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Meet the Performers!
Jay Gordon and his L-39 Albatros & Extra 300L
Jay Gordon is an engineer, businessman and entrepreneur from Louisville, Kentucky. Jay’s fascination with speed began early with cars. By the time he was a junior in high school, he was playing with and tuning high performance automobiles. Jay figured out early on that to get that exhilaration of speed, speed and more speed, he’d eventually have to turn to the friendly skies. He wasn’t quite sure how yet, but he knew that he’d get “up there” someday.
He finally found the answer while flying the L39 Albatros, a Czechoslovakian-built ex-Russian Air Force aircraft. The L-39C that Jay is currently flying was built in 1983. It has been completely restored and is painted in colors of the Royal Thai Air Force.
Jay also performs in an Extra 300L which is a modern, purpose-built airplane used for aerobatic demonstrations and competition. It uses high-strength construction, aerodynamic efficiency, high energy, and brute strength to perform aerobatic maneuvers. When not flying his L-39 or Extra 300L, he may be spotted flying a Husky Seaplane or a 1943 Stearman biplane.
During each routine, he performs a variety of loops, rolls, Cuban eights, half-Cuban eights, and spins. Jay has been performing at air shows for more than ten years, and he performs annually at the Thunder Over Louisville Airshow.
Jay is certified by the FAA as an Airline Transport Pilot, and holds ratings in single and multi-engine airplanes. He holds an FAA Statement of Acrobatic Competency and is endorsed by the International Council of Airshows. In addition, Jay also pilots a Citation CJ2 used by his business. His obsession with aviation is only exceeded by his commitments to his family (and a little bit of work).
Giant Wall of Flames!
The Giant Wall of Flames has become an annual tradition at Wings Over Big South Fork. It’s sure to give you a surprise as you’ll feel the giant force of the explosion!
Stan Brock with his DC3 and the
Remote Area Medical Airborne Parachute Team
The vision for Remote Area Medical® developed in the Amazon rain forest where founder Stan Brock spent 15 years with the Wapishana Indians. He lived with the pain and suffering created by isolation from medical care. He witnessed the near devastation of whole tribes by what would have been simple or minor illnesses to more advanced cultures. When he left South America to co-star in the television series, "Wild Kingdom, " he vowed to find a way to deliver basic medical aid to people in the world's inaccessible regions. Today, RAM is helping people around the world with medical services and is delivering those services with his fleet of aircraft including the DC3.
The 1944 DC3, which belonged to the USA's 9th Air Force Division during World War II, participated in the Normandy Landing on June 6, 1944--D-Day. N982Z was used to place personnel in strategic areas and in her new career she has a similar task. Instead of military troop and equipment transport, she now hauls thousands of pounds of medicine, hospital supplies, and relief volunteers. In her early days, she droned through perilous skies for the sake of a free world. After a half century of service, she now takes to peace-time skies in another unique contribution to freedom: freedom from the suffering created by isolation from medical care.
In order to reach remote areas that are difficult to access by ground transportation, RAM Airborne volunteers will enter by airdrop. Personnel and supplies will be brought in by plane and air-dropped into clearings near the areas in need of aid. Doctors, nurses, and other medical and non-medical personnel, who are willing to jump from a perfectly good airplane, are needed for these extreme expeditions. The return home will be by whatever means is available and, depending on the location, may include: exhausting hikes through dense forests, forging rivers in dugout canoes, horseback/pack mule, or any other possible means of transport. RAM Airborne volunteers must be prepared to handle physical challenges, in order to provide medical aid to the most remote reaches in the world.
John Shoffner and Neal Melton’s
Republic P-47D Thunderbolts
The “Wicked Wabbit” & The “Hun Hunter XVI
The P-47 was the largest single engine fighter of WWII. It has eight .50 caliber Browning machine guns and nearly 3000 rounds of ammo. Only about 10 to 12 P-47’s remain flying today in the world!
Mark Sorenson and his Tumbling Tiger
Using his Bengal Tiger colored YAK-55M airplane, Mark Sorenson has found a way to bring a three ring circus out from under the big top to high over head where he'll perform his act using giant smoke rings. This 1-ton Bengal Tiger will perform stunts through the smoke rings at over 150mph. Plus, he'll turn on the smoke and practice his writing with his sky-writing act!
