OC Air Show: Skytypers' air-sea duel will be highlight
The GEICO Skytypers will bring their popular aerial acrobatics and the air-sea duel to the OC Air Show in June.
The Skytpers, a perennial air show favorites, will perform their signature low-flying acrobatics and skytyping during the OC Air Show, scheduled for June 16-17.
The vintage aircraft will again be joined by the Miss GEICO offshore racing team at the Ocean City show for the air vs. sea duel.
The team confirmed its Ocean City presence in a news release announcing its 2018 season, which will begin in April at the Vero Beach Air Show in Florida.
"The SNJs flown by our team were originally used as training aircraft for WWII and Korean Conflict pilots," said Team Flight Lead Larry Arken.
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"During our air show performances, we are able to demonstrate the amazing capabilities of these vintage warbirds on behalf of our sponsor, GEICO. The 75-year-old SNJ aircraft are a testament to the engineering genius of the Greatest Generation. We consider it a privilege to share these pieces of aviation history with air show spectators.”
The GEICO Skytypers fly six SNJs powered by 600-horsepower Pratt and Whitney engines. As training aircraft, the SNJ can perform all the maneuvers of a fighter plane, but at slower speeds.
A majority of the team’s low-level flying demonstration takes place in front of the crowd. The sound of the vintage engines fills the air as the team demonstrates more than 20 different tactical maneuvers.
"We have an exciting schedule for the 2018 air show season including a couple of new shows, several rotational show sites, and a number of regular stops on our tour" said pilot and marketing officer Steve Kapur.
The 10-time world championship offshore racing team will compete against solo pilots, racing in their 47-foot Victory watercraft powered by twin 1650 stern drives producing more than 3,300 horse power.
As the team name suggests, the team also skytypes giant messages. During appropriate conditions, the fleet of aircraft will ascend to 9,500 feet to fly in a line-abreast formation to type messages 1,000 feet tall.
Because the messages are taller than the Empire State Building, they are visible for 15 miles in any direction, and can generate 20-25 characters in less than 2 minutes utilizing a patented program to generate smoke releases at timed intervals.
The typing speed is 17 times faster than traditional skywriting, so viewers are often drawn in to guess words, similar to playing “Wheel of Fortune” style games.
The GEICO Skytypers are based in Farmingdale, New York, and have performed at air shows for more than 30 years.
For more information on the GEICO Skytypers, visit geicoskytypers.com. The team can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.