his fans, friends, and sponsors.
Continuing the family legacy, Kyle continues to raise the bar for the rest of the air show industry. He brought his own ideas to the Cub Comedy routine and perfected the Ben Whabnoski character. In 2008, he turned his Waco Mystery Ship into a pirate ship and penned the story of Captain Kyro and Scandalous Scarlett - Pirated Skies was a hit with his fans and the envy of the industry for three seasons. And now Kyle has created Dracula. The immortal monster of dreams and nightmares takes the form of a new biplane and a thrilling air show act. Dracula has the bold look and sound of a 1930’s racing airplane with a custom paint job that looks like something from the opening scene of a horror movie. The debut of Dracula has been anticipated by Kyle’s audience for years. Showing off his marketing skills, Kyle finished the airplane in secrecy. As evidence of Kyle’s reputation as a performer, over fifteen air shows booked the act without ever seeing even a picture of the illusive airplane.
Dracula is the thrill today and in the years to come, but another crusade has begun. As with Dracula, a good mystery is as good as the tale.
Roger Buis
OTTO The Helicopter is one of the most unique and versatile air show acts in the world. OTTO provides air show fans the best entertainment value in the industry. During OTTO’s daytime comedy show he entertains the crowds by blowing bubbles, playing with his yo-yo, racing around barrels and picking them up, shooting smoke in all directions, towing banners, and more all while interacting with the announcer!
The IMMORTALS
The "IMMORTALS" are the air show industries most exciting act. Good verses evil. The complete air show in one package. Great pilots and aircrat, jet powered trucks and of course PYRO! More action than you can watch in one day.
Rob Reider Air Show Announcer
Rob is proud to be the voice of the most prestigious aerial events and to take the excitement of flight right to the hearts of millions of people each year. He brings an immense amount of experience and knowledge to the stage of air shows. Rob announced his first air show in 1978 and by 2006, air show announcing had become his full-time occupation!
Wayne Boggs Air Boss
For over 20 years, Wayne has performed Air Boss duties and is currently the man in charge for several big air shows in 2012.
• Has been an Air Boss for over twenty years
• Owner of Air Boss & Consulting International Inc. for 12 years
• Is the Air Boss and assists in the production and execution of approximately 18-25 airshows per year
• Recognized as one of the top Air Bosses in the county
• Teaches advanced air boss courses for the International Council of Airshow convention (ICAS)
• Teaches the Air Boss Academy which is sponsored each year by ICAS
• Was the Air Boss for the "Gathering of Mustangs" 2007
• Was the FAA and EAA Air Boss for the Centennial of Flight 2003 at Kitty Hawk, NC
• On the Board of Directors and is the Air Boss for the Warbirds of America at Oshkosh, WI
• Will Air Boss the "Tall Ships 1812" during 2012 and Sun n’ Fun International Fly-in and Expo
• Is the Air Boss for the US NAVY Celebration of The War of 1812 (tall ships) which are held at numerous cities this year 2012.
