Fort Worth Alliance Air Show – 2011
Presented by Bell Helicopters
Fort Worth Alliance Air Show Finalizes 2011 Lineup
Argyle and Ponder Natives Will Perform with USAF Thunderbirds
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (September 15, 2011) – The United States Air Force Thunderbirds will take
to the skies at the 2011 Fort Worth Alliance Air Show Presented by Bell Helicopter on October 22 and 23
at Fort Worth Alliance Airport. The show also will feature an amazing lineup of military and civilian
performers as well as an aviation festival on the ground with static displays, interactive exhibit booths,
fun food and more. General admission remains free.
The show will be a homecoming for Lt. Col. Case Cunningham and Lt. Col. Jason Koltes, both
pilots with the Thunderbirds. Cunningham, Commander/Leader of the Thunderbirds is a native of
Argyle, Texas, and Koltes, Operations Officer of the Thunderbirds is a native of Ponder, Texas and a
graduate of the University of North Texas.
“I can’t wait to come home to the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show in October,” said Lt. Col.
Cunningham. “I look forward to seeing everybody there.”
“I’ve got a lot of friends and family that are looking forward to seeing the show,” said Lt. Col.
Koltes. “We’re excited to show our hometown fans the pride, professionalism and precision of the
United States Air Force like they’ve never seen it before.”
In addition to the Thunderbirds, the show will have a strong military lineup including the U.S.
Navy F/A‐18F Super Hornet Demonstration Team, the U.S. Air Force F‐15E Strike Eagle Demonstration
Team, and the U.S Air Force C‐17 Globemaster III Demonstration Team.
The show will feature an unprecedented lineup of world‐class civilian performers headlined by
air show legend Sean D. Tucker, flying the Oracle Challenger III. Also returning to this year’s lineup is
civilian aerobatic superstar Michael Goulian and his Extra 330 sponsored by Goodyear Aviation Tires.
New to the air show is Kyle Franklin and his Wing‐Tip Draggin’ Comedy Act and the exciting Aerobatic
Racing Challenge which is compromised of pilots with high‐performance aerobatic aircraft racing against
each other on a vertical race course. The performance is sure to bring eyes to the skies as the pilots
swiftly fly through a number of maneuvers while racing side‐by‐side. The Bell‐Boeing MV‐22 helicopter
will open the show. Jan Collmer and the ShockWave Jet Truck will complete the civilian lineup.
Warbird fans will get their fill as the Cavanaugh Flight Museum will bring a number of its
historical military aircraft to the show.
There will be plenty of on‐ground static displays for fans to see. Fans will be able to interact on‐
site with pilots and crew by asking questions and participating in tours of military and civilian aircraft.
After performances, air show attendees will have the chance to obtain autographs from some of their
favorite pilots and take home souvenir photographs. Pilots will be available along the crowd line after
their performance and at the new autograph booth located in exhibit row. A schedule for the autograph
booth will be posted on the event website closer to the show.
The show is designed for family entertainment and there will be exciting, fun activities for kids
of every age. Back by popular demand is the KidZone where children can enjoy several aviation‐themed
inflatables in between air performances for a $10 all‐day‐access wristband. Families also will enjoy
several hands‐on simulators where they can test their aviation skills on aircraft including the F‐4
Phantom II Thunderbird Simulator, M‐4 Top Gun Simulator, M‐4 Flight Simulation and an A‐7 Cockpit
Tour.
“We are thrilled with this remarkable lineup this year,” said Christina Carey, manager of special
projects at the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show. “We are especially excited to welcome home two of our
hometown heroes to perform with the Thunderbirds. The air show is one of the most affordable
activities in the area for a family of four,” said Carey. “You can’t beat the free admission, and there are
plenty of activities here that the whole family will enjoy.”
Gates will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with performances scheduled from
approximately 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday’s line‐up of performers is a repeat from Saturday. A
schedule of performers will be available in the air show program.
General admission for the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show is free; however, there are several
premium seating options and VIP parking passes available for purchase in advance at
www.AllianceAirShow.com. General admission parking is $20 per vehicle and is payable upon arrival at
the show. For more information about performers, parking information and tips for a great day at the air
show, visit www.AllianceAirShow.com.
The Fort Worth Alliance Air Show Presented by Bell Helicopter is held annually at Fort Worth
Alliance Airport, which is the centerpiece of the 17,000‐acre AllianceTexas development housing 265
companies, 30,000 employees and more than 7,400 single‐family homes. The 2011 air show will
feature the United States Air Force Thunderbirds and will take to the skies October 22 and 23. The
airport is managed by Alliance Air Services, a subsidiary of Hillwood, the developer of AllianceTexas.
Below is a list of static display currently scheduled for the 2011 show. Check back often as we will be adding more.
AD-5 Skyraider
A-10 Thunderbolt
AH-1 Cobra
American Airlines 777
American Eagle ERJ 145
Bell OH13 Helicopter
Bell-Boeing MV-22
CAF Red Tail Squadron
C-2 Greyhound
C-130 Hercules
Cessna 172
DEA
E-2C Hawkeyes
EA-18
F-16 (4)
F-18C Hornet (2) FedEx
HH-65 Dolphin
KC-135 Stratotanker
ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital
OV-1D Mohawk
P-51 Mustang
PT-19 Fairchild
Sheppard AFB Explosive Ordnance Disposal
T-1 Jayhawk (2)
T-38 Talon
T-39 Sabreliner
T-45 Goshawk
T-6 Texan
T-6 Texan II
UC-35
UH-1 Iroquois
A full day of daring aerobatic performers is scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday. Gates open at 9:00 a.m. Aerial performances begin at approximately 10:00 a.m. and last until approximately 4:00 p.m. The same line-up is scheduled for both days, including featured performances by:
USAF Thunderbirds
The Thunderbirds are a team of Airmen representing the best of the US Air Force and the highest standards of integrity, service and excellence to the American public and the world. They are the face of the US Air Force – your Ambassadors in Blue.
Aerobatic Racing Challenge – Tony and Julia Wood, Texas
The Aerobatic Racing Challenge Series (ARC Series) is a praticed and choreographed racing format featuring pilots with high-performance aerobatic aircraft “competing” against each other on a vertical course.
Bell-Boeing MV-22
The Bell-Boeing MV-22 is an American multi-mission, military, tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft.
Cavanaugh Warbirds
See the historical flights of warbirds from the Cavanaugh Flight Museum. Seeing these beautiful planes in the sky will take you back to years gone by or provide you with a glimpse of what it must have been like. A definite must see for the historical aviation enthusiast.
F/A-18F Super Hornet Demo Team
The Tactical Demonstration (Tac Demo) team flies a two-seat F/A-18F and a single-seat F/A-18C as close to the “edge of the envelope” as safety and prudence allow. The routine highlights the maneuverability and slow-speed handling characteristics and has been very well received around the country.
F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team
The F-15E Strike Eagle is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. An array of avionics and electronics systems gives the F-15E the capability to fight at low altitude, day or night, and in all weather.
Jan Collmer FINA EXTRA 300L
The FINA EXTRA is sponsored by ALON USA, headquarters in Dallas, Texas, and the 1,600 FINA gasoline stations throughout seven states. Today, well-known air show pilot Jan Collmer of Dallas, Texas flies the FINA EXTRA 30 L.
Kyle Franklin Comedy Act – Wing-Tip Draggin
This one-of-a kind wild and crazy comedy act puts Kyle Franklin as Ben Whabnaski, the annoying drunk who wants his airplane ride that was promised to him. Franklin puts his wingtip on the ground so often that his cub needs skid plates taped on the wingtips!
Mike Goulian – Extra 330, brought to you by Goodyear Aviation Tires
With over twenty years of focused competition and training, there are few flyers in the world that can captivate an airshow audience like Mike. Goulian Aerosports is proud to perform during the Alliance Air Show with the support of Goodyear Aviation (www.goodyearaviation.com). For over 100 years, Goodyear has been a leading supplier of high performance tires for airline, general aviation, and military aircraft.
Sean Tucker and Team Oracle
Sean has received all of the airshow industry’s highest honors. Additionally, Sean has been named as one of the Living Legends in Aviation, recipient of the Crystal Eagle Award, the inductee at the 2001 USAF Gathering of Eagles and named as one of the Living Legends of Flight.
Shockwave Jet Truck
The ShockWave Jet Truck runs over 300 mph racing airplanes; holds the Guinness World Record in a quarter mile for trucks at 256 mph and for full size trucks at 376 mph. At 36,000 horsepower, the ShockWave has enough power to accelerate at 3 Gs vertical, which is as much as the Space Shuttle!
Skytalker – Danny Clisham
Known for fresh, lively, knowledge-based commentary, Danny is one of America’s most popular air show announcers. In the course of his career, he has entertained millions of attendees at air shows throughout North America. He repeatedly puts on performances that thrill audiences and keep them coming back year after year.
Air Boss: Ralph S. Royce
Sound: MACH I Productions
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