Editorial: Angry Skies

By Ed Downs

Moore, Oklahoma has become a symbol of both tragedy and courage. In Flight USA sends our heartfelt sympathies to the families who have lost loved ones and to those for whom rebuilding is an almost unbearable challenge. Our prayers are with all who have lost so much to the terror of tornadoes in the weeks preceding this June issue.

Like many, this writer was glued to the television as the story of Moore, Okla. unfolded. Just one day before, Shawnee, Okla. was hit, with the loss of two lives and millions in property damage.  An entire mobile home park was leveled. Shortly after the monster tornado hit Moore, a well know television news anchor for a popular national cable news network initiated a telephone interview with a well-known, Oklahoma-based, meteorologist and storm chaser. This Manhattan dwelling anchor somewhat flippantly asked, “So, how do you guys get these great tornado shots from your cars and helicopters. Do you just drive and fly around with a camera sticking out the window hoping for something to happen?” Fortunately, the storm chaser in question is a real pro. Although on the job for almost 48 hours straight, he politely told the anchor exactly what role ground and airborne chasers actually perform. This man had just saved hundreds of lives, yet our New York-based anchor (for whom Central Park represents rural America) continued to address a true hero as if he were little more than a thrill seeker. But wait, I am getting ahead of a personal narrative I would like to share about these terrible events of May 19 and 20. Let me get back to the heroic services offered by local television and weather departments a bit later in this editorial comment.

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Surrounded By Thunder-The Story Of Unsung Heroes Who Made Space Travel Possible

From America’s first satellite Explorer I, through Apollo and putting the first man on the moon, aeronautical engineer Darrell Loan had a hand in them all! Surrounded by Thunder: The story of Darrell Loan and the Rocket Men (Inspire on Purpose Publishing), by Tom Williams, tells the true story of this extraordinary man, his family, friends and colleagues, and of a time not to be forgotten in America’s history - a time that has never been surpassed and that truly was and always will be, Surrounded by Thunder.

Only twelve years separated the launch of the Russian satellite Sputnik and Americans landing on the moon, but during those golden years of space exploration the most fearless aviators ever climbed aboard the most dangerous creations ever assembled to rocket into space and claim a true pinnacle of human achievement. Information on the mission dates, the astronauts, and many of the unforgettable characters that made up this account of America’s race for space and then to the moon are all factual; however, thanks to the author’s talent for gripping storytelling, this historical narrative reads more like an incredible science-fiction adventure.

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Contrails: Busting Sod

By Steve Weaver

Lewis Field in 1969 (Steve Weaver)From my present perch of experience and years I sometimes think about the early days of my flying career and I have to say I often give myself goose bumps with the recollecting. Casting my thoughts back and reliving some of the dumb things I routinely did with airplanes in those halcyon days, I wonder how I could have gotten away with it. I shouldn’t have, you know.

One of the things that give me shivers is recalling the airports that we were flying from during this period. I wonder what in the world I was thinking when I flew the airplanes that I did from the short grass strip that was our runway at Lewis field where we ran the flying school. The strip was 1,600-feet long, with the ends stoutly defined by fence posts and barbed wire, so there were never negotiations available about the boundaries when summer pushed the density altitude up.

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Eddie Andreini's Primo Branco

By Sagar Pathak

Eddie Andreini flies his P51D Primo Branco over the waters of Half Moon Bay, Calif. (Sagar Pathak)For more than 40 years, Eddie Andreini has been dazzling airshow crowds across the country. With the recent military participation in airshows being cut back due to sequestration, a small group of pilots are doing what they can to remind our nation that airshows are still alive and going strong. Even if teams like the USN Blue Angels or the USAF Thunderbirds are not flying, folks like Eddie Andreini are taking to the skies and putting on shows. Larger events may get canceled due to a lack of military participation, but there are dozens and dozens of smaller, more intimate shows still entertaining out there. One such show was the Pacific Coast Dream Machines fly-in at Half Moon Bay, Calif., also home to Eddie Andreini Airshows.

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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.

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