Participants
Civilian Acts
Billy Werth
Growing up in an Air Force family, Billy has been around some sort airplane his whole life. He started flying in 1988 and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Professional Aviation Technology from Indiana State University in 1994. In 1992 he started teaching aerobatics and has been hooked ever since. In 1997 he graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training and started flying for the Air Force Reserves out of Grissom Air Reserve Base, Indiana where he is an Aircraft Commander on the KC-135R Aerial Refueler. He was hired by Chautauqua Airlines in 2001 and is now a Captain on the Embraer 145, based in Indianapolis. Billy has over 8000 hours of flight time in 20 different aircraft, with 900 of it teaching folks how to fly upside down.
Billy’s plane is the Pitts S2C, a two place aerobatic bi-plane built by the Aviat Aircraft Company in Afton WY. This particular Pitts has a one of a kind paint job – the colors are the exact match to the American Flag. The engine is a Lycoming six cylinder pumping out 260 horsepower swinging a high performance, composite, 3-blade “claw” propeller from Hartzell. The S2C has a top speed of 212 mph and a max G loading of +6 and -5.
“I fell in love with this baby the first time I flew her. Every single flight leaves me with this terminal grin on my face. Whether it’s hard-core, rockin and rollin aerobatics, or a leisurely barnstormer ride, I’m having the time of my life. This airplane has awesome performance, amazing maneuverability, and incredible feedback.”
If anyone might be interested in a ride, check out Grayout Aerosports for more details.
Matt Chapman
Matt is recognized as an extraordinary aerobatic pilot who thrills millions of airshow fans each summer. He began flying aerobatics in 1984 and quickly worked his way up to the highest level of competition aerobatics – the Unlimited category. Recognized for his skills, he won one of only five slots on the U.S. Unlimited Men’s Aerobatic Team in 1996 and 1998. At the 1998 World Aerobatic Championships, Matt was the highest-ranking American pilot, finishing third in the world with a bronze medal. He led the Men’s Team to a silver medal. Along with this impressive finish came the coveted Hilliard Trophy, awarded to the highest finishing U.S. pilot at the WAC.
Matt’s exciting competition aerobatics eventually led him to airshow performing. He has flown in front of millions of fans at airshows all over, appearing on ESPN, ESPN2, Fox Sports Network, Real TV, The Learning Channel’s “Amazing America” and SpeedVision.
Matt is also a respected airline captain with tens of thousands of flight hours, and a respected voice in the airshow business, with a reputation for safety and diligence.
When he’s not in the cockpit, Matt enjoys building and flying radio-controlled aircraft of all types.
For more information, visit Matt’s web site.
Greg Koontz
Greg Koontz learned to fly in 1969 getting his Private Pilot Certificate when he turned 17 years old. In his senior year in high school, Greg restored a 1946 Piper J-3 Cub in his mother’s garage and flew the antique plane for 300 hours to gain experience for a flying career. Before turning 18, he sold his Piper Cub, using the money to take lessons for his commercial pilot certificate and all the pilot ratings he would need to pursue the pilot profession.Well before that birthday, Greg was working as a flight instructor and attending Business College at the University of Montevallo in Alabama.
At age 20, Greg got his start in the airshow business when he bought another Piper Cub from Ernie Moser in St. Augustine, Florida. Soon Ernie was calling Greg wanting to borrow back the Cub to use it in his traveling airshow called Ernie Moser’s Flying Circus. Greg agreed to lend Ernie the use of the Cub if he could perform in the airshow doing a comedy act. Ernie agreed and after the first show Greg was hired to perform in all the shows the flying circus did. Greg soon was working full time for Ernie Moser and his son Jim Moser living in St. Augustine, FL. As the years went by he learned more aerobatics and other airshow skills. Ernie let Greg perform his famous “World’s Smallest Airport” stunt where he lands on a moving pickup truck. Jim Moser taught him to perform low level aerobatics in the Great Lakes Bi-Plane and later in the Super Decathlon. Greg stayed with the flying circus until deciding it was time to “get serious work” and persue a corporate flying career in 1981.
Until 2002 Greg flew jet aircraft for a corporation in Alabama and performed airshows in his spare time. Greg is known throughout the USA and parts of Latin America as the foremost authority on the Super Decathlon aircraft. Besides doing an inverted ribbon cut 15 feet above the ground in airshows, Greg specializes in teaching pilots how to fly aerobatics in his Super Decathlon.
Today Greg is a full time airshow and aerobatics professional. Greg and his wife Cora run a Bed & Breakfast on a private grass strip in Ashville, AL. The B&B is home for Greg’s busy aerobatic school and airshow business. Since 2003 he has been sponsored by American Champion Aircraft which supplies him with new Super Decathlons to demonstrate in front of millions of people each year.
You can find out more about Greg Koontz Airshows and how you might learn aerobatics at his B&B, the Sky Country Lodge, by checking out http://www.gkairshows.com/.
Rob Reider – Air Show Announcer
Rob is “The Voice” of the Indianapolis Air Show! Rob Reider has been an important fixture at the Indianapolis Air Show since its beginning in 1996. This year marks Rob’s 31st year as an announcer and his 4th as a full-time air show announcer. His 2009 schedule will take him to 19 shows, making him one of the busiest and most sought-after announcers in North America. He’ll be working at shows from Rhode Island to California and he’ll be teamed up with Danny Clisham at EAA’s AirVenture air show in July.
Starting early in the morning, and working through the heat of the day until the gates have closed, Rob is always striving to keep the audience engaged and informed of all matters that pertain to the pilots in the air and the aircraft they are flying. It’s been said of Rob Reider, “He’s excited and supercharged! He’s a performer with the unique ability to meet an audience where they are, touch their hearts, make them laugh, make them cry, and leave them with a feeling that they have been totally entertained.”
Learn more about Rob Reider.
Rich’s Incredible Pyro
When Rich was eight years old, he asked his mother if there was anything in the medicine cabinet that could blow up. She told him, “Of course not!” Within 30 minutes, he proved she was wrong. This inquisitiveness has grown over the years, and Rich is still trying new and different ideas with explosives, marking Rich’s Incredible Pyro as the leader in air show pyrotechnics.
Rich Gibson and his wife, Dee, travel all over the world “blowing things up.” Both pyrotechnicians received formal training with explosives in the United States Army. Rich served a tour in Viet Nam, putting his skills to work with the 101st Airborne Division. Dee, a retired Major, helped blast rock in Honduras while building roads between small villages. Both state that safety is the main element in their setup. After 25 years, no spectator, crewmember, or volunteer has been hurt or injured. This could be a very dangerous business, but Rich and Dee continually eliminate as many risks as possible with their knowledge and training.
Using a carefully controlled mixture of dynamite, gasoline, and other explosives, Rich & Dee and their crew will create special effects to simulate an air attack on the airfield. They work closely with the pilots, airfield officials, and the announcer to choreograph a truly realistic bombing display, where you, the spectator, will surely “Feel the Heat.”
For more information, visit Rich’s Incredible Pyro.
Michael Wiskus – Lucas Oil
New to the Indianapolis Air Show — but not new to the airshow industry — Mike as been performing competition aerobatics and airshows for many years. The Pitts S-1-11B has been highly modified by Michael for crisp aerobatic performances to please the air show spectator.
Mike found his passion for aviation at the age of 10 after his Dad took him to his first Air Show. At 14, Mike took a job at the Mason City Iowa airport washing airplanes and cleaning hangars just to be around airplanes. Later, he traded his work for flying lessons and received his Pilots License on his 17th birthday.
Thirty years later, Mike has accumulated more than 20,000 hours of flight time managing aircraft and flying for Corporate America. 3,500 hours of that flight time has been piloting some of the highest performance air show and competition aircraft in the world.
Mike’s air show has been described as aggressive, high performance aerobatics smothered in smoke and noise. Mike can climb and tumble his plane end over end, seemingly out of control, only to dive in for his next outrageous maneuver. At a youthful and somewhat mischievous age of 47, Mike has the experience and personality fitting of an air show pilot.
Below are just a few of Mike’s aerobatic accomplishments:
2002 – First Place – North Central Regional Aerobatic Competitions
2002 – United States Aerobatic Champion (Intermediate Category)
2003 – First Place – North Central Regional Aerobatic Competitions
2003 – Qualified (one of six) for the United States Advanced Aerobatic Team.
2004 – Traveled to Sweden and competed in the World Aerobatic Competitions as a Member of the United States Aerobatic Team. Mike finished with a Silver Medal for one of his flights.
2005 – Winner of the Fred Leidig Trophy and Sword for Aerobatic Excellence.
Very happily married to Tammy, they have four children and two golden retrievers. Learn more about Michael Wiskus Airshows.
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