Herb &
"Ditto"
“Spectators and performers are amazed by
the many lingering, unpredictable smoke-ring formations twisting and
curling in the sky… and sometimes reaching the ground.”
Herb & Ditto are
the only performers capable of executing “Smoke-Ring Aerobatics.”
Herb originally designed a unique
Wingtip Vortex Smoke System to enhance his aerobatic performance with
twin smoke trails in the sky. Then, once he realized that the trails of
smoke break up into “smoke rings,” he began flying through them to the
great surprise and delight of the fans.
Herb’s air show
routine has evolved since his professional debut in 1998. Today, during
his spectacular, “energy management” aerobatics in the 4½-ton ex-NAVY
trainer, he pulls 3 ½ g’s doing a normal loop and 4 ½ g’s, three times
in succession to complete the “Three Leaf Clover,” an original maneuver
he created. At any time during the performance, Herb spontaneously
flies Ditto through the smoke-rings, sometimes rolling as they go
through.
Herb is the only
full-time professional air show entertainer with:
- Smoke-ring
Aerobatics
- Complimentary
copy of in-cockpit video of VIP/Sponsor/Media rides
- Unrestricted
Level 1 aerobatic waiver using the ex-NAVY Trojan T-28C.
- Custom,
personalized Autograph Cards
To give air show
producers even greater value, Herb has mounted a video camera facing
backwards in the cockpit to record VIP/Sponsor/Media flights and gives
these special passengers a complimentary tape/CD to remember the
thrilling ride or promote the air show on evening news or Saturday
paper. He also personalizes custom autograph cards for fans while on
static display before and/or after his aerobatic performance. Former
NAVY T-28 pilots compliment Herb on his skillful flying, saying they’ve
never seen Trojan demonstrations flown on the edge to that extreme.
Herb was introduced
to the air show industry when he met Harold Krier, Bill Sweet, Reds
Digit and Charlie Hilliard at an air show in Clay Center, KS in May of
1959. After becoming friends with Harold, he built his first aircraft,
an open-cockpit Great Lakes biplane, modeled after Harold’s plane.
While in the USAF
reserves during the Cold War, he was called to active duty in the 442nd
TCW. He then earned a degree in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering from
Parks College of St Louis University. During his aviation career, he
worked on the Saberliner executive jet at Remmert-Werner in St Louis and
on F-4 Phantom aircraft and Gemini spacecraft at McDonnell Aircraft. He
also worked at Piedmont Airlines and Beech Aircraft. He completed the
rebuilding of “Ditto”, his own T-28, in 1996.
His resume also
includes jobs as an engineer, project manager and corporate pilot. He
ended his corporate career by selling a successful homeowner chipper
shredder company to Simplicity Tractor Co. He then completed a
residential development and building project.
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