Performer Information
as of 5 May 2007


US Navy Blue Angels

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, Blue Angels, is stationed at Sherman Field, NAS Pensacola, Florida. The squadron is scheduled to fly 70 air shows at 35 locations in the United States during the 2007 season. The squadron spends the winter (January through March) training pilots and new team members at Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, California. The mission of the Blue Angels is to enhance Navy and Marine Corps recruiting and to represent the naval service to the civilian community, its elected leadership and foreign nations. The Blue Angels serve as positive role models and goodwill ambassadors for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. A Blue Angel flight demonstration exhibits the choreographed refinements of Navy-trained flying skills. It presents the graceful, aerobatic maneuvers of the four-plane diamond, as well as the fast-paced high performance maneuvers of the two solo pilots. The renowned delta formation is complete with six jets performing maneuvers, as a whole, in formation. The 2006 show season brought out more than 15 million spectators. Since 1946 the Blue Angels have performed for more than 350 million people.

History
At the end of World War II, Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, ordered the formation of a flight demonstration team to showcase naval aviation. The team performed its first flight demonstration less than a year later, June 1946. Flight Leader, Lt. Cmdr. Roy "Butch" Voris led the team flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat at Craig Field, Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida.

The Navy Flight Demonstration Team transitioned to the Grumman F8F Bearcat, August 25, two months after the first demonstration. In 1947 Flight Leader, Lt. Cmdr. Robert Clarke, introduced the famous diamond formation, now considered the Blue Angel trademark. At the end of the 1940s, the Blue Angel Team was flying its first jet aircraft, the Grumman F9F-2 Panther.

In 1950, the Korean Conflict put a great demand on naval aviation. The Navy responded by reassigning the Blue Angels to the aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CV-37), where the Blue Angels became the nucleus of Fighter Squadron 191 (VF-191), known as Satan's Kittens.

The Blues were reorganized in 1951 and reported to NAS Corpus Christi, Texas where the team began flying the F9F-5, the faster version of the Panther. The team remained in Corpus Christi until the winter of 1954. The beginning of 1955 brought the team to its present home, Sherman Field, NAS Pensacola, Florida where it transitioned to flying the swept-wing Grumman F9F-8 Cougar.

The ensuing 20 years saw the Blue Angels transition into two more aircraft. In 1957 the team began flying the Grumman F11F-1 Tiger. By 1969 the team was performing in its first dual-engine jet, the McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II.

In December 1974, the Blue Angel Team reorganized as the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron establishing Cmdr. Tony Less as the commanding officer. The squadron added support officers and redefined its mission to support Navy recruiting. The Blue Angel Squadron also donned a new aircraft in 1974, the McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II.

On November 8, 1986, the Blue Angels completed their 40th anniversary. During the ceremony the squadron unveiled its present aircraft, the sleek McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet. The Hornet is the first dual-role fighter/attack aircraft serving on the nation's front lines of defense.

In 1992 the Blue Angel Squadron deployed for its first European tour in 19 years. Over one million people in Sweden, Finland, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, the United Kingdom and Spain saw the Blue Angels perform during their 30-day tour. In November 1998, Cmdr. Patrick Driscoll landed the first "blue Jet" on a "haze gray and underway" aircraft carrier, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75).

The air shows throughout the 2006 show season brought out more than 15 million spectators, and since 1946, the team has flown for over 345 million people.

The 2007 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show  welcomes the Blue Angels to their second performance at Millville and their only Philadelphia Area appearance this year!!

USAF F-15 Eagle Demonstration Team

The 2007 Wheels & Wings Airshow welcomes the USAF F-15 West Coast Demonstration team  to this year’s event.      The demonstration pilot is Captain Tony “Baron” Bierenkoven.  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).

Jim Beasley Jr.
(Photo Courtesy of John Baert)

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 2007 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.

Greg Poe "Ethanol Kicks Gas" MX-2

Greg started flying planes as a teenager, is a former test pilot and has flown over 100 different planes in his past 32 years as a pilot. He is a world-class aerobatic pilot and performer; FAA certified flight instructor and ICAS aerobatic competency evaluator. He placed 2nd in 1999’s World Freestyle Sport Flying Championship, and 3rd in the 2000 World Aerobatic Federation Championship.

Greg has developed a program called “Elevate Your Life”, a youth outreach program designed to inspire young people to follow their dreams, using aviation as a positive influence. Skydancing to an original musical score, "Attitude is Everything" Greg lets loose a spectacular performance complete with high-volume smoke and extreme energy.

Greg has been featured on ESPN, the Discovery Channel, Modern Marvels, Ripley's Believe It or Not, and Fox Sports. He has also recently completed filming a TV show called "Show Pilot" which will air sometime in 2006.

This year marks Greg's first full year with FAGEN as his primary sponsor.  Fagen, Inc. was founded on the principle of making our clients successful. From local, agricultural grassroots initiatives to construction management for Fortune 500 companies, we have the broad range of skills and services necessary to be your single source contractor.    The FAGEN sponsored Edge 540 runs on 100% Ethanol.   A first for any airshow performer!

Greg is a true aerobatic artist, and his performances are highly regarded as some of the best in the airshow industry.

We welcome Greg to the 2007 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show with the FAGEN Sponsored and Ethanol fueled, MX-2!

Red Eagle Air Sports

Red Eagle Air Sports—Magic in the Air! 

Providing a singular blend of low-level precision formation and solo aerobatics with fascinating transitions, Red Eagle Air Sports is nationally known for it’s eye-popping, spectacular performances. Prepare to witness 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 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.

Team lead Dan McClung harnesses the raw power of the Talon Eagle to push the aircraft to its performance envelope.  Dan completed over 21 years of active and reserve flying for the U.S. Navy before retiring as a Commander.  Dan has accumulated more than 18,000 hours of flying, a remarkable achievement considering that he completed nearly 400 day and night aircraft carrier landings in the A7 Corsair.  His last tour included working with the famed Top Gun school as an aggressor pilot, flying the A-4 Skyhawk before his career as a pilot for a major airline.  After 25 years with the airline, Dan recently retired as a 767 Captain.  Dan is an ACE, an Air Show Competency Evaluator, appointed by the International Council of Air Shows. His responsibilities include evaluating other air show performers for safety and competence.  Dan’s many hours of physical conditioning, discipline and practice in the air results in an air show that is both captivating and innovative.   Dan’s dream is to make everyone watching his performance feel the fun, excitement and passion that he has for flying.

At the controls of the Red Eagle, Buck Roetman combines his passion for flying and years of experience in the air to captivate audiences nationwide.  Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Buck cut his teeth in motor racing and building high-performance racecars.  Buck holds nearly every FAA rating from Airline Transport Pilot to Airframe & Powerplant mechanic.  Buck specializes in systems and structure fabrication to keep the team in the air.  His goal is to inspire others with his gifts and talents in aviation.  When he’s not building, instructing or coaching wrestling, Buck flies a Learjet for a major corporation. 

Dan and Buck lead the way on the Red Eagle team, recognizing that the talent to build and fly airplanes that entertain like this comes from a higher authority!  Their mission?  To use their God-given talents and opportunities to challenge others to excel in everything they do.  Visit them online at www.redeagleairsports.com 

Red Eagle Air Sports would like to thank our presenting sponsor, PPG Aerospace, the makers of aviation coatings, sealants and transparencies. 

For more information about PPG Aerospace, visit www.ppgaerospace.com 

Red Eagle Air Sports is pleased to announce a partnership with On Wings of Eagles Foundation, which exists to inspire today’s youth to a life of purpose and excellence.  In association with Chick-fil-A (www.chick-fil-a.com), the Red Eagle team visits schools, hospitals and churches nationwide, using their love of aviation and piloting skills as analogies for living a life of adventure and purpose.  To learn more, or inquire about having On Wings of Eagles Foundation visit YOUR school or youth event, visit them online at www.onwingsofeagles.org or e-mail info@onwingsofeagles.org 

Red Eagle Air Sports—Thrilling audiences nationwide!  We welcome the Red Eagle Air Sports to Millville for this year's event!

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!

Rob Holland "Aerial Advantage" Ultimate Aerobatics

Rob Holland has been flying since the age of 18 and has accumulated greater than 5,500 hours in over 100 types of aircraft. He graduated Daniel Webster College in 1997 with a B.S. in Aviation Management and a B.S. in Aviation Flight Operations.

Rob is ATP rated with a CFI and CFII and also holds a glider rating. He has flight instructed, towed banners, ferried aircraft throughout the country, flown cooperate in a Pilatus PC-12 and flown for the commuters in a Jetstream 31 for USAir Express.

Rob currently owns and operates Aerial Advantage Aviation School of Aerobatic Flightin Nashua, NH where he specializes in Emergency Upset Recognition and Recovery, Aerobatic, Spin, and Tailwheel instruction with over 3800 hours of tailwheel time and over 1900 hours teaching aerobatics to students of all skill levels.

He has received multiple first place and subsequent awards in several aerobatic competitions in the United States and Canada, and has performed in airshows all over the Eastern United States. Rob was the New England Aerobatic Competitor of the year in 2002 and is the Northeast Advanced Aerobatic Champion for 2003. Rob is currently a member of the United States Advance Aerobatic Team. 

We welcome Rob to this year's Millville Airshow



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

The 2007 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 P-40 Warhawk, 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 designation, 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.

Allen H. Smith III L-39C Albatross

Allen is a native of Wynnewood, PA just west of Philadelphia and has been flying since he was 17 years old.  After graduation from Lower Merion High School he entered Penn State University at College Park, PA as part of the first Pre-Med class to graduate through the Hershey Medical Center.  During his freshman year he literally bumped into the Naval flight recruiters that were on campus and offered to take him for a ride.  The hop was in a T-34B,  just like the one Allen now owns, and after just 15 minutes of aerobatics, Allen’s life was changed forever.  He passed all of his testing and medical exams that same week and sworn into the Navy at the age of 17 as part of the AVROC Flight  program.   In very quick order Allen changed his major to Aerospace Engineering and started taking flying lesson at the local airport. 

Today Allen is a retired Vice President of Engineering for Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals in St. David’s PA .  Along with his  son Chris they live in Glenside PA and own 2 immaculate museum quality aircraft.  The first,  a NAVY T-34B with a 285 hp engine that had 1650 hours TTSN in 1974 when the FAA zero timed the plane after Allen’s restoration.  Most T-34’s have between 7 to 11,000 hours on them.  Their second plane is a Soviet L-39C Albatross Jet Fighter that they imported directly from Estonia, Russia in late 1996.  Allen and Chris spent 1950 man-hours, and most of 1997 & ‘98 restoring the L-39 to better then new condition with all new US avionics and electrics.

We welcome Allen to this year's event with the Czech Jet L-39C Albatross.

Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City HH-65C Dolphin

The history of the Coast Guard in southern New Jersey and the Delaware Bay encapsulates the history of the entire Coast Guard. In the early 1800's, the Coast Guard's predecessor, the Revenue Cutter Service, patrolled the New Jersey coast while performing its duty of collecting tariffs from merchants inbound to the busy port of Philadelphia. Later, during the days of Prohibition, smaller boats were commissioned to search for rumrunners smuggling their goods onto New Jersey beaches.

Brooklyn Patch The first lifesaving stations along the New Jersey coastline were built in 1849 in response to a rash of deadly shipping accidents. The term "Group" was first coined in reference to this string of lifesaving stations from Barnegat to Cape May, New Jersey. In 1969, Cape May became a Group-Air Station when three helicopters were stationed there under the command of the Group Commander. Originally, organized into two separate group offices based in Atlantic City and Cape May, these command structures were combined in 1982.

Group-Air Station Atlantic City in its present form is the result of a Coast Guard aviation streamlining initiative to realign unit location with the capabilities of today's modern aircraft. Air Station Brooklyn, New York and Group-Air Station Cape May, New Jersey resources were combined at the newly constructed $13 million facility at Atlantic City International Airport, which opened June 8, 1998.

Air Station Atlantic City is a multi-mission unit, possessing "6" HH-65 Dolphin Helicopters. Air Station Atlantic City's area of responsibility includes the coastal shoreline extending from Cape Charles, Va., north to the mid-point shoreline of Long Island, the East River, north on the Hudson River to Albany, the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, and the Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and New York City areas..

The Air Station is responsible for search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, recreational boating safety, and maintenance of aids to navigation; which include Lighthouses in the Air Station's AOR.

As the primary search and rescue responder for the lower Delaware Bay and the New Jersey Shore, Air Station Atlantic City and Group Atlantic City conduct approximately 1,500 search and rescue cases a year. In addition to the busy job of search and rescue, the Group and Air Station conduct an average of 660 law enforcement boardings each year. These boardings include; enforcement of boating safety laws, fisheries regulations, commercial fishing vessel safety, and drug trafficking.

In 2005, CGAS Atlantic City was the first unit to receive the new HH-65C Dolphin aircraft.  With new avionics and engines, these aircraft provide the US Coast Guard with additional strength for their daily mission.


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 2007 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show is proud to have their C-54 Skymaster on display during the event.  



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 2007 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show would like to welcome "Marine's Dream" and the TBM to this year's event!    Tom will also static display his newly acquired P-47D Thunderbolt and B-25 Mitchell in attendance  with his L-4, Beech Staggerwing, Cessna 170, Grumman Widgeon, and SNJ during the event as well.

Rag Wings & Radials

Rag Wings & Radials' B-25J is restored as "Panchito" that served with the 396^th Bomb Squadron, 41^st Bomb Group, 7^th Air Force, stationed in the Central Pacific.

The North American B-25 was one of the most famous twin engine medium bombers used during World War II. It was produced in greater numbers than any other American twin engine combat aircraft. No doubt part of it's heroic stature derives from its namesake, the outspoken Gen. Billy Mitchell who proved once and for all that bombers could destroy targets, and that wars would nevermore be decided only on land or sea. The B-25 achieved worldwide fame on April 18, 1942 when sixteen B-25's under the command of Lt. Col. James Doolittle were launched from the aircraft carrier HORNET and attacked Tokyo in a daring raid. 

Larry Kelley acquired B-25J S/N 44-30734 in September 1997. This B-25 was delivered to the USAAF too late to see any action in World War II but was used in various duties until assigned to Air Training Command in 1948 where it was used until 1954. In 1955 it was put through the Hughes conversion to a TB25N configuration and served with various Air National Guard units until being retired to Davis-Monthan AFB in 1958. The B-25 was sold to it's first civilian owner in 1959 and was used as a fire bomber and then later as a mosquito sprayer in Florida. Imagine being a mosquito and seeing this thing coming at you! This B-25 was finally immaculately restored to original W.W.II condition by Tom Reilly of Kissimmee Florida in1986. It was finished as "Panchito", a B-25J S/N 43-28147, that served with the 396 Bomb Squadron, 41st Bomb Group, 7th Air Force, stationed in the Central Pacific. "Panchito" was scheduled for another bombing run to Japan on the day the Japanese surrendered.

The 2007 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show welcomes Rag Wings & Radials to our airshow!

Mid-Atlantic Air Museum

Founded in 1980, the Mid Atlantic Air Museum (MAAM) was designed to preserve a rapidly disappearing part of our American heritage and history, especially the aircraft and artifacts associated with the people, places, and events of the Middle Atlantic States. To carry out this mission, the Museum seeks to:

• Acquire a representative collection of civilian aircraft.
• Restore these aircraft to flying condition.
• Provide a permanent home to preserve and display the collection.

The Mid Atlantic Air Museum does more than preserve the artifacts of aviation history. By maintaining these historic aircraft in flying condition, the Museum also preserves the maintenance, fabrication, and flying skills of a bygone era. Taking the collection to the public, Museum members are able to reach an ever-growing audience eager to learn of the exploits of flyers of the past and their achievements.

Presented in the museum are just a few of the more than 50 aircraft, ranging in age from the late 1920's to 1983, in the Mid Atlantic Air Museum's collection. While many of MAAM's aircraft are unrestored, with some in storage and not visible to visitors, nearly twenty are airworthy, with approximately two-dozen on exhibit at the museum's facility.

The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's B-25J Mitchell "Briefing Time" is representing the museum at this year's event.  We are happy that they are in attendance.

Academy of Model Aeronautics and International Miniature Aircraft Association


The 2007 Wheels & Wings Airshow and Car Show welcomes members of the Academy Of Model Aeronautics and International Miniature Aircraft Association 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 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.