Coles County Airport Airshow 2018: Greg Koontz and the Alabama Boys

By Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience continues our coverage of the 2018 Coles County Airport Airshow with a look at two performances from Greg Koontz and the Alabama Boys. Greg Koontz flew his solo aerobatic show in the bright red Super Decathlon, a favorite act at airshows of all sizes, including the giant annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. He also flew his Piper Cub as farmer Clem Cleaver, who "steals" the plane after demanding a flight lesson. He ends up touching down on the top of a recovery truck, only to climb out and eventually land. Great aerial entertainment as always from Greg Koontz and the Alabama Boys!

Coles County Airport Airshow Preview

By Carmelo Turdo

The biennial Coles County Airport Airshow provided national and regional airshow performers for the large crowd at Mattoon, IL on Saturday. The Midwest Aviation event is a staple of this central Illinois community, offering first-class entertainment without the cost and travel of going to a larger venue. The Aero Experience was there to cover the day's performances, courtesy of a flight in our friend Aaron Tarlow's Comanche, Grace.  In this first feature story, we have a sample of what we experienced at the event, with much more coverage of the hot ramp and airshow to come.

Phillips 66 Aerostars, Extra 300L

Air Tractor Water Spray Demonstration

Bob Richards, Pitts S-1SS

Eric Downing's Douglas Skyraider

Greg Koontz and the Alabama Boys

Greg Koontz, Super Decathlon

L.D. Jeffries, FLS Microjet 

Lee Leet, Tucano 

Randy Ball, MiG-17

Check back soon for more great coverage from the ground up!

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016: Airshow Performers - David Martin, Greg Koontz and Jim Peitz

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience continues our coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016 airshow performers with a trio that brought very different styles of aerial entertainment during the daily airshows.  The three pilots, David Martin, Greg Koontz and Jim Peitz, are household names in the airshow community. 

David Martin, usually known for his high-energy aerobatic performance in the Breitling CAP 232, flew a very different routine in his slow but graceful Bucker Jungmeister BU133D1.  The 1930s-era design was produced in Germany and Spain as an advanced trainer, though this particular aircraft dates to the early 1970s.  The design was used regularly in aerobatic competitions into the 1960s, and the crowds at EAA AirVenture 2016 were treated to a precision demonstration of this classic aircraft, including a no-hands inverted pass.

Greg Koontz performed his brand of graceful aerobatics in a 180hp Super Decathlon.  He has set the standard for Super Decathlon aerobatics, flying barrel rolls, loops and inverted ribbon cuts among other maneuvers.  Get ready for some beautiful flying when Greg Koontz is in the airshow!    

Jim Peitz flies an aerobatic Beech F33C Bonanza in a demonstration of the classic aircraft's sweeping maneuverability.  Peitz flies other aerobatic and commercial aircraft, and owns several aviation businesses in his home base in Pierre, SD.