When Skip Soars, Summer Airshow Season Is Here
The name “Skip Stewart” has become synonymous with summer airshow excitement! Gracing the cover of In Flight USA, with photography by Tyson Rininger, is airshow performer Skip Steward in his infamous Prometheus.
(Photo courtesy of Tyson V. Rininger)Prometheus the flying machine is part Pitts Special and the rest Skip and Christina Stewart. Starting life as a Pitts S-2S, Prometheus was modified to give Skip the airshow machine he wanted. This flying machine looks like a good ol’ American hot rod. The horsepower was increased to (400), the big three-bladed prop reminds you of oversized racing slicks, the rear canted landing gear makes it look fast sitting on the ground and the paint job yells “street rod!”
With a climb rate of 4000 fpm, max speed of 197 mph, stall speed of 58 mph, empty weight of (1146) lbs., and range of 405 miles – this is an all muscle bi-plane.
Skip is one of the most entertaining airshow pilots in the world. He has more than 8,000 hours of flying experience, is an airline transport pilot, certified flight instructor, has owned and operated an aerobatic flight school, earned gold medals in regional aerobatic competitions, served as a chief pilot for a fortune 100 company and has spent more than ten years entertaining airshow fans around the world.
Editorial: Take Command
By Ed Downs
Sometimes you get it right, and sometimes not. In the March issue of In Flight USA, this writer addressed the “sequester,” with threats to close FAA control towers and reduce other services related to flying safety. At that time sequester details were not known and I wrote, “Now, to be realistic, these threats will probably not actually come to pass as the calamitous results of fatal budget cuts. Even as this is being written, announcements have been made that the elected heroes of our sagging republic are going to hold last minute negotiations. This meeting will basically conclude that “the other guy” is at fault for current circumstances and nothing will be done, with current economic problems simply being put off to another day.”
