Trojan
Phlyers Return from
Acapulco, Mexico
By Corky
Corona
December 13 - The
Trojan Phlyers aerobatic demonstration team (www.trojanphlyers.com)
has just returned from its first ever International performance. The
three-ship North American T28 demo team was invited to perform in
Acapulco, Mexico at the Alextremo Air Show on 3rd, 4th, and 5th
of November 2006. The team flew six hours and three hops to get to
Acapulco from its home base at Hicks Airfield north of Fort Worth,
Texas, but they found that the trip south was worth the effort.
“Our hosts were
fantastic and their hospitality was wonderful” said Chip Lamb, the #3
man in the formation who flies the solo portion of the aerobatic
routine. “The planning, coordination, and logistics to fly into another
country were more involved than we have done before, but the extra work
was worth it to be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Mexico and the
gracious hospitality of the air show director, Alex Parra, his wife
Nancy, and the show staff,” he said. Chip also added, “We had a good
ground team, narrator, maintenance, and photographer that made the trip
go easier.” The air show was performed over scenic Acapulco Bay, an
idyllic setting that at times could be distracting. “It took some
discipline to ignore the beautiful landscape and to concentrate on
flying the routine,” said Chip.
“We were very fortunate
and humbled to be invited to Acapulco,” said Frank Adams, the demo team
flight leader. “Yes, we were humbled to be included in a line-up that
included the Aeroshell Team, Gary Ward, and Randy Ball and his MiG,”
said Frank.
“This was a great way
to end the year,” said John Sledge, the demo team wingman and number two
man. John added, “By any number of standards, this has been our best
year of air show flying.”
“We were originally
asked to fly the three-ship demo for the show, but upon arrival in
Acapulco, our air show coordinators, Bob Hall and Bobbi Thompson of
Airshows Consulting Enterprises, asked if we could also fly an extra
solo routine later in the daily program, and we were glad to accommodate
their request”, said Frank Adams. The team marveled at the large crowds
driving out to the international airport after the daily shows were over
to see the planes and meet the pilots. John Sledge remarked “Always a
pleasure to meet and speak with people who enjoy air show and airplanes.
Yes, there was somewhat of a language barrier since none of us speak
fluent Spanish, but smiles, hugs, and handshakes are universal language
all their own. Their friendliness was overwhelming.”
Now that the end of the
air show season is here, the planning and coordination for the next
season starts anew with the air show trade show, the ICAS convention in
Las Vegas, Nevada the first week of December. Chip said, “We finish this
season, we’ll do some work on the airplanes during the next couple of
months, but I now start scheduling and coordinating for 2007. We will be
at the ICAS convention as exhibitors, but we have already started
filling our 2007 calendar and that’s a hopeful sign for a good year.”
“But it will be hard to beat this year and Acapulco,” quipped John.
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