In 2011, there is a new addition to the air show circuit that is sure to thrill audiences as much as the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds always have, the Heavy Metal Jet Team. The team was established earlier this year and has been performing across the US during the 2011 air show season. The team is the newest, civilian aerobatic precision performance team that is available for air show performances across the U.S. Yesterday, Rockford Airfest organizers had announced the addition of the team to the 2011 Airfest lineup, marking their Illinois debut. Unfortunately, the Heavy Metal Jet Team will only perform on the second day of the show, Sunday, June 5th.
The team is seeking to be the civilian equivalent of the US Navy Blue Angels and US Air Force Thunderbirds, performing at air shows where the two military teams cannot make an appearance. The team itself consists of a mix of former military pilots and civilian pilots with two of the members having just finished their second year performing with the US Air Force Thunderbirds during the 2010 air show season.
Major John 'Slick' Baum, USAF,and Major Sean 'Stroker' Gustafson, USAFR, both completed their second and final year with the Thunderbirds after having performed with the team in the 2009 and 2010 air show seasons. Major Baum was the Number 2 jet, or left wing, with the Thunderbirds and Major Gustafson was the Number 4 jet, the slot pilot. Another member of the team will be very recognizable by air show enthusiasts. Capt. Dale 'Snort' Snodgrass, USN (ret.), a veteran of the air show circuit over the last 22 years, is a part of the team. Capt. Snodgrass is a former Navy Top Gun graduate and the highest flight time F-14 Tomcat pilot the Navy had. He spent 12 years as a Navy F-14 Tomcat Demonstration Pilot. The team's leader, Lt. Colonel Jerry Kerb, USAF (ret.) has more than 4,000 hours of fighter experience, among many other accomplishments.
A full roster of the team's pilot's as well as their amazing list of awards and accomplishments can be found in the Pilot section of the team's website.
The team's performances consist of a flight of 5 airplanes, four Aero Vodochovy L-39’s and one Canadair built T-33, all sporting an Arctic camouflage paint scheme. The team is based out of Lancaster, PA, and is dedicating its first season to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The team will also be appearing in Gary, IN on July 15-17 for Gary's South Shore Air Shore and will return to Illinois the following weekend for Peoria's Prairie Air Show on July 23-25.
Bharat Puri, chairman of the Greater Rockford Airport Authority board of commissioner, was enthusiastic about the addition of the Heavy Metal Jet Team, stating, 'Our world-class air show has added another great performer on Sunday, and we thank the Heavy Metal team for adding us to their inaugural North American schedule. With such a full slate of performers, there will never be a dull moment at Rockford AirFest this weekend!'
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