Don't miss Kent Pietsch in his "Jelly Belly" Interstate Cadet "power-off deadstick act".
Kent will climb to altitude in the Jelly Belly aircraft, ignite the beautiful wingtip smoke and then shut his engine off. The thing is, the Interstate Cadet's engine can only be restarted while on the ground (its a hand cranked starter). So once it's off...it's off! Kent then begins flying a graceful aerobatic routine in his "plane turned glider". Once he runs out of airspeed, Kent will land the aircraft and, through energy management, place the spinner of his non-moving prop into the hand of an airshow volunteer at the very end as he comes to a complete stop! There is no other show like it!
Kent Pietsch has been performing in airshows since 1973, performing incredible routines in more than 400 shows in front of millions of people. One of the most sought after acts on the circuit today, Kent is the 2005 Recipient of the Bill Barber Award for Showmanship, the 2007 Art Scholl Showmanship Award and and Honorary Member of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. Kent grew up in Minot, North Dakota and would find a way to the airport every day after school, doing whatever he could to get an airplane ride. It all started with him falling in love with flying at the age of four and he has not let up after over five decades. He truly is a showman!
Kent flies an 800-pound Interstate Cadet with a 37-foot wingspan. The plane's horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine can generate 90 horsepower and a G-force ranging from -3 to +5. Interstate Cadet's were produced between 1941 and 1942, with around 320 being produced total. The aircraft was designed as a utility and training aircraft. Kent takes it and, pun intended, puts a new "spin" on what it was built for.
Ironically, with our headliner this year being "TORA! TORA! TORA!", the Interstate Cadet rose to prominence as being the first United States aircraft to be shot at during the Pear Harbor attack on December 7th, 1941. 22 year old woman aviator Cornelia Fort was a flight instructor for Andrew's Flying Service in Honolulu, Hawaii. On that Sunday morning, she was out with a student when she saw a shadow of a another plane. As it began to pass her, she started to hear machine gun bursts. It was a Mitsibuishi A6M2 Zero taking part in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Cornelia took control of the Cadet and was able to land it, riddled with bullet holes. Both she and her student survived by running for cover. Just a bit of a history lesson for you.
Don't miss Kent Pietsch's "power-off deadstick act" at this year's Field of Flight.
Hold on to your hats, Patrick McAlee will be making his Battle Creek debut in 2017. The name of his company is "Extreme Flight" and you will find out why within seconds of him taking to the sky.
Jack Knutson is no stranger to Battle Creek, having performed here numerous times since the Mid-90s with the American Firebirds, Firebirds Delta Team, Firebirds XTreme, The 4CE and as a solo performer. Jack will take his "Firebird" Extra 300S and put it through its paces as he flies an amazing and graceful aerobatic routine filled with numerous traditional and hardcore aerobatic maneuvers. The Extra 300 is a popular aerobatic aircraft and with one of the best and most experienced aerobatic pilots in the industry at the controls, you'd better be prepared to be thrilled on July 1st, 2nd 3rd & 4th!
Growing up in an Air Force family, Billy has been around some sort of airplane his whole life. He started flying in 1988 and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Professional Aviation Technology from Indiana State University in 1994. In 1992, he started teaching aerobatics and has been hooked ever since. In 1997, he graduated from Undergraturate Pilot Training and started flying the KC-135R for the Air ForceReserves. He was hired by Chautauqua Airlines in 2001 and is now a Captain on the Embraer 145, based in Indianapolis. Billy has over 6000 hours of flight time in 20 different aircraft, with 600 of it teaching folks how to fly upside down.
Matt Younkin will be returning to Battle Creek this year in the beautiful Beechcraft 18, an old cargo/airliner aircraft. You will not want to miss this act as it is a performance that will shock everyone in attendance, even those aviation buffs. If you don't think an old 1940s style airliner (that was also retrofitted for military cargo purposes) can't perform aerobatics....then think again!
The Younkin's family Beech 18, named "Miss Ellie", was built in 1943 by the Beechcraft Corporation in Wichita, Kansas (built as an AT-7C for military service). The airplane went into service with the Army Air Corps, being based at Houston's Ellington Field. It was re-designated to the C-18S when the Army transferred ownership to the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA). The plane has seen tons of owners over the years until Younkin Airshows, Inc. purchased it in 2000 as a replacement to Bobby's original Beech 18. After Bobby's untimely death in July 2005, the plane spent two years in retirement in Tullahoma, Tennessee before Matt debuted his version of his fathers Twin Beech routine at Sun-N-Fun 2007 in Lakeland, Florida. "Miss Ellie" is the mascot for Younkin Airshows and the nose art/name of the Beech 18 because, with the exception of the paint scheme, is essentially the same as when it was sold from military surplus in 1945. It's a true warbird and a large aircraft performing aerobatics. So, of course the mascot would be an elephant.
Beauty has become the Beast! Bob Carlton returns to Battle Creek and will take to the skies in a plane that was meant to be powerless, but has become very powerful. We, of course, are talking about Vertigo Airshows' Jet Super Salto Sailplane.
Bob Carlton is an experienced, professional, and versatile pilot. He began flying at the age of 19 in 1979. Since then, he has logged over 2000 hours in a wide variety of aircraft, including hang gliders and helicopters. Bob began performing airshows in 1993 and has since flown numerous different acts all over the world. Bob Carlton was the creator of some of the most innovative acts of the Late 90s and early 2000s, leading right upt to the Jet Super Salto. Other innovative acts include the Starduster Biplane aerobatics, the World's FIRST Helicopter-Sailplane Tow, night aerobatics with strobes and pyro and the world's first and only twin jet sailplane.
Greg "Wired" Colyer will be making his Battle Creek debut in 2017. He will be performing in the T-33 Shooting Star known as "Ace Maker II".
The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star was the first jet trainer developed for the United States Air Force (Army Air Corps when originally developed). The aircraft is a variant of the P-80 Shooting Star, the first jet to be active in the United States Military inventory. The aircraft was originially planned in 1943. The aircraft was designed by famous aircraft designer Clarence "Kelly" Johnson. The aircraft was, notably, the first aircraft designed by the team that would become known as the "Skunk Works" division at Lockheed (going on to develop other major aircraft such as the F-104, SR-71, U-2 & F-117). The XP-80 was designed as a jet fighter and first flew before World War II was even over, on January 8, 1944. Eventually, the design needed a variation so pilots could learn to fly the newer jet aircraft. The T-33 first flew on March 22, 1948 and went on to train many of our flying aces of the Korean War. P-80s themselves met many MiG's over the area of northwest Korea known as "MiG Alley". The very first jet vs. jet victory occurred during the Korean War when a MiG-15 was downed by a P-80.
"Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- The United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan". Words that have gone down in history discussing the attack on Pearl Harbor spoken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. At the 2017 Field of Flight, you will be able to experience "The Day of Infamy" brought to life by the Commemorative Air Force's long-running "TORA TORA TORA" act.
The show begins with ukelele music and a historical introduction where you are asked to close your eyes and learn about everything that lead up to the attack on that fateful day. When you open your eyes next, you are suddenly at Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. Japanese Aircraft are filling the sky and explosions are rocking the entire airfield, the Japanese have achieved total surprise. You are now not only learning about history, but experiencing it.
As dusk falls over W.K. Kellogg Airport, some MAGICAL ILLUMINATIONS begin. During our "Balloon Illumes" the launch field will be lit up with the glowing burners of over 20 Hot-Air Balloons. This "picture-perfect" site, is something that you won't want to miss and will become one of your favorite family memories forever.
Jake Kershaw is a performer with heart. He has the raw talent, the feel, the soul and the drive of some of the most popular blues musicians in history...from Stevie Ray Vaughn to BB King. Jake spent his entire lifetime playing the guitar and fell in love with blues music in 2014 after hearing Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Marshall, Michigan based "Chameleon" is a fan-favorite in Southwest Michigan. This tribute band plays their songs with true passion and undeniable showmanship that anyone in the crowd can tell they are having fun and loving what they do. With a combined amount of on-stage experience of over sixty years, this band will show you their skills and play what you and the rest of the crowd loves.
Great Scott! is the hottest cover band in the Midwest, playing the best of the 50's to the new millennium. Featuring five guys on keyboard, guitar, bass and drums - there's no way you can resist tapping those toes and dancing. With over 15 years of experience, this band surely knows how to engage the crowd and keep patrons happy.