Project Launch Announcement: The Aero Experience Supports Production of Fly Now! The Movie

By Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience is proud to support the production of Fly Now! The Movie, a "Reality Aviation Documentary" (RAD) that will illustrate why we fly and more broadly, why we live.  The project will continue through the fall of this year with debut planned in December.  Major production sessions will be held at Sun'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo in April and at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 in July.  

"The Aero Experience enthusiastically supports the Fly Now! The Movie project," said Carmelo Turdo, Founder of The Aero Experience.  "The movie fits directly into our mission of celebrating Midwest Aviation, and it will make the connection between why we fly and why we live to a larger audience.  We will support the project with our media resources and join the crew in as many locations as possible throughout the year." 

The Aero Experience has covered the accomplishments of Brian Kissinger, two-time brain cancer survivor, author of Life Short, Fly Now! and Executive Producer of Fly Now! The Movie.  His ability to overcome significant medical and personal setbacks to remain a participant in aviation (including world speed records in the LSA aircraft category) is well known to our audience.  The movie project, though, is different than previous endeavors.  "You can't script life," Kissinger said during the filming of the promotional movie trailer.  "More importantly, what we're doing for the movie is (for) aviation.  It's (about) a lot of people's lives, not just mine."   

The website and Facebook page for Fly Now! The Movie will be available shortly.  Check out the movie trailer below and check back often for more updates.





EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014: Michael Rambo and the T-6C Texan II

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

The EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014 airshow lineup included a number of manufacturer demos of new or developing aircraft.  One of those unique performers was the civilian T-6C Texan II in Beechcraft colors, flown by company test pilot (and former USAF T-6 demo pilot) Michael Rambo. The Texan II is part of a  proven training system used by the U.S. military service and allied countries.  The high-energy aerobatic program shows the jet-like performance and turbo-prop economy of the aircraft.  Beechcraft also markets the AT-6 light attack aircraft development of the Texan II, featured in The Aero Experience coverage of the Beechcraft exhibit from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2013.   

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014: Happy Anniversary Lockheed P-38 Lightning!

 

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014 continues with a look back at the Lockheed P-38 Lightning warbirds on display during the week.  The XP-38 first flew on this day in 1939, and the production model set new standards of performance and aeronautical design.  The project team was led by Chief Engineer Hall Hibbard and included a young Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, who would go on to lead the design of legendary aircraft in the jet age following World War II.  The P-38 went on to serve in the USAAF valiantly throughout the war, gaining a sterling reputation as an escort fighter and claiming the honor of shooting down Admiral Yamamoto, Commander of the Imperial Japanese Navy Combined Fleet and architect of the attack on the U.S. Naval Forces at Pearl Harbor.  Very few of these aircraft remain out of the nearly 10,000 produced.        

Two Lockheed P-38s were on display at various times throughout EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014 in the Warbirds Area.

The P-38 Lightning aircraft on display included the EAA's P-38L in polished aluminum with red trim representing the fighter flown by America's highest-scoring ace, Major Richard Bong. 

The other Lightning, the P-38F "Glacier Girl," was retrieved from under 268 feet of ice in 1992 after 50 years of entombment following a mass landing of fuel-starved aircraft on the Greenland glacier.  The expedition was led by Bob Cardin, who is pictured below giving his account of the recovery of the P-38 parked behind him. 

"Glacier Girl" also served as a backdrop for other activities that day, including a demonstration of World War II-era flight gear and, of course, posing models.



EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014: Michael Goulian

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience resumes our coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014 after taking a little break to report on some local events.  We come back strong with Michael Goulian flying his Extra 330SC sponsored by Whelen, Goodyear and numerous others.  Goulian, a Plymouth, MA native, is a U.S. National Unlimited Aerobatic Champion, Red Bull Air Racer and winner of the aerobatic industry's top three awards.  He is no stranger to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and other top airshows around the world when not competing in the Red Bull Air Races.  He also makes time for the media and airshow fans at each event, and The Aero Experience was pleased to speak with him the last two years at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.  We hope you enjoy the following sequence: