Performer Information
as of 11September 2004




US Army Special Operations Command 
Parachute Team, the "Black Daggers"

The U.S. Army Special Operations Command Parachute Demonstration Team is comprised entirely of volunteers from throughout the Army Special Operations community. They have diverse backgrounds and various military specialties. The Team represents the professionalism and dedication of Special Operations Forces. The U.S. Army Special Operations Command, better know as USASOC, was activated December 1, 1989 at Fort Bragg, N.C. USASOC is the Army component of U.S. Special Operations Command. The USASOC Parachute Demonstration Team, or Black Daggers, uses the military variant of the Ram Air parachutes and allows the free fall parachutist the ability to jump with over 100 lbs. of additional equipment attached to him. In addition to the extra weight, the jumper must also withstand the high winds, frigid temperatures and low oxygen common at high altitude, requiring the jumper to be highly skilled. When exiting the aircraft, the jumpers free fall at approximately 120-MPH. They fly their bodies to perform maneuvers using their hands, arms legs and shoulders to control their flight. The parachutes used are flexible wing gliders. 

The 2004 Tennessee SkyFest  welcomes the Black Daggers to this year's event.  


USAF A-10A Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team

The East Coast A-10 Demonstration Team is one of six fighter demonstration teams sponsored by Air combat Command of the United States Air force.  The team is assigned to the 23d Fighter Group located at Pope Air Force Base, Fayetteville, North Carolina.  The Demonstration Team’s primary mission is to promote Air Force recruiting and retention.

The officer-in-charge, and demonstration pilot, is Capt Matthew Kouchoukos, an experienced fighter pilot with over 7 years and 1,300 hours in the A-10.  The demonstration team has six maintenance personnel who provide aircraft and logistics support.  

  Members of the A-10 East Demonstration Team also exhibit the professional qualities the Air Force develops in the people who fly, maintain and support these aircraft.

The A-10 was the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces. 

Demonstration Team Objective are to positively affect Air Force recruitment and retention efforts, to keep the public and military informed of U.S. Air Force preparedness, to demonstrate modern weapon systems, to promote community and international relations and reinforce public confidence in the Air Force, and to demonstrate to the public the professional competence of Air Force members.

The 2004 Tennessee SkyFest  welcomes the A-10 Demonstration Team from Pope AFB to this year's event.

US Navy F/A-18C Hornet Demonstration Team

The F/A-18 Hornet serves as the Navy and Marine Corps’ premiere strike fighter aircraft.   Originally manufactured by McDonald Douglas and later Boeing, the Hornet first entered operational service in 1983.  Throughout the years, the Hornet has undergone various upgrades and has proven itself a mainstay in the US fighter inventory.   The F/A-18 is currently deployed worldwide and can be seen flying off the decks of nearly every US aircraft carrier.   

During daily demonstrations, airshow fans will get to see some of the Hornet’s advanced handling characteristics.  The pilot will employ maneuvers very similar to those used in the tactical arena.   The aircraft’s two General Electric turbofan engines, producing nearly 36,000 lbs of combined thrust, will propel the Hornet to speeds ranging from 110 mph to nearly 650 mph.  State of the art flight control systems will also allow the pilot to safely maneuver his aircraft under nearly 8 times the force of gravity (8 Gs).   The demonstration is designed to give you a taste of why the F/A-18 represents the most sophisticated, most lethal fighter/ attack aircraft seen worldwide.

Skip Stewart Airshows

Skip is an Aerobatic Champion, has won several Gold Medals in regional competition, and has been awarded two Pitts Trophies! "Competition Aerobatics is a great way to learn decipline and precision. But, while a great competition pilot can make the most difficult maneuver look easy, a great showman can make it look impossible. This is what the fans find entertaining!" His passion for aviation began when he flew with his crop-dusting grandfather as a kid. He later became hooked on aerobatics while spending time in Tennessee logging hour after hour in a vintage biplane and watching the great Leo Loudenslager fly. After completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Administration, Skip went on to fly for a regional airline. Two years later, he was hired to fly in the corporate flight department of a Fortune 100 company, where he later became a Chief Pilot. In 1998 Skip joined the team of the International Center for Aerobatic Training as ICAT's basic aerobatic instructor, introducing "newbies" to aerobatics under the expert guidance of Alan Cassidy, John Lillberg and Nikolay Timofeev. Now flying for a major airline, Skip has begun to pursue his dream of exciting crowds around the country with his unique style of showmanship, his infectious love of flying, and his outgoing personality.

Skip's plane is not an aerobatic trainer or airplane designed for competition aerobatics. It was custom built for a single purpose - Airshows! Skip disassembled his Pitts S-2S at the end of the 2002 season and completely rebuilt it to specifications unique to his flying style. The fuselage has been strengthened and a new wing designed to handle the high G loads imposed during his routine. All the control surfaces have been enlarged to make Skip's unique maneuvers possible. The 540 cubic inch engine's output has been boosted to 330hp. All these modifications together with the huge, wide-cord Whirlwind 400C propeller make for an aircraft that is a highlight of any airshow!

Skip’s routine is the high-energy, fast-paced, gyroscopic spectacle that impresses today’s airshow audiences. Spending quality time with the fans (especially the children) is very important to him. Skip is approachable and truly loves to share his love of aviation with others. He enjoys going to schools in the airshow area to talk with children about how airplanes work, how to become a pilot, what it’s like to be an airshow and airline pilot, and how much fun it is to go to an airshow.

The 2004 Tennessee SkyFest  welcomes Skip to this year's event!

Randy Ball MiG-17

Hailing from Dallas, Texas, Randy Ball soloed his first aircraft at the age of 18 and today is an airline captain. He is also a decade-plus air show veteran who is considered by many to be one of the premier pilots flying jet aerobatics throughout North America. Randy started by flying WWII aircraft in the CAF. He not only flies vintage jets, but also restores them. Randy flies solo aerobatics in the MiG-17F, which closely resembles the tactical demo of the F-16 Falcon’s high G maneuvers, and also performs reenactments of the Vietman and Korean Wars. He has flown reenactments with T-33 and F-86 aircraft from the Korean War, and F-4 Phantom aircraft from the Vietman War. Randy is experienced in dealing with all types of media, including film, television, and print. He has appeared in over 17 magazine articles worldwide. In this venue Randy has formed a new company, called Fighterjets Productions, which has begun filming both air shows and performers in the new High Definition (HD) format for a series on air shows. Before and after each aerial demonstration, the MiG-17F is on static display, offering fans the opportunity to come face to face with the aircraft and its pilot. Randy talks with spectators at plane side, answering questions and signing autographs. He spends time with young fans through his work with Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Children’s Miracle Network and the Boy Scouts at many air shows around the country.

Dan Buchanan's "Flying Colors"

Dan Buchanan, 47, of Minden, Nevada flies some of the quieter aircraft on the air show circuit... A smooth, silent tow launched hang glider and also a quiet, agile motorized wing for remote performances that are not near airports. He flies in complete counterpoint to most other air show professionals in the business and this great hearted entertainer always throws in a few surprises during each performance.

Dan has received two showmanship awards from the airshow entertainment business. "The Bill Barber Award for Showmanship" presented to him at Oshkosh '99 and the "Special Achievement Award" in '01 from the International Council of Airshows.

Dan was a custom-home builder with an a vocational love of flying until 1981, when he became paraplegic due to consecutive sporting accidents. Losing his ability to walk, he returned to college to pursue a career in mechanical engineering.

Despite his handicap Dan returned to flying just a year later and since then, his tenacity and adventurous spirit has allowed him to accrue more than 2,400 hours of flight time in hang gliders; soaring above the ocean cliffs of the Pacific Coast in 3-6 hour flights or thermal soaring as high as 18,000 feet over the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains.

After his first air show performance in 1989, his vocation and passion has become sharing his thrill of flight with millions of fans around the world during his busy 25 city annual air show tour. Performing principally across the United States his international venues have included Australia, Thailand, Canada, and Mexico.

During a typical motorless performance Dan launches his glider from a custom designed rolling launch pad that he designed and constructed specifically for airshows. Lifting off the towed vehicle at an air speed of about 30 mph, while speaking live via a radio link to the audience, he rapidly climbs to an altitude of 1500'. A variable tension hydraulic winch on the launch vehicle, operated by an experienced crewmember, spins out up to 3,000' of tow-line during his ascent.

Dependent on wind conditions and runway length Dan will perform a number of challenging "aerial water-ski turns" as the tow vehicle reverses direction during his climb to keep him in front of the audience. Timing is everything! An aerobatic pilot will usually pick on his "third world fighter" and dog-fight him as he climbs, cutting yards of material from his long trailing streamers. The humorous radio transmissions between Dan and his aggressor are carried live via a radio link to the audience.

Releasing at altitude, he is flying free as the tow-line and its small drogue chute are rapidly rewound with a high-speed electric winch. Now, watch and listen to the action as he wheels, circles and dives to a stirring musical accompaniment. 

During his graceful descent, smoke and streamers trail behind, punctuated with brilliant flashes, streaming showers and dazzling streaks of custom designed daylight pyrotechnics...and, he does it in the dark! To witness the full glory of his dazzling pyrotechnics performance, be sure to catch one of his spectacular night shows. Dan is also a licensed pyro-technician. He designs and installs all of the special effects on the wing himself.

The performance concludes with a  short but smooth one handed landing on the two small wheels. One handed, because he's usually waving to all of his fans with the other hand.

Another first... Dan's air show glider and motorized wing are the only aircraft of their type in North America to carry "N numbers" and airworthiness certificates. Both aircraft are registered with the FAA and certified as experimental aircraft rather than undocumented ultra-lights. Hang gliding has come a long way since its perilous early days, Dan's factory built aircraft are rigorously engineered and stressed for 6 G's positive and 4 G's negative. Instruction is mandatory in these modern machines with 4 levels of skill certification.

In addition to  hang gliding, Dan is a FAA certified Commercial glider pilot, and enjoys giving sailplane glider aerobatic rides at Minden, Nevada and San Diego, CA. in his "spare time." Some of his other athletic pursuits include scuba diving, cycling, sailing, kayaking, snow skiing and exploring the high altitude Sierra Nevada Mountains with his ATV's.

When asked why he flies, Dan's usual smiling response is, "I have to fly... I can't walk!"

The 2004 Tennessee SkyFest welcomes Dan to this year's event.


Greg Koontz

Greg Koontz flies from Birmingham, Alabama. He's been married to Cora Koontz since 1975. They have two teenagers, James and Sandy. Cora is a Private pilot herself and both their children soloed on their 16th birthdays. Both James and Sandy help hold the poles for the inverted ribbon cut and James plays the role of “Beaver Cleaver” in the ever-popular comedy acts. Cora is the family business manager and keeps everyone straight.

Greg started flying airshows in 1974 performing comedy acts in a J-3 Cub for Colonel Moser’s Flying Circus. In 1975 he took a full time position with Col. Moser at Aero Sport, Inc. in St. Augustine, FL. There he taught aerobatics and flew in the flying circus all over the southeast and many parts of the Caribbean. During his years with Aero Sport Greg developed solo aerobatic routines in the Bellanca Citabria, Great Lakes bi-plane and the Bellanca Decathlon. Using the J-3 Cub he developed his comedy act and with the help of Col. Moser’s son, Jim, resurrected the World’s Smallest Airport act by landing the Cub on a moving pick-up truck driven by Jim Moser. Greg Koontz, Jim Moser and their mentor, Jim Holland formed Aero Sport Flying Circus, which provided complete airshows to many southeastern customers. Their program included skydivers, comedy acts, formation routines, the smallest airport act, and even a routine with two bi-panes tied with a length of chain. In 1977 he took on the Super Decathlon as a distinctive airshow mount and has specialized in the Super Decathlon ever since!

Greg has now performed in hundreds of airshows with his Super Decathlon all over the eastern United States, Caribbean and Central America. He has become known as the premier performer and aerobatic instructor in the Super Decathlon. He travels across America putting on his popular Spin and Aircraft Upset Clinics as well as operating his aerobatic school located in Birmingham.

Greg has over 20,000 flight hours in over 155 different aircraft types. He has spent his career as a flight instructor, charter pilot, corporate flight department manager, and flying everything from Cubs to Jets. Greg has always kept one foot in Sport aviation even when busy flying corporate aircraft. Now, he has left 30 years of flying business passengers behind him to concentrate on his love for grass roots aviation.

You may find Greg on most any weekend flying in an airshow or instructing a group of pilots on the merits of aerobatic flight. Otherwise, he’s busy with his family.