Rich Perkins & his Firecat

While Rich won't be performing in the air show, our 'Captain' sponsors will be able to get a ride in this awesome machine.  When it's not in the air, everyone will get a chance to get up close and personal with the Firecat.

Firecat is a sleek, modern jet, an Aero Vodochody L-39.  Nothing old or out dated, it is a current production military aircraft with all the performance and reliability that implies.

In its former life behind the Iron Curtain, the Firecat was a light attack fighter and trainer called the L-39 Albatros. In its present life in the good ol’ US of A, it’s the Firecat , and it’s like no jet you have ever seen!

Firecat has two seats and nearly 4000 pounds of thrust to move those seats along at near sonic speeds. It’s an imposing aircraft: 40 feet of engine, cockpit and streamlining and 31 feet of dagger tipped wings. It stands almost 16 feet tall. It is fast, maneuverable, impressive and (ahem) visible!

John Collver & Wardog 17

With an aviation career spanning more than 38 years, John A. Collver has accumulated some 13,000 hours in over 50 types of aircraft, including the Good Year blimp, and televisions "Airwolf" helicopter. John was also a corporate pilot for Northrop Grumman,  where he flew propjets, Gulfstreams, a Lear 35 and a Rockwell Sabreliner, until his retirement from corporate flying. He is now entering his 25th year performing as a professional air show demonstration pilot, and has over 1,000 air show performances under his belt, spanning all over the West Coast United States.  On June 1st & 2nd, you will find John in Merced with his North American AT-6 "Texan", Wardog 17.

The Formation Challenge!

New to the fly-in this year is "The Formation Challenge" a team based competition.  The objective is to demonstrate precision formation flight to the judges and the general public.  There is nothing better than to see a group of aircraft fly in perfect unison as they execute various maneuvers.  With competitions spread between the two days, you are sure to catch at least one show.  Come and help judge with your applause!  For more information on rules and registration for the challenge, visit www.formationchallenge.com.

For the younger ones, who may have other interests, we will have the 'Kids Zone' again this year with a bounce house that is sure to keep your little ones busy (and tired).  Our thanks to the City of Merced and the Parks & Recreation Department for providing the 'Kids Zone' for us again this year!

A riveting true account of a young pilot, his efforts to become an Air Force Cadet in the days leading up to World War II, and his distinguished combat record. Five days before graduation from flight training, Pearl Harbor is bombed. A few days later, Jim is on his way to join the Flying Tigers under General Claire Chennault.  With only brief training in a P-40 and on the day after his arrival, Jim is in aerial combat against the Japanese. He flew 62 combat missions, strafing enemy installations, attacking bombers, and engaging Zeros. The book provides a personal account of life in China and the ingenuity and daring of the Flying Tigers. Jim Dumas tells readers about the dangers he faced, how he earned the nickname “Longburst,” and what it was like to return home to civilian life in Chowchilla, California, where he later served as Mayor. Scrub Jay Press. 

The Early Bird Dinner has been a long standing tradition for the fly-in, giving all of the pilots a chance to sit down and enjoy a fantastic dinner with friends that they haven't seen in awhile.  This years menu is being catered to us by Chefanelli's Catering with the help of Fernando's Bistro.  For only $10, you will receive generous portions of the following fantastic food:

Chicken
Beans
Rolls/Butter
Pasta Salad
Garden Salad
Cookies
Tea/Punch

For those early risers that like to get the first flight of the day in during that cool, still morning air, we have a breakfast waiting for you when you get back down.  For the meager sum of $7, the Merced Fire Fighters will be on hand Saturday morning to make sure you are well fed with the following:

Scrambled Eggs
Pancakes
Sausage
Coffee
Milk
Orange Juice

After a weekend of excitement, Saturday night, the judges let us know what they thought of the aircraft on the field.  The Awards Banquet is the time that some of these great planes get honored and is also the time that everyone gets to sit down to yet another fantastic meal.  As with the Early Bird dinner, Chefanelli's Catering and Fernando's Bistro will be doing all of the work.  This year, for just $15 you will enjoy:

New York Strip Steak
Pasta Marinara
Green Beans
Garden Salad
Rolls/Butter
Cookies
Tea/Punch