2025 Flybys & Aerial Displays
Numerous aircraft will be conducting photo passes & flyovers during the event many of which will be on display. Get up close and personal with these planes and their pilot in between demos.
USAF F-16 Fly-Bys
180 Fighter Wing, Ohio Air National Guard
Unfortunately, the State of Ohio has other plans for the 180 Fighter Wing August 16-17, so we will not be seeing the F-16 fly-by. Don't worry, though, there will be plenty of aerobatic excitement to watch both days of the festival.
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Fingers crossed that we will see the 180th next year!
Rick Volker
Siai Marchetti SF.260
Rick is an unlimited category International Aerobatic Club pilot and has competed in aerobatic competitions for many years in high performance aircraft such as the Pitts and Sukhoi. Rick has won numerous regional aerobatic events. He is a former competitive swimmer, speed skater, bicycle racer, cross-country skier, and body builder. Such is the type of conditioning required to fly at this level, as Rick alternates between plus 11 and minus 6 Gs, often in the same maneuver.
Rick is a retired dentist in Niagara Falls, New York and currently teaches advanced aerobatics to pilots in their own aircraft.
Trevor Rafferty
Pitts Model 12
Unfortunately, Trevor had an engine failure at his most recent air show in Michigan and had to cancel his appearance at Props and Pistons Festival.
Bob "Rooster" Schmidle
1984 Pitts S2-B
Lieutenant General (ret.) Bob “Rooster” Schmidle served as a United States Marines Corps aviator for 40 years. He has extensive operational flying experience, amassing over 4,700 hours in tactical fighters, primarily the F-4, F-18 and F-5 aircraft.
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Rooster flies a certified 1984 Pitts S2-B with the iconic red and white paint scheme in a performance that harkens back to the history of the Pitts biplane and the maneuvers Curtis Pitts envisioned for this airplane, while always pushing the envelope to experiment with the capabilities of the S2-B.
Galen Killam
RV-8 "Hammerhead"
Galen has been flying for over 30 years in over 25 different airplanes. As an aerobatics competitor, Galen’s flying is precise, fast-paced and exciting to watch utilizing both positive and negative G maneuvers.
His experience comes from many years of competing in aerobatic competitions. He connects with everyone who watches him fly and shows them what they could easily accomplish.
Erik Edgren
1939 Taylorcraft “T-Clips”
Erik can’t remember his first airplane ride… because he wasn’t born yet! He began “training” at the age of 6, sitting on his father’s lap and flying on instruments. Erik was ready for solo at the age of 8 through the use of a tailor-made seat and control extensions. At age 10, he learned spins, which sparked his lifelong passion for aerobatics.
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He has worked as a Flight Instructor, an Instructor/Pilot for an air combat school in the AT-6/SNJ and as a Corporate Pilot in Lear Jets, Kings Airs, and more. He has flown more than 6000 hrs in over 180 different makes and models of aircraft. Erik is a full-time airshow performer and semi-retired farmer, living on the same farm the original settlers log cabin was built… now with a grass runway and airshow practice box!
The Goodyear Blimp
Celebrating 100 Years of Flight!
The Goodyear Blimp is one of the most iconic aircraft in the world, known for its massive size, gentle cruising speed, and distinctive presence in the skies. Operated by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, the blimp serves as an aerial ambassador for the brand, providing coverage of major sporting events and public appearances.
Though often called a "blimp," the current fleet actually consists of semi-rigid airships known as the Zeppelin NT, based out of Goodyear’s base in Akron, Ohio. With over 100 years of history, the Goodyear Blimp is a true symbol of aviation heritage and innovation.
Brett Hunter
Van's Aircraft RV-6
The Van’s RV-6 is a two-seat, low-wing, homebuilt aircraft known for its impressive speed, agility, and cross-country performance. Popular among aviation enthusiasts for its responsive handling and customizable build options, the RV-6 offers a thrilling yet economical flying experience.
'Tico' LaCerda
Pitts Biplane
Professional 747 pilot Robert “Tico” LaCerda transforms into a daring aerobatic performer on weekends, showcasing his award-winning routine in his over‑powered Pitts Special biplane. This nimble aircraft features a powerful Lycoming engine and is equipped with smoke system that traces every loop, roll, and knife‑edge pass.
1948-1958
Did you know Akron was a Navy base?
The Akron-Fulton Airport, opened in 1929 and for awhile was designated a U.S. military base where military airships and Corsair aircraft where common sights. During the last few years of World War II Goodyear Aircraft constructed more than 4,000 Corsairs, with some of Corsairs serving the Navy in Akron until the late 1950's.
The Airport Terminal building is on the National Register of Historical places and has several Historical Markers in it's parking lot detailing the vast history of this airport.
In the 1950's through the 1960s the airport was often used as a drag strip, and is home to the now closed Rubber Bowl, Soap Box Derby, a BMX track, and the legendary Airdock.
Built in 1929, the huge Goodyear Airdock, was created as a space where blimps, airships, and dirigibles could be constructed. The hanger stands over 200 feet tall and well over 1,000 feet long, all without any interior supports like pillars or struts. At the time of its completion, the building was the largest of its kind in the world. The building holds over a million cubic meters of space in which to create massive lighter-than-air ships. To get the ships out of the airdock once they were completed, both of the rounded ends of the building actually slid apart like rounded wedge doors. Each of the doors weighed 600 tons, powered by their own separate power plants. Of course, construction on this grand scale created some surprising issues. For one, the huge building was expected to expand and contract as the temperature changed, so much of the structure was placed on rollers so that it could do so without doing any structural damage. In addition, the temperature inside and outside the building would often be drastically different, creating a sort of indoor weather system. To combat this, rows of massive windows were installed on either side of the hanger which open up to equalize the temperatures. However, despite this, during certain conditions, condensation can accumulate in the upper air of the hanger and begin to "rain" on the builders below.