GEICO Skytypers at air show June 16-17
The GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team will perform during the Ocean City Air Show in Ocean City, Md., Saturday-Sunday, June 16-17. The team’s six vintage SNJ training aircraft will roar over air show crowds in a low-level, precision-formation flying demonstration honoring service members of the Greatest Generation. The air show routine includes more than 20 combat tactics and maneuvers that helped control the skies during World War II and the Korean Conflict.
“Most of our team members earned their wings in the military, and we always pay tribute to the brave combat pilots who originally trained in our aircraft as well as those currently serving in the armed forces,” said GEICO Skytypers Commanding Officer Larry Arken. “It is a special privilege to fly these vintage WWII trainers on behalf of GEICO.” Arken also is the team’s flight leader.
The GEICO Skytypers are based in Farmindale, N.Y., where the 75-year-old planes are maintained by a full-time staff of expert mechanics who travel with the pilots to every air show.
Following the flight demonstration, the solo pilots from the team will break away from the rest of the formation to challenge the Miss GEICO Offshore Racing Team in an air vs. sea duel. The water-bound 47-foot Miss GEICO Victory Catamaran is powered by twin 1650 stern-drive racing engines producing more than 3,300 horsepower and can reach speeds up to 180 mph. The driver and throttleman will contend with waves and current to reach top speeds while the pilots maneuver to extract every ounce of energy from the warbird aircraft in a battle of skill.
The SNJs are also retrofitted to type giant messages in the sky. Flying wingtip-to-wingtip in a line-abreast formation, the lead plane sends computer signals to each of four other aircraft, synchronizing smoke releases to generate 1,000-foot-tall messages. Each letter is higher than the Empire State Building and can be formed in three to four seconds.
“People on the ground can see our messages from 15 miles away,” said Steve Kapur, the GEICO Skytypers marketing officer. “The messages appear in dot-matrix style, but on a monumental scale and 17 times faster than traditional skywriting.”
The gates will open at 9 a.m Saturday and Sunday with performances beginning at 12 p.m. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will headline the air show that includes military and world-class civilian acts such as: C-5M Super Galaxy, B-25 Panchito, P-51 Mustang, USSOCOM Para-Commandos Parachute Team and many more.
For more information, go to www.geicoskytypers.com and www.ocairshow.com.
