GhostWriter Airshows

Nathan was born into the airshow world, his first flight was at two weeks old on his mother’s lap. Raised in up-state New York, the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum was his childhood playground and a major influence from day one. Fascinated by the thrill and excitement at the weekly airshows, Nathan’s approach to safely demonstrate aircraft for the crowd’s entertainment was developed.

In 2016, with a well-established airshow career, Nathan re-named the Chipmunk, GhostWriter, in reference to his skywriting. Today, Nathan fly’s GhostWriter in an action packed routine full of loops, rolls and verticals, held tightly in front of the crowd. When night falls and the stars come out, he lights up the sky with 200lbs of wing mounted pyrotechnics and special effect lighting, as he dances across the sky.

The Buckeye Airshow is proud to welcome the U.S. Marine Corps for a debut showcase of the MV-22 Osprey. Known for its distinctive tiltrotor design, the Osprey bridges the gap between rotary-wing agility and fixed-wing speed. Its ability to transition from vertical flight for takeoffs and landings to horizontal flight for high-speed transit makes it one of the most versatile assets in the Marine Corps arsenal.

Tryg Aviation

Wingwalker Sam has honed her craft at shows across North America since 2014. A decade later, she is pleased to debut her roaring, smoke-bellowing, beautiful Grumman Airshow-Cat. Pilot Mike has flown precision aerobatics at shows since 2011. Spectators are in for a treat as he skillfully demonstrates the Airshow-Cat’s capabilities in two mesmerizing surface-level displays.

Wing Walking Demo: A spectacular 10-minute smoke-on aerobatic sequence to showcase the ultimate ‘trust walk,’ a demonstration of Crew Resource Management at its finest, and the skills that have led to modern-day air-to-air refueling. As a military veteran, herself, Sam dedicates each performance as a tribute to service members, veterans, first responders and their families.

Airshow-Cat at Twilight: A dazzling 10-minute solo aerobatic performance featuring LED lighting, smoke effects and wingtip pyrotechnics.

 Tom Larkin, Mini Jet Air Shows

Tom received an Aerospace Engineering degree from Georgia Tech, and then entered the Air Force for pilot training in 1984. Tom was selected as a T-38 Instructor pilot, and then progressed to the F-15C. He was awarded Top Graduate in F-15 school, and he flew 22 missions in North Iraq in support of Operation Northern Watch and Provide Comfort.  Tom later was selected as an Instructor for the Air Force Fighter Lead-In School in the AT-38. He left active duty in 2000, and now resides in the Denver, CO area.

The "star" of Mini Jet Airshows is a highly modified SubSonex Jet, otherwise known as JSX003. The SubSonex is an Experimental Jet that comes as a kit. It weighs 500 lbs, goes up to 300 mph, and it is fully aerobatic. This particular aircraft was the first kit ever sold and flown, and it has been flying for approximately eight years. The jet is powered by the PBS TJ-100 jet engine from the Czech Republic, and at full throttle it is capable of producing 258 lbs of thrust while burning 45 gallons/hr of jet fuel. As beautiful as the jet is, there is no paint on it. It is completely wrapped in a vinyl covering, similar to a show car. The smoke system is totally custom, and it puts out a tremendous smoke trail from start to finish, burning about seven gallons of smoke oil per show. 

Commemorative Air Force

NextGen Eagles Aerobatic

Ask anybody in his family and they will tell you Leland Kracher has always been looking up at airplanes. With his late mother a flight attendant and his grandfather as airplane obsessed as he, Leland was no stranger to an airshow throughout his youth. Always having dreamt to fly, on Christmas 2005 his parents fulfilled that dream with gift certificates to the local flight school, and two days later he took his first lesson at the age of 13. Leland went on to solo on his 16th birthday and has been flying ever since. 

Designed by Frank Christensen to compete with the Pitts Special, the Eagle II is marketed in kit form for homebuilding. It set a new standard for completely documented homebuilding kits that revolutionized the homebuilding industry. Leland Kracher is set to pilot this aircraft, representing the NextGen Eagles Aerobatic Team.

The Wings of Blue

The Wings of Blue is the United States Air Force’s elite parachute team, delivering high-energy, precision skydiving demonstrations that captivate audiences worldwide. Comprised of hand-selected Academy cadets, enlisted personnel and officers, the team performs dynamic freefall formations, precision canopy piloting and crowd-centered maneuvers that bring the excitement of military aviation directly to spectators.

Each performance highlights exceptional airmanship, discipline and teamwork while inspiring future Airmen and honoring those who serve. From stadium jumps to full-scale airshow demonstrations, the Wings of Blue brings patriotism, professionalism and adrenaline to the sky.

Radial Rumble

Hailing from Overland Park, KS, pilot Jeff Shetterly is a third generation aviator who grew up in Indianapolis. Jeff graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in Human Factors Engineering and served in the United States Army on M1A1 Abrams tanks. He was stationed in Germany and deployed several times to the Balkans, leaving military service in 2001.

In the years since, Jeff has become an instrument rated commercial pilot with an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate and Certified Flight Instructor, flying single and multi-engine aircraft as well as gliders (102 different aircraft types). Jeff hopes his performances will be an inspiration to both children and adults, and he is constantly humbled and enjoys learning from the veterans.

SRC Airshows

SRC Airshows is owned and operated by Stephen Covington, a premier aerobatic performer dedicated to pushing the limits of modern flight. For years, Stephen captivated audiences in his highly modified Pitts S2S, famously known as "the Raptor". While the Raptor has since been retired, Stephen’s performances have reached new heights with his latest aircraft, "Fury 2.0", a state-of-the-art Gamebird GB1.

Aviation has been a defining part of Stephen’s life since childhood. What began as a fascination with model airplanes and classic aviation cinema evolved into a professional career. This lifelong passion is evident in every maneuver he performs, blending technical precision with the spirit of classic barnstorming.

US Air Force Academy Glider Team

Forging the next generation of aviators, the USAFA Glider Team operates under the 306th Flying Training Group. Rooted in the heroic legacy of WWII’s 306th Bombardment Group, the program utilizes the TG-16A glider as a primary laboratory for leadership. Beyond basic flight mechanics, cadets develop the split-second decision-making and character required for high-stakes aviation. As a key component of the 12th Flying Training Wing, the team provides the foundational airmanship, including soaring, parachuting and powered flight, that prepares cadets for the future of Air Force aviation.