EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018: Airshows - Performer Variety Pack

By Fred Harl

The Aero Experience continues our coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018 with this look at several different performers seen at the daily airshows. This edition of our airshow series presents a performer variety pack of unique aerial presentations that make the week in Oshkosh such an amazing experience. From skydivers to experimentals to modified production aircraft, this set runs the gamut of aerial entertainment!

Patriot Parachute Team 

FLS Microjet and CriCri Team

  












Game Composites Gamebird 1 

Tiger Airshows Yak-55

Gene Soucy and Teresa Stokes

Go EZ Aerobatics Long-EZ 

Jim Peitz Airshows

Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Museum Glider Club

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 2014: Justin Lewis in the FLS Microjet

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

Jets come in many shapes and sizes, but there is only one classic Microjet.  The first generation of BD-5J Microjet performers, flying aircraft from a stock of 20 kits purchased by Bob Bishop, were best known in the their Budweiser and Coors sponsor colors in the 1980s-1990s.  The 300mph jet is not easy to fly, and only the best pilots continued their careers after flying the BD-5J for any length of time. 

The current resurgence of the Bede Microjet family has its roots in the effort of BD Micro Technologies to update the design to current standards now called "Flight Line Series" or FLS.  The Aero Experience presents the airshow performance of Justin Lewis in the FLS Microjet for the second year, in its new wrap.