Doug Jackson and his TORA 101

Doug Jackson is a local commercial pilot who flies the TORA 101. Festival attendees may recognize this aircraft from the 1970 film “TORA! TORA! TORA!” It is a Japanese A6M Zero replica that has an authentic sounding engine, three-bladed propeller, wing-mounted propane machine guns and a smoke system. Jackson’s act includes surprise attacks and dogfights, warbird formations and flybys.

The Iron Eagle Aerobatic Team

The Wichita Flight Festival audience will be on the edge of its seat watching the close maneuvers performed by this team. The Iron Eagle Aerobatic Team from Canaan, Conn., is one of the most exciting acts flying the circuit today. They stretch the limits of their custom-built biplanes. From the crossfire takeoff to the switchblade hammerhead, every move is unexpected.

Greg Shelton Air Shows and Wingwalker Ashley Battles

Greg Shelton from Collinsville, Okla., has been performing in air shows for more than 20 years. He will be flying two aircraft at the Wichita Flight Festival. The first is a F4 Wildcat that will participate in dog fights will fellow air show performer Doug Jackson. He will also carry out beautiful stunts from inside a patriotic red, white and blue 1943 Super Stearman aircraft. In 2003, Shelton added wingwalker Ashley Battles from Augusta, Ga., to his act. Battles performs death-defying stunts on the Super Stearman as Shelton navigates the skies going 155 mph doing barrel rolls, dives and steep climbs into the sky. They are nothing short of amazing!

Kelly Pietrowicz (Happy Aerobotics)

Meet Kelly Pietrowicz, who has the distinction of being Oklahoma’s only female air show performer. Pietrowicz excels at executing her flight maneuvers with precision, always keeping safety in mind. Her passion for flying comes through as she performs loops, rolls, hammerheads and spins in her fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft.

Kent Shockley and the Shockwave jet truck

Galena, Kan. native Kent Shockley and his Shockwave jet truck awes more than 2.5 million spectators each year. The Shockwave is a modified Peterbuilt semi with three Pratt and Whitney jet engines. At 36,000 horsepower, it has enough power to accelerate to 3Gs vertical, which is as much as the space shuttle. The Shockwave is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s fastest full-size truck for reaching a speed of 376 mph.

Mad Bomber Airshow Special Effects LLC

Roger and Barb Crawford from Westminster, Colo., are the duo behind Mad Bomber Airshow Special Effects. They are known for taking pyrotechnics to a whole new level. Their 750-feet long, 40-feet high “Wall of Fire” will be part of the festival’s Twilight Air Show. Fascinated with explosives all his life, Roger has shared his enthusiasm and pyrotechnic skills with air show audiences across the United States and Canada. 

Manfred Radius (Glider Aerobatics)

Manfred Radius performs graceful and elegant maneuvers in a fully aerobatic sailplane – a pure one without an engine! He is a top professional performer who hails from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Radius will thrill Wichita Flight Festival spectators with acts he has been performing for the past 20 years across North America.  

Red Eagle Air Sports (Sponsored by PPG Industries)

Red Eagle Air Sports is a nationally renowned two-ship formation aerobatic team from Arley, Ala. The pilots fly highly modified biplanes and provide a singular blend of low-level precision formation, solo aerobatics and fascinating transitions. Prepare to witness inverted flat spins, inside and outside loops, multiple snap rolls, tail slides, and the team’s signature maneuver – the Torqued Eagle.  

Rich Perkins and Firecat

Firecat is a big, fast-moving, kerosene-burning jet that is sure to grab everyone’s attention. The aircraft is flown by Livermore, Calif. native Rich Perkins, who doesn’t shy away from the most exciting aerobatics and warp-speed flybys. Perkins is a U.S. Air Force veteran who is not only adept at flying extremely high and extremely low, but also backwards! Festivalgoers will be in awe over the Firecat.

Michael “Gameshow” Rambo

Wichitan Michael “Gameshow” Rambo is a commercial pilot who flies the T-6C aircraft for Hawker Beechcraft Corporation. Not counting local practices at El Dorado airport, he has performed 13 international demonstrations this year in Australia and Paris and is scheduled to perform twice in Texas and once in Florida later this year. To date, more than 700 T-6 aircraft – all of which were built in Wichita – are in operation around the world training U.S. Air Force and Navy pilots as well as pilots in numerous other countries worldwide.