CLEVELAND — The GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team, the leading vintage airshow performance squadron, will be performing at the Cleveland National Air Show from Saturday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sept. 2 at Burke Lakefront Airport.
The team’s six World War II-era aircraft will perform a dynamic 18-minute, low-level precision-flying demonstration.
“We are excited to reveal this season’s 20-maneuver demonstration,” said Larry Arken, squadron commander and team flight lead. “Airshow attendees will see first-hand what these ‘warbirds’ are made of.”
LABOR DAY WEEKEND TRADITION
The Cleveland National Air Show is one of the oldest and most established annual air shows in the country starting with the National Air Races from 1929-1949 and continuing with the current day Air Show from 1964-present.
The Labor Day Weekend tradition attracts more than 100,000 spectators to Burke Lakefront Airport located along the shores of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio next to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. (An equal number of visitors view the Air Show from parks, beaches, buildings and boats on Lake Erie.)
Nationally recognized by Air Show organizers, the aerospace industry and fans as one of the most prestigious aviation events in the country – the Cleveland National Air Show was named Air Show of the Year by World Airshow News Magazine.
The Air Show is Northeast Ohio’s Largest Military Event and all branches of the Armed Forces are invited to participate and showcase the quality personnel, equipment and opportunities offered by today’s U.S. Military Service to a large public audience.
ABOUT THE AIRCRAFT (SNJ)
· The GEICO Skytypers fly six WWII SNJs, the Navy’s equivalent of the Texas T-6. Both trainer aircraft were used to prepare pilots of “’The Greatest Generation” for combat.
· In 1940-41, the SNJ was built as an advanced WWII military training aircraft designed to perform all the maneuvers of a fighter plane at slower speeds.
· The aircraft is powered by a 600-horsepower Pratt and Whitney engine.
· The GEICO Skytypers’ low-level precision-flying demonstration was designed by team members who served in the United States military.
ABOUT SKYTYPING
· The GEICO Skytypers “skytype” by creating giant messages in the sky with five aircraft flying in a tight, line-abreast formation.
· The planes skytype by coordinating dot matrix-style messages with environmentally friendly puffs of white smoke.
· A computer located in the lead aircraft sends radio signals to the other planes and their white puffs of smoke create the “skytyped” messages that are often as tall as the Empire State Building and seen from a 15-mile radius.
ABOUT THE GEICO SKYTYPERS
The GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team, the leading vintage airshow performance squadron, fly six WWII SNJ aircraft, the North American SNJ built for the Navy, the Air Forces T-6 variant. Both trainer aircraft were used to prepare pilots of “The Greatest Generation” for World War II combat. The team performs a low-level, precision-flying demonstration featuring tactics and maneuvers designed by team members who served in the United States military.
In addition to their air show performances, the team “skytype” giant messages in the sky. Five aircraft fly in a line-abreast formation to produce 1,000-foot tall messages that can be seen for 15 miles in any direction. For more information, please visit www.geicoskytypers.com.
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