Performer Information
as of 3 May 2005

Canadian Forces Snowbirds

The Snowbirds, were formed in 1971 at CFB Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan where they still call home today. The team consists of nine CT-114 Tutor aircraft, including two solo aircraft Nos. 8 and 9, which are the opposing solos. In their 32th season, the Snowbirds have flown over 1600 airshows for over 87 million spectators across  North America.   The 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show  marks the encore performance of the team at Millville.   

The Canadian Forces 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, is the product of a proud history of military aerobatic demonstration teams. The Canadian team, the Siskins, flew air displays between 1929 and 1932 with five Siskin IIA biplanes. From 1959 to 1963 their successors, the Golden Hawks, few seven gold painted F-86 Sabre jets across the skies of North America. Another team the Golden Centennaires, flying nine Canadian built CT-114 Tutor aircraft along with a spectacular duet involving the supersonic CF-104 Starfighter and CF-101 Voodoo, the RCAF's famed Red Knight and two Avro 504K biplanes, helped to celebrate Canada's 1967 Centennial.

The Montreal firm of Canadair designed and constructed the Tutor. Its original designation as the CL41-A was changed to the CT-114 Tutor when purchased by the Canadian Armed Forces. Canadair's design team, headed by project engineer Fred Phillips, began working in 1955 to build an aircraft capable of replacing the Harvard and the deHavilland Chipmunk as a military trainer.  Test pilot Ian MacTavish first flew the Tutor on January 13, 1961. By September of that year the plane had been ordered into full production for the Canadian Armed Forces. Between 1964 and March 1967, 190 Tutor jets had been delivered to the Canadian military.

There are 13 CT-114 Tutors assigned to the Snowbirds. They are consecutively numbered from one through thirteen. Eleven aircraft travel to each show site, with two being held in reserve in Moose Jaw.

There are some differences between the Tutors flown by the Snowbirds, and the standard military version of the same aircraft.

These include:

- unique paint scheme
- cross-cockpit modifications; in the Snowbird planes, the pilot is able to fly solo from either seat
- engine is highly tuned to maximize low level response
- nicad battery system to facilitate simultaneous internal ground starts
- transistorized rather than tube radio to enable communication between planes before engine start
- coloured smoke generating system; 2 tanks under fuselage hold 35 gallons of diesel fuel that is sprayed into the jet exhaust and ignited.

Due to the phase out of the Tutor (CT-114 / CL41) as a training aircraft, 431 Squadron's manning levels changed following the completion of the 2000 season. The squadron now boasts a total strength of approximately 80 military and civilian personnel. The new squadron personnel are members of the aircraft maintenance organization.

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds are the only jet aerobatic team in the world that does not rely on a support aircraft. The Snowbirds are a fully self-contained unit of only 24 personnel. The team uses the Tutors to transport all personnel and equipment. This is a tremendous undertaking that no other team in the world dare tries. The additional aircraft are used as backups in case of problems with the primary aircraft. In all the years that the Snowbirds have been flying the team has never had to cancel a show due to mechanical problems, a testament to the people that support and maintain the aircraft.

431 (AD) Squadron, as it now exists, is the result of the concerted effort of all the people involved with the Snowbirds over the last thirty years. Their mission remains the same namely to demonstrate to the North American public the skill, professionalism and teamwork of the Canadian Forces. As the Snowbirds strive for perfection in formation aerobatic flight, they draw upon the spirit and example of those who have served before them.

The Canadian Snowbird Demonstration Team is one of the finest teams in the world today and serves as ambassadors for Canada and it's military.   We welcome them to the 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show!

TORA, TORA, TORA


TORA TORA TORA is a re-creation of the December 7th 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. It’s accomplished through hundreds of dedicated volunteers -- most belonging to the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) working as ground crew, maintenance, pilots and pyrotechnic experts. The purpose is to create a dynamic history lesson about the event that propelled us into World War II .....and entertain.

TORA's re-creation is usually the feature performance at organized air shows. It involves many Japanese fighters and bombers simulating the Pearl Harbor attack. In addition, TORA provides breathtaking smoke, fire and explosions from the pyrotechnics team. A professional announcer explains the purpose, history and performance to the crowd.

The 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show welcomes the Tora Group to Millville for the first time.

US Army Parachute Team, the "Golden Knights"

The United States Army Parachute Team, the "Golden Knights," is the Army's only official aerial demonstration unit.  Located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the 90 men and women who make up the Knights come from diverse backgrounds and hold various military occupational skills.

The team's origin traces back to September 1959, when it was originally formed as the Strategic Army Corps (STRAC) Parachute Team.

On June 1, 1961, the team was activated formally and redesignated as the US Army Parachute Team and the following year earned the nickname, the Golden Knights.

During that time, the team embarked on its threefold mission:  1) perform live aerial demonstrations for the American public and spread goodwill for the US Army; 2) compete in national and international parachuting competitions; and 3) test and evaluate new parachuting techniques and equipment.  This mission has remained the same over the years as well as the Knights' unwaivering commitment to it.

The Golden Knights are organized into two demonstration team: the Black and Gold Teams; two competition teams; the Style and Accuracy and Formation Skydiving Team; and aviation section with a fleet of six aircraft; and a headquarters section consisting of parachute maintenance, administration, budget, operations, supply and public affairs specialists.  The demonstration teams spend more than 230 days a year performing at numerous airshows, state fairs, and civic events.  The Knights have performed more than 8,100 live aerial demonstrations in all 50 states and in 47 foreign countries.  Through the years, the Golden Knights also have earned the title of "The Army's Goodwill Ambassadors to the World."

While the world knows the demonstrators as ambassadors, they also recognize the Team's competitors as champions.  The competition teams have never failed to bring home medals of accomplishment from national and international parachuting competitions.  The Golden Knights have produced 129 national and 23 world champion parachutists.  They have won an impressive 13 world team titles in free-fall formation parachuting, making them the most winning US Department of Defense sport team.

The Team's superior performances, conduct, and accomplishments have rekindled and sustained a national pride in the hearts of many Americans.  Since its inception, the Team's faces have changed, but every Golden Knight's exemplary conduct and dedication to the US Army and the American public remains steadfast.

We welcome  the US Army Golden Knights to the 2005 Wheels and  Wings Airshow & Car Show  for this year's event.  

USAF F-15 Eagle Demonstration Team

The 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show  welcomes the USAF F-15 West Coast Demonstration team back  to this year’s event.     The team performed during the 2004 Millville Airshow and were a great crowd favorite. The demonstration pilot is Captain Joel "Deuce"  Hemphill.  The F-15 West Coast Demo Team is just one of the six single aircraft Demonstration Teams assigned to Air Combat Command (ACC). The Team is comprised of one Demo Pilot, nine Maintenance personnel, and four Flight Safety Officers.

The Aircraft themselves are not assigned to the team, but are actual operational fighters from the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

The U.S. Air Force’s Air Combat Command Single-Ship Demonstration Teams perform precision aerial maneuvers, demonstrating to the public the unique capabilities of the Air Force’s high performance aircraft. ACC Single-Ship Demonstration Team members also exhibit the professional qualities the Air Force develops in the people who fly, maintain and support these aircraft.

The Eagle's air superiority is achieved through a mixture of unprecedented maneuverability and acceleration, range, weapons and avionics. It can penetrate enemy defense and outperform and outfight any current or projected enemy aircraft. The F-15 has electronic systems and weaponry to detect, acquire, track and attack enemy aircraft while operating in friendly or enemy-controlled airspace. Its weapons and flight control systems are designed so one person can safely and effectively perform air-to-air combat.

The F-15's superior maneuverability and acceleration are achieved through high engine thrust-to-weight ratio and low wing loading. Low wing-loading (the ratio of aircraft weight to its wing area) is a vital factor in maneuverability and, combined with the high thrust-to-weight ratio, enables the aircraft to turn tightly without losing airspeed.

A variety of air-to-air weaponry can be carried by the F-15. An automated weapon system enables the pilot to perform aerial combat safely and effectively, using the heads-up display and the avionics and weapons controls located on the engine throttles or control stick. When the pilot changes from one weapon system to another, visual guidance for the required weapon automatically appears on the head-up display.

The Eagle can be armed with combinations of four different air-to-air weapons: AIM-7F/M Sparrow missiles or AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles on its lower fuselage corners, AIM-9L/M Sidewinder or AIM-120 missiles on two pylons under the wings, and an internal 20mm Gatling gun (with 940 rounds of ammunition) in the right wing root.

Low-drag, conformal fuel tanks were especially developed for the F-15C and D models. Conformal fuel tanks can be attached to the sides of the engine air intake trunks under each wing and are designed to the same load factors and airspeed limits as the basic aircraft. Each conformal fuel tank contains about 114 cubic feet of usable space. These tanks reduce the need for in-flight refueling on global missions and increase time in the combat area. All external stations for munitions remain available with the tanks in use. AIM-7F/M Sparrow and AIM-120 missiles, moreover, can be attached to the corners of the conformal fuel tanks.

Background:

The first F-15A flight was made in July 1972, and the first flight of the two-seat F-15B (formerly TF-15A) trainer was made in July 1973. The first Eagle (F-15B) was delivered in November 1974 to the 58th Tactical Training Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., where pilot training was accomplished in both F-15A and B aircraft. In January 1976, the first Eagle destined for a combat squadron was delivered to the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Va.

The single-seat F-15C and two-seat F-15D models entered the Air Force inventory beginning in 1979. Kadena Air Base, Japan, received the first F-15C in September 1979. These new models have Production Eagle Package (PEP 2000) improvements, including 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) of additional internal fuel, provision for carrying exterior conformal fuel tanks and increased maximum takeoff weight of up to 68,000 pounds (30,600 kilograms).

One of the most effective aircraft of World War II, the North American P-51 Mustang was first developed to meet a British requirement of 1940.  Needed desperately because of the grave situation in Europe, the project was completed ahead of the 120 day schedule set by the United Kingdom.  The first Mustangs were powered with Allison engines, but while this engine performed well at lower altitudes, power output rapidly declined above 12,000 feet.  This power problem prompted North American to look at the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine to power the Mustang.  The Merlin engine was found to perform extremely well at all altitudes and rapidly increased the flexibility of the aircraft.  The P-51B was the first variant to use the Merlin engine.

The most common variants of the Mustang were the P-51D and P-51K.  A total of 7,956 P-51Ds and 1500 P-51Ks were built.  Less than 100 remain flyable in the world today.

After World War II,  the United States Army Air Force's Mustangs remained in services with the Strategic Air Command until 1949 and for several more years with the US Air Reserve and Air National Guard units.  Mustangs were some of the first fighters to see action in the Korean War.

The 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show  welcomes Mr. Jim Beasley Jr. in his P-51 Mustang for the USAF Heritage Flight with the USAF F-15 East Demo Team.  Jim resides in West Chester, PA and has been flying since he was a baby, receiving his license when he was 18 years old while being taught by his Dad in a T-6 Texan.  Jim has over 2000 hours of flight time with approximately 1000 hours in the Mustang.  Jim is one of the originating members of the USAF's "Heritage Flight" program which will also be a part of this event.



US Navy F/A-18C Hornet

The 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show welcomes VFA-106 and Marine Corps Captain Jerry "Buff" Estell to this year's event.   For the first time at Millville, the single ship Hornet Demonstration will be a great part of this event.

The F/A-18 Hornet is a twin engine, mid-wing, all-weather fighter and attack aircraft. The F/A-18A and C models are single seat aircraft. The F/A-18B and D models are dual-seated. The Navy uses the B and D primarily for training, while the Marine Corps uses it for attack, tactical air control, airborne forward air control, and reconnaissance. The F/A-18C and D models are the result of an upgrade in 1987 incorporating provisions for improved night attack capability, as well as employing updated missiles and jamming devices.

The Hornet is the nations first true strike-fighter capable aircraft. It was designed for traditional strike aircraft missions without compromising its fighter capabilities. In fighter mode, the F/A-18 is used primarily as a fighter escort and for fleet defense; in its attack mode, it is used for force projection, interdiction, and close air support. 

F/A-18 Hornets are currently operating in 37 tactical squadrons worldwide and from 10 aircraft carriers. It is proudly flown by the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron.

The F/A-18 demonstrated its capabilities and versatility during Operation Desert Storm, shooting down enemy fighters and subsequently bombing their targets with the same aircraft on the same mission. It also broke all records for tactical aircraft in availability, reliability, and maintainability. The aircraft's survivability was proven by Hornets taking direct hits from surface-to-air missiles, only to fly again the next day. 

All F/A-18s can be configured quickly to perform either fighter or attack roles or both, through selected use of external ordnance and sensors to accomplish specific missions. This “force multiplier” capability gives the operational commander more flexibility in employing tactical aircraft in a rapidly changing battle scenario.

Gene Soucy Airshows

Aviation Legend Gene Soucy, former member of the record-setting Eagles Aerobatic Team two World Champion U.S. Aerobatic Teams, has won more awards than any other active airshow pilot. He is one on the most proficient airshow pilots in American aviation. A three-time US and Canadian National Champion, his exciting performances have entertained audiences on four continents.

Innovation and versatility are Gene Soucy’s style; combining airshows and competition flying throughout his career has earned him the nickname "Mr. Airshow".

Whether it’s a precision, high-energy championship solo in his Extra 330XS, delivering multiple thrills from gyroscopic tumbling to his heart-stopping Inverted Ribbon Cut, going head-to-head against other top-rated pilots in the new CASPA series airshow competition, wingwalking with Teresa Stokes in the "Showcat" Biplane, a spectacular night aerial pyrotechnic display also flown in the Showcat, flying jets, or record-setting formation aerobatics with the internationally acclaimed Eagles Aerobatic Team; Gene Soucy has done it all.

At the age of twenty-two, Gene earned a berth on the U. S. Aerobatic Team. At the World Contest in England that year, he was the youngest competitor flying. Finishing strongly in his Pitts Special, he placed 6th overall and helped the U.S. Team win its first World Championship. Since that very auspicious beginning Gene has gone on to gather an impressive competition record, and has been an active pilot in the unlimited category since 1969.

Gene began professional airshow flying in 1968, and has appeared in every major airshow on this continent. Among his 2700+ airshow performances have been appearances in his first airplane, the Pitts Special S-1S, demos in the BD-4 homebuilt and Bellanca Decathlon, thrilling comedy routines in Piper Cubs and Cessna 150s, and of course his outstanding performances with the Red Devils, now known as the Eagles Aerobatic Flight Team, with Charlie Hillard and Tom Poberezny in their Christen Eagle 1's.

In 1988 Gene developed a new airplane for airshow flying, the "Showcat."  He extensively modified a Grumman Ag Cat, a biplane normally used for crop spraying. The Showcat is built for the rigors of a wingwalking act and Gene's night performance, "Fireflight", a spectacular display of airborne fireworks that Gene brought back to airshows. In 1995 Gene added his Extra 300S, and later his Extra 330XS. Even though the Eagles Team run has ended, Gene is still involved with three of the top acts on the airshow circuit.

In addition to his multifaceted airshow career, Gene also has worked as a stunt pilot on major motion pictures and television movies as a member of the Screen Actors Guild. His last two projects were, "Aces/Iron Eagle III with Louis Gossett Jr., and "The Pancho Barnes Story", starring Valerie Bertinelli. Recently he and wingwalker Teresa Stokes, have been featured on the Discovery Channel’s "World of Wonder", Real TV, Good Morning America, ESPN & ESPN 2, and Speedvision.

Teresa Stokes is the top stuntwoman-wingwalker in the World as well as an internationally acclaimed aviation and space artist. She lives at her houseboat-studio near the Johnson Space Center in Houston.  She is also a pilot with multiengine, instrument, and commercial ratings, and enjoys flying aerobatics herself. She sometimes flies the Showcat to some of their shows. In addition to her flying and boating, Teresa owns a couple of 1940’s-50’s vintage classic cars, which she enjoys restoring, maintaining, and driving.

Teresa has been wingwalking on Gene Soucy’s Showcat since 1988. She says it is an inspirational way of experiencing her artistic subject matter, and loves the thrill of every flight. "Physically, it's like flying aerobatics without an airplane," she says, "and visually it's the most exciting view I've ever had while flying. As a seascape artist must experience the sea, an aviation artist must experience the sky. And what an experience it is!"

The 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show  is proud to have Gene and Teresa in attendance this year with their wingwalking aerobatic routine and Gene's Solo ShowCat aerobatic act.


Tim Weber's Geico Extra 300

Tim Weber discovered aviation at the age of 13. Having moved to within bicycling distance of Turf Soaring School in Phoenix, Arizona, it wasn’t long before Tim was a regular visitor to the airport. By the time Tim was 14 years old he had gone from being the kid looking through the fence to becoming a line-boy, trading work for flying lessons.

Tim’s aptitude for flying was evident early on. Within a short time he had soloed in several different types of gliders and had begun exploring aerobatics. Since that time, Tim has flown a variety of aircraft and experienced thousands of hours of aerobatic flying. His aggressive flying and natural ability have enabled him to become one of the top airshow performers in the United States today.

In addition to flying, Tim’s passion for music has grown through the years. Tim, a self-taught musician, was playing lead guitar professionally by the age of 17. He has since incorporated his love of music into his airshow routines by writing and performing original songs and instrumentals for his performances. Tim is a popular guest on radio talk shows and is a frequent speaker for groups and school assemblies. He is an Aerobatic Competency Evaluator for the International Council of Airshows as well as a certified aircraft mechanic with A&P and IA ratings.

The aircraft of choice for Tim is the German built Extra 300. The Extra 300 is an unlimited-class composite monoplane stressed to handle even the most demanding maneuvers. With over 300 horsepower and a roll rate in excess of 340 degrees per second, this aggressive mid-wing aircraft provides the performance and looks to make it an instant crowd pleaser.

Tim has joined forces with GEICO, the fifth-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States. GEICO has been providing insurance for more than 65 years and insures more than 5.3 million policyholders and 8.3 million vehicles. GEICO keeps their rates low by dealing directly with the customer. More than 10,000 drivers a week switch to GEICO. Watch Tim as he thrills crowds with his style of hard-core aerobatics in the GEICO Extra 300!

Drew Hurley

For more than eight years, Drew Hurley has been thrilling airshow crowds with his spectacular unlimited solo performances in his YAK 55M and moving their souls with his unparalleled patriotic in-cockpit dedications .   From inverted flight inches off the deck to 7,000 feet and down again awing the crowds with 20 or more inverted flat spins, Drew makes sure that every second in the air counts keeping new and old airshow fans on the edge of their seats. 

A retired Major from the New Jersey Air National Guard and a prominent attorney in private practice, Drew is at the peak of his airshow career and is looking forward to presenting to you this coming season formation aerobatics that will knock your crowds socks off.

We welcome the Drew back to Millville for this year's event!

Roger Lehnert

Each year thousands of airshow spectators thrill at the chance to see one the East Coast's most entertaining and unique airshow performers, Roger Lehnert.   Widely regarded as one of the finest Piper Cub pilots in air today, Roger's love of aviation dates to his childhood years.  As a youngster, he would ride his bicycle to a near by airport to watch the planes and dream of the day when he too would be able to soar like a bird.  On rainy days, Roger spent his time building light weight balsa models.  In his southeastern Pennsylvania high school, Roger built intricate radio controlled models.  About this time, he took the first steps to realizing his dream; he job a job as a lineboy at a local airport.  Flying lessons followed, and at age sixteen he soloed.  After a four year stint working as a Titan missile mechanic in the Air Force, Roger attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  It was there he earned his airframe and powerplant license.

Roger's first airplane was a 1930's vintage Taylor J-2 Cub.  He found it in the back of a barn, among various discarded farm implements.  Since then, Roger has been involved in several airplanes, including the building of a Pitts Special aerobatic biplane, as well as the restoration of a pair of Piper J-3 Cubs.  One is the J-3 he uses in his thrilling airshow routine.

The classic yellow shape of the Piper Cub has graced the American skies for over fifty years.  Designed as an inexpensive, simple, and dependable "everyone's airplane," the popular Cub enjoyed a lengthy production run of over 15,000 airframes.  At the height of its popularity, a new Cub "flew" off Piper's mile long assembly line every seventy minutes.

The Cub was designed to take off from the airfields of its day, basically any short, relatively flat stretch of grass.  As such, the Cub seems to hunger for the skies, even at very slow speeds.  It will become airborne at just under 40 mph, cruise at a leisurely 70 mph, and still cling to the air, refusing to stall, even at speeds as slow as 30 mph.

The Cub's dependability and flyability, especially at slow speeds, make the J-3 a natural for climax of Roger's show: the exciting rooftop landing atop the "Teeny Weeny Airport," a Ford pickup truck modified with a heavy duty suspension and a steel platform above the roof.  After a successful cartop landing, Roger flies the Cub off the roof of the speeding pickup. driven by his friend and fellow pilot Stanley Mann.  Roger then coaxes the Cub back to earth, for a smooth landing, and returns to his life as a sales representative in New Jersey and to his home in Avondale, PA that he shares with his wife.

A local Millville and South Jersey favorite, the 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show  welcomes Roger Lehnert back to this year's event!

The Vultures

The Vultures are a group of Experimental aircraft builders that build and fly their own aircraft in formation.  We have flown as part of larger formations at Sun-N-Fun and Oshkosh.  One formation was a 24 ship comprised of RV type aircraft from all over the country!  

The Vultures came about several years ago as a desire to perform a formation routine on the East Coast.  The Vultures consist primarily of Van's "RV" aircraft.  These are kit built aircraft certified under the "Experimental" category.  However, in recent months, we have incorporated Burt Rutan's "EZE" aircraft into the routine.

The Vulture Formation Team's routine consists of non-aerobatic formations set to music.  The routine will change the multi-ship formations during the 10 to 15  or even 20 minute show in a "Lazy-Eight" and "360" turn pattern in front of the crowd.  The sound of the props and engines, coupled with the background music and multiple formations, makes for an exciting and patriotic theme.  The final pass that we make will be the "Missing-Man" formation, with "Taps" playing in the background, in honor of the men and women who gave their lives for their country.

The "Vultures" hope to give the spectators something new and unusual to look at.  It is unusual because the pilots, some who have ordinary jobs and backgrounds (like many in the crowd),  built their own planes, taught themselves how to fly them, eventually in formation, and now perform in airshows.  This suggests to the spectators that hey, these guys are just like me and look what they are doing!

The 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show  welcomes the Vultures to this year's event.

USAF F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter Demonstration

The F-117A Nighthawk is the world's first operational aircraft designed to exploit low-observable stealth technology.

The unique design of the single-seat F-117A provides exceptional combat capabilities. About the size of an F-15 Eagle, the twin-engine aircraft is powered by two General Electric F404 turbofan engines and has quadruple redundant fly-by-wire flight controls. Air refuelable, it supports worldwide commitments and adds to the deterrent strength of the U.S. military forces.

The F-117A can employ a variety of weapons and is equipped with sophisticated navigation and attack systems integrated into a state-of-the-art digital avionics suite that increases mission effectiveness and reduces pilot workload. Detailed planning for missions into highly defended target areas is accomplished by an automated mission planning system developed, specifically, to take advantage of the unique capabilities of the F-117A.

The first F-117A was delivered in 1982, and the last delivery was in the summer of 1990. The F-117A production decision was made in 1978 with a contract awarded to Lockheed Advanced Development Projects, the "Skunk Works," in Burbank, Calif. The first flight was in 1981, only 31 months after the full-scale development decision. Air Combat Command's only F-117A unit, the 4450th Tactical Group, (now the 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.), achieved operational capability in October 1983.

The F-117A program has demonstrated that a stealth aircraft can be designed for reliability and maintainability. The 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show  welcomes the 49th Fighter Wing from Holloman AFB, NM with a flyby of their F-117A Nighthawk on Saturday and Sunday.



USAF B-2A Spirit Stealth Bomber

Flying on Saturday only at the 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow  will be the United States Air Force's very own B-2 Spirit flown in from the 509th bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. 

The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions.  Its combination of stealth, global range, and large payload of precision munitions place it at the forefront of air operations in defense of the Untied States.  The B-2's unique properties make it ideal to "Kick down the Door" of enemy defenses, allowing follow-on friendly forces to operate with reduced risk.

B-2 bombers led the way in the campaigns over Afghanistan and more recently in Iraq, where their accurate payloads of up to sixteen, two thousand pound joint direct attack munitions were an integral park of the effort to remove the regime of Saddam Hussein from power.

The B-2 carries a crew of two pilots, and is capable of striking anywhere in the world either by flying directly from its base in Missouri, or by deploying to forward locations outside of the United States.  The B-2 holds the record for the longest combat mission in aviation history; 44 hours from Whiteman Air Force Base to targets in Afghanistan.

In December 2003, the 509th Bomb Wing celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the delivery of the first B-2 to Whiteman Air Force Base, reflecting on a decade of accomplishments in three wars.  New weapons in development will soon increase the aircraft's precision capability five-fold, keeping it at the cutting edge of aerospace power.

The 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show  proudly welcomes the USAF B-2A Spirit as part of this weekend of airshow festivities in Millville!

Marine's Dream FG-1D Corsair

When Ray Dieckman began the task of turning a veritable pile of airplane parts into an award winning US Marine Corps Goodyear FG-1D Corsair, the first thought that crossed his mind was "what on earth have I done?" Ray is no stranger to restoration, as he has history of restoring several aircraft before tackling the Corsair. 

Ray acquired the Corsair project in March 1995 from the late Harry Tope of Mount Pleasant, Michigan. He hired a truck and had all the parts moved to his hangar in Chino, California. After unloading the parts, Ray sat there wondering how on earth he was going to put this Corsair back together. He took a deep breath, rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He had observed the guys at Chino Air Museum complete many restoration projects, all of which had resulted in beautiful flying machines. He never would have attempted such a project without the knowledge he'd gained from working with the guys at the air museum. This deconstructed Corsair had no ailerons and the interior parts were missing. The motor mount was no longer functional, so his good friend Roger Lamb undertook the project of returning the mount to excellent condition. The ailerons were built from blue prints, and Dick Bertea loaned Ray a set of non-airworthy ailerons so that Tony Fuicama could construct a new pair . Ray wanted everything firewall forward to be top quality, so he had an accessory cowling made, as the original was missing. He scoured the aviation warehouses, picking up all the Corsair parts he could find, as he wanted to have plenty of spare parts on the shelf. 

It took 3 years to make headway. The Pratt & Whitney R2800-79 was installed and overhauled by Day Air of Stockton, California, to replace the original engine, as it would allow more room for the extra hydraulic tank and a pre-oiler for the long- term operation of the plane. Ray located Corsair parts all over the world, including New Zealand, where the brand new Firestone micarta linings for the firewall where purchased. Jim Morin wired the airplane with King Gold Crown radios and GPS. Bill Mix did a lot of the detailing; Roger Sperber supplied much of the hardware and mechanical genius L&L Anodizing performed the anodizing and plating throughout. Preservation Instruments donated original instruments and Deft Paint Co. donated 62 gallons of paint. Sun Air Parts donated R2800 parts and accessories for the engine; Golden State Propeller overhauled the mighty three-blade propeller; EFS Hydraulics provided a complete overhaul of the hydraulic systems; EB's Interior customized the canopy cover and upholstery work for the back seat; and Standard Aircraft Parts supplied all of the copper conduit. Sherri Dieckman pitched in, too, tying the miles of wiring bundles on the dining room table. 

The project started to come together in 2000. The Marine's Dream paint scheme was decided up on, in the colors of Corsair Ace Ken Walsh. The big day was near! The engine was tested and the Goodyear nameplate was taken into space on the Space Shuttle by John Glenn, and Kurt Brown.

Marine's Dream's first flight occurred on 26 May 2000. Ray, Sherri, and their friends and family had devoted the last 5 years reviving one of the greatest fighters in history . Ray flew the Corsair to Oshkosh in July of 2000, where he won the Reserve Grand Champion Warbird Trophy, and also the Golden Wrench Award.

In the winter of 2004, the aircraft was sold to a collector and warbird enthusiast in central New Jersey, Tom Duffy.   Along with Tom's TBM-3E Avenger, the 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show would like to welcome "Marine's Dream" and the TBM to this year's event!

Ron Saglimbene's Split Image SF260 

The Siai Marchetti SF260 is sleek military trainer with jet- like performance. It is still in production and is presently the primary military trainer in over 20 countries throughout the world. Only a handful of these remarkable aircraft are in civilian hands.

Cruise numbers are near 190 knots, and even pulled back to 65% power, the slick Marchetti will rumble along at a typical high of 176 knots. For example, to fly formation with a North American T-6, the Lycoming is pulled back to 20 inches and 2,200 rpm- indicated airspeed, still nearly 140 knots. No less impressive is the Marchetti’s climb performance. The SF goes up at nearly 2,000 fpm. The 260’s proportions are very nearly perfect; it possesses an enticing combination of beauty and menace, much like Sigourney Weaver wielding a howitzer.

At a gross weight of 2,430 pounds, the SF260 tips the scales much like a Piper Archer. That’s featherweight for the 260 hp- sort of like dropping a Corvette engine into a Chevette- so its no wonder the Marchetti is as speedy as it is. Plus, the airplane is clean; both the wing roots and the tip-tank/wing junction are faired, and the cowling fits as snugly as a pair of blue jeans right out of the dryer. The windscreen is steeply raked, and the sliding canopy fits with military precision.

Because of the Marchetti’s speed potential, and the fact that such a beefy powerplant resides in a small airframe, it is a handful. Things happen very quickly. It takes an experienced pilot to fly one of these unique aircraft, especially in an airshow environment.

Ron Saglimbene is the pilot and owner of this striking Siai Marchetti SF260.

He started his flying career in 1970 and has began flying aerobatics in competition over fifteen years ago. Ten years ago, Ron began his airshow career flying a solo act in a Pitts Special. Then he became part of The Split Image Aerobatic Team, flying lead in the formation aerobatic act for the last six years. He is a commercial pilot with over 5,000 hours and holds an unrestricted (surface) waiver, both solo and formation. Ron has performed in hundreds of military and civilian airshow performances throughout the Northeast.

The 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show welcomes Ron with his SF260 Marchetti to this year's event!


Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation

The Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation is dedicated to preserving the memory and legacy of the greatest humanitarian/aviation event in history, The Berlin Airlift.  Their mission is to preserve this memory by preserving several aircraft used in the great event and creating "Flying Memorials and Classrooms" with the purpose of educating the public about this pivotal, yet forgotten, event in world history. 

Founded in 1988, the Foundation has obtained and restored to flying condition, a Douglas C-54E Skymaster transport aircraft, which helped support the C-54's which carried out this great mission. Named "SPIRIT OF FREEDOM", the aircraft is painted to represent the 48th Troop Carrier Squadron, one of the many groups which carried out the event. Inside, the "SPIRIT", is a genuine museum dedicated to the Berlin Airlift, filled with artifacts, displays, and information explaining this all important event in recent history. 

The 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show is proud to have their C-54 Skymaster on display during the event.  

Warbirds Over Long Island
Robert & Chris Baranaskas
(photos courtesy of Greg Witmer, and Messrs. Baranaskas)

The 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show welcomes Robert and Chris Baranaskas and their wonderful  aircraft to this year's event.    Everyone in attendance is certain to enjoy the PT-17 Stearman, SNJ-5 Texan, and P-51D Mustang that are owned by this family.

Following in his father’s footsteps; Bob learned to fly at the age of 17.  He is a Commercial Pilot with Single, Multi Engine Instrument Ratings and has a Formation  Waiver. 

The North American T-6 Texan  was known as "the pilot maker" because of its important role in preparing pilots for combat. Derived from the 1935 North American NA-16 prototype, a cantilever low-wing monoplane, the Texan filled the need for a basic combat trainer during WW II and beyond. In all, more than 17,000 airframes were designed to the Texan standards.

North American's rapid production of the T-6 Texan coincided with the wartime expansion of the United States air war commitment. As of 1940, the required flights hours for combat pilots earning their wings had been cut to just 200 during a shortened training period of seven months. Of those hours, 75 were logged in the AT-6.  U.S Navy pilots flew the airplane extensively, under the SNJ designataion, the most common of these being the SNJ-4, SNJ-5, and SNJ-6.

P-51D Mustang "Glamorous Gal" - # 41-3903 WD L- was from the 335th squadron of the 4^th Fighter Group of the Eighth Air Force stationed in England from 1942 to 1945. The 4^th Fighter Group was the first fighter group of the Eighth  Air Force to penetrate German air space on the 28^th of July 1943.   

One of the most effective, famous and beautiful fighter aircraft of WWII, the P-51 was designed to fulfill a British requirement dated April 1940. Because of the rapidly-mounting clouds of war in Europe, the UK asked North American Aircraft to design and build a new fighter in only 120 days.

At the same time, the US Army Air Corps ordered a small number for tactical reconnaissance evaluation as the F-6A. After the RAF found the aircraft's performance lacking, they tested a new engine, the 12-cylinder Rolls-Royce Merlin. This gave much-improved performance, and led to the USAAF fitting two airframes with 1,430-hp Packard-built Merlin V-1650 engines. These aircraft were designated XP-51B. Practically overnight, the aircraft's potential began to grow.

Since the RAF had had good success with the Mustang in a ground attack role, the USAAF bought 500 aircraft fitted with dive brakes and underwing weapons pylons. These were initially designated the A-36A Apache, but later retained the name Mustang. Almost simultaneously, they ordered 310 P-51As with Allison engines..

The first Merlin-powered versions appeared in 1943 with the P-51B, of which 1,988 were built in Inglewood, California, and the P-51C, of which 1,750 were built in Dallas, Texas. Both new versions had strengthened fuselages and four wing-mounted 12.7-mm machine guns. The Merlin-powered Mustangs were exactly what the Allied bombers in Europe desperately needed, and they became famous for their long range and potent high-altitude escort capability. The most significant variant, the P-51D, featured a 360-degree-view bubble canopy, a modified rear fuselage, and six 12.77-mm machine guns. 7,956 were built.

 After the war, the P-51 remained in US service with the Strategic Air Command until 1949, and with the Air National Guard and Reserves into the 1950s. It became one of the first fighters to see combat in the Korean War. The RAF's fighter Command used them until 1946. In addition, over 50 air forces around the world acquired and used the Mustang for many more years, some as recently as the early 1980s. When the US Air Force realigned their aircraft designations in the 1950s, the Mustang became the F-51.

The PT-17 Stearman was built as a private venture by the Stearman Aircraft Company of Wichita (bought by Boeing in 1934.  This two-seat biplane was of mixed construction. The wings were of wood with fabric covering while the fuselage had a welded steel framework, also fabric covered. Either a Lycoming or Continental engine powered the craft at a top speed of 124 mph with a 505-mile range. The plane was easy to fly and forgiving of new pilots at stall speeds.

American Air Power Museum

Affectionately know as "the Jug", the P-47 was a heavy (7-ton) fighter for it's time. Designed as an interceptor, it found it's true role as a hard-hitting ground-attack aircraft. It's great structural strength and massive radial engine that could withstand damage better than that of in-line engined fighters like the Mustang and P-38 helped it survive the punishment typically incurred on low-flying aircraft. With drop tanks the P-47 could escort bombers as far as Berlin, and while it served admirably in this role, most USAAF groups had switched to the Mustang by the end of the war.

The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt originated from the drawing board of Alexander Kartveli of the Seversky Aircraft Corporation (later renamed Republic Aviation). The Thunderbolt is consistently rated as one of the three outstanding USAAF fighters of World War II-- rated right up there along with the North American P-51 Mustang and the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. The P-47 was built in larger numbers than any other American fighter, 15,683 examples rolling off the assembly line before production finally ended.

At one time during the heady days of 1944, there were no less than 31 front-line fighter groups flying Thunderbolts. Thunderbolts fought on all fronts in World War 2, including Alaska. Approximately two-thirds of all Thunderbolts built actually reached operational units overseas. In two and a half years of combat, from March 1943 to August 1945, these Thunderbolts flew over half a million combat missions, destroying over 12,000 enemy aircraft both in the air and on the ground, as against a total of 5222 Thunderbolts lost, only 824 of them in the heat of combat. This corresponded to 54 percent of the Thunderbolts which went overseas being eventually lost either to enemy action or to accidents, which was a fairly typical attrition rate for a wartime fighter. Losses of Thunderbolts on operational missions were 0.7 percent of those dispatched, an exceptionally low figure.

By the end of the war, the Thunderbolt had established an overall ratio of air-to-air combat victories to losses of 4.6 to 1. Thunderbolts dropped 132,482 tons of bombs, fired 59,567 rockets, and expended 135 million belts of machine gun ammunition.

From D-Day to V-E Day in Europe, Thunderbolts destroyed 86,000 railway cars, 9000 locomotives, 6000 armored vehicles and tanks, and 68,000 trucks. By the end of the war, Thunderbolts had destroyed 2752 enemy aircraft in the air and 3315 on the ground.

The P-47N version of the Thunderbolt was the last version to be manufactured in quantity. It was a specialized long-range version built specifically for service in the Pacific theatre.

Four P-47D-27-RE airframes (serials 42-27385/27388) had been taken off the production line at Farmingdale and fitted with the Pratt & Whitney R-2800-57(C) engine driving a larger CH-5 turbosupercharger. This engine could produce a war emergency power of 2800 hp at 32,500 feet with water injection. These aircraft had been redesignated YP-47M and served as the prototypes for the P-47M series.

The 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show welcomes the American Airpower Museum and their P-47N Thunderbolt.  A vital part of the history of the Millville Army Air Field, we welcome this aircraft to the airshow.

Commemorative Air Force "Old Dominion Squadron" 

The Lockheed C-60 Lodestar was the designation given to 36 Model 18-56 twin-engine commercial airliners acquired from civilian sources early in World War II. The C-60 was used by the Army Air Corps as a general personnel transport. C-60A designated the 325 aircraft built to specification as military paratroop transports.  The design of the Lockheed 18 Lodestar followed on from the Lockheed 14 Super Electra. The first prototype was flown on 21 September 1939. Lockheed failed to achieve worthwhile sales in the United States since most operators were committed to purchase of the DC-3; however, there was wide overseas interest by export customers. C-60A’s were also used as glider tugs, target tugs, VIP aircraft, and cargo transports. Other models similar to the C-60 include the A-29 Hudson bomber and the Navy’s PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon patrol bombers.

Typical of the C-60’s after WWII, the Old Dominion Squadron’s "Lady Lodestar" (N30N) was placed in commercial service. Their C-60A was donated to the Commemorative Air Force in 1960 by a private corporation.  Assigned to the Old Dominion Squadron based at Hampton Roads, Virginia in 1986, the Lodestar was restored to military configuration by members of the squadron between 1981 and 1987.  "Lady Lodestar" began her air show career soon after. Our goal is to keep "Lady Lodestar" flying for the next 50 years. 

In addition to the Old Dominion Squadron’s "Lady Lodestar," the CAF has three other C-60s. One is operated by the Mile High Wing in Colorado, another by the West Houston Wing in Texas and the last in storage.

The 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show welcomes the Commemorative Air Force with their C-60 LodeStar to this year's event.




Hot Air Balloons

Academy of Model Aeronautics and International Miniature Aircraft Association


For the first time at the 2005 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show members of the Academy Of Model Aeronautics and International Miniature Aircraft Association with be on hand with 20 giant scale warbird replicas.  These models will be on static display near the entry gates of the airshow and near Big Sky Aviation both days and will put on a flying demonstration from 10:10am to 10:40am  on Saturday and Sunday.  These models will include a 10’ wingspan B-25 Mitchell, 10’ wingspan P-38 Lightning, SJN-5 Texan, TBM Avenger, L-19 Birddog C-45J Bugsmasher, PT-17 Stearman, OV-10 Bronco, Ryan STA, A1 Skyraider, ME-109, and many others.

The flying display of these aircraft will include two Stearman Bi-Planes with 116" wingspans, a B-25 Mitchell with a 118" wingspan, TBM Avenger with an 108" wingspan and a C45J with a wingspan in 114."