2012 Tuscaloosa Regional Air Show presented by McAlister's Deli Performers

Click on performer's name to view their information.

U.S. Navy Blue Angels
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About the Blue Angels Team A total of 16 officers voluntarily serve with the Blue Angels. Each year the team typically selects three tactical (fighter or fighter/attack) jet pilots, two support officers and one Marine Corps C-130 pilot to relieve departing members.

U.S. Army Golden Knights
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About the Golden Knights In 1959 13 men joined together to form the Strategic Army Corps Sport Parachute Team, to compete in the then communist dominated sport of skydiving. The team performed so well that on June 1, 1961 the Army officially recognized, designated and activated the team as the U.S. Army Parachute Team.

Rob Holland Ultimate Airshows
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About Rob Holland Ultimate Airshows When you experience the thrill of watching Rob Holland flying the Veteran Home Loans MX2 at airshows across North America, that is exactly what you will be asking yourself. Millions of people have marveled over Rob’s non-stop, action packed airshow routine. Stepping off his Gold Medal Finish at the 8th World Advanced Aerobatic Championships, Rob brings a whole new and exciting set of world-class maneuvers to his performance year after year! When you experience the thrill of watching Rob Holland flying the Veteran Home Loans MX2 at airshows across North America, that is exactly what you will be asking yourself. Millions of people have marveled over Rob’s non-stop, action packed airshow routine. Stepping off his Gold Medal Finish at the 8th World Advanced Aerobatic Championships, Rob brings a whole new and exciting set of world-class maneuvers to his performance year after year!

Younkin Airshows
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About Younkin Airshows Matt Younkin is a third generation pilot. He is the son of legendary airshow pilot Bobby Younkin, who is famous for his amazing aerobatic displays in the AT-6, Beech 18, Learjet 23, Samson, and most recently, the Super Decathlon. Bobby is considered to be one of the greatest airshow pilots of all time.

Firebird Xtreme
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About Firebird Xtreme

Firebird Xtreme features Rob Halland, with Rob Holland's Ultimate Air Show, and Jack Knutson.  When the Firebirds X-Treme Air Show Team comes to your event, you get three spectacular air show performances filling 35 minutes of your air show schedules.  Jack Knutson, in his Extra 300/s, and Rob Holland in his MX-2, have created an extremely high-energy, non-stop, two ship performance that combines the precision of formation aerobatics with radical gyroscopic tumbles and heart-stopping, head-on maneuvers.  Combined with professionally choreographed music, and cockpit narration, makes this show a great crowd pleaser.  Jack also unleashes his 16 years of free-style air show experience with this finely polished show with his Extra 300/s.

Sanders Racing
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About Sanders Racing

Home of Big Red.  "Fly Low, Fly Fast, Turn Left."  Based in Jasper, Alabama, Big Red is always a crowd favorite at air shows and the World Championship Reno Air Races.  Pilot, Joey "Gordo" Sanders, was a natural on the race course and soon a crowd favorite flying the well-known Big Red number 5 in the T-6 class.  Gordo placed 5th in the Silver class his first year at the World Championships Reno Air Races.  He then raced the one-time Tunica, MS event and placed first in the Silver Class.  Gordo's crew is comprised of local friends and pilots who provide invaluable team support.  Due to retire from the Air Guard as a Lt. Col after 23 years, Gordo is now a MD-11 Captain and has nearly 20 years with FedEx.  He is currently transforming Sanders Aviation into an FBO with some exciting new amenities at the Walker County Airport.  His most recent accomplishment is a new FAA Aerobatic card.

Dixie Wing of the Commemorative Air Force
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About Dixie Wing

The Commemorative Air Force is a non-profit organization with the 83rd unit of the CAF being called the Dixie Wing, based at Falcon Field in Peachtree City, Georgia.  It is their mission to preserve history by restoring and maintaining, in flying condition, actual combat planes used in World War II and house them in museum facilities for permanent display and protection as a tribute of the thousands of men and women who built, services and flew them.  Dixie Wing has a collection of six vintage planes with two of them in restoration.  The planes of Dixie Wing fly in air shows throughout the Southeast and will proudly bring a P-51 Mustang to the 2012 Tuscaloosa Air Show presented by McAlister's Deli for air demonstration and static display.

Lucas Oil Air Show Pilot Michael Wiskus
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About Lucas Oil Air Show Pilot Michael Wiskus

Like many of the show pilots, Mike’s passion for aviation started when he was very young. Mike’s Dad took him to his first air show at their home town in Iowa at the age of 10. The show made an everlasting impression so deep that at 14, Mike begged for a job at the Mason City Iowa airport washing airplanes and cleaning hangars just to be around airplanes. Later, he traded his work for flying lessons and received his Pilots License on his 17th birthday.
Thirty years later, Mike has accumulated more than 23,000 flight hours and has qualified in more than 30 aircraft. Today, Mike keeps busy by flying for Corporate America as well as keeping a full time air show schedule from April through November.
Mike owns and operates a high quality aircraft maintenance and refurbishing facility in the Minneapolis, MN. area in addition to his Corporate Aircraft Management company where he manages several corporate flight departments. But his real passion is strapping himself in to one of the highest performance air show aircraft in the world. The Lucas Oil Pitts show plane.
As a 2002 U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, and a member of the 2004 United States  Aerobatic Team, Mike has traveled the World with the same aircraft you will see him performing in at the air show. His excitement for aviation and willingness to share his aviation experience with people around the country is nothing short of contagious.
This year, Mike’s schedule will include more than 20 air shows with more than 60 performances throughout the U.S. and Canada. 

Alabama State Trooper Aviation Unit - Bell 407
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About Alabama State Trooper Aviation Unit-Bell 407

Alabama State Trooper Pilots will demonstrate their ability to conduct one of many capabilities in rescue operations at the 2012 Tuscaloosa Air Show!


Tide Aircraft, LLC. - P-51D Mustang
   
About Tide Aircraft

Based out of Columbus, Mississippi, Tide Aircraft, LLC purchased this P-51D Mustang and renamed "Sarah Jean" after Tide Aircraft owner's daughter, who is also a pilot.  Don't miss out on their spectacular performance!


Commemorative Air Force - Goodyear FG-1D Corsair
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About Commemorative Air Force

The CAF FG-1D was manufactured in July 1945, and is a Goodyear licence built equivalent of the Chance Vought F4U-1D. It is primarily based at the CAF's Dixie Wing hangar at Peachtree City-Falcon Field airport, southwest of Atlanta, GA., and is operated and maintained by the CAF Corsair Sponsor Group. The CAF Corsair proudly represents the 'checkerboard' livery of VMF-312 F4U-1D #530, flown principally by 1st Lt. Merritt O. Chance (later Major USMC Ret.).


Jane Wicker Airshows - Wing Walker
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About Jane Wicker Airshows

No where else will you see wing walking just as it was done during the Golden Age of Aviation.  Jane begins and ends the act at show center.  The spectators will be introduced to her and see her climb aboard the impressive 450 HP Stearman.  She will proceed to amaze the crowd by climbing and walking, untethered, to several different locations upon the aircraft right in front of spectator eyes.  Don't miss out!


Red Star Pilot's Assocation - CJ-6A and YAK 52
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About Red Star Pilot's Association

The RedStar Pilots Association is a Federal 501(c) (3) Not-For-Profit corporation registered in the state of Virginia. The association mission is to promote and preserve the safe operation, display and enjoyment of all aircraft -- jet to prop, aerobatic, sport, warbird and utility -- especially those originating in the current and former communist block nations. The RPA strives to function as a clearing house for information related to maintenance and safe operation of our aircraft. Through our designated Check Pilots and Instructor Pilots, and the national F.A.S.T. organization, we develop performance standards, principles and techniques which we disseminate to member pilots in order to promote safe formation flight and the safe operation of our aircraft.


Army Aviation Heritage Foundation, Inc. (Huey Helicopter Rides)
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About AAHF The Army Aviation Heritage Foundation (AAHF) is a non-profit public educational foundation filed under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS. The Foundation is dedicated to presenting the Army Aviation story to the American people through narrated, patriotic flying presentations and static displays of the actual aircraft and equipment used by the men and women who served in Army Aviation.