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MILITARY ACTS
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Canadian Forces Snowbirds
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 We welcome back the Canadian Forces Snowbirds as our feature act of WOH 2011.
The demonstration show team of the Canadian Forces will grace the skies over Ellington Airport with amazing seven- and nine-ship flight formations, and breathtaking head-on passes by solo pilots and formations. This aerial ballet of high-speed jet flight features dozens of different formation passes, each with just a few feet of spacing between the CT-114 Tutor jets.
The Snowbirds Demonstration Team (431 Squadron) is a Canadian icon comprised of serving members of the Canadian Forces. Their pilots and technicians work as a team to bring thrilling performances to the North American public. The Snowbirds consider it a privilege to perform in communities across North America proudly representing all men and women in Canada's military, who are serving both at home and deployed on missions overseas.
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Please Note: The U.S. Air Combat Command currently has all F-22 Raptors on safety stand-down. All F-22 Wings are currently focusing all flying activity on returning the F-22 to mission-ready status, therefore our Air Force single-ship demo this year will be the F-16CJ Viper East Team.
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F-4 Phantom II 
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The F-4 Phantom II is a twin engine, all weather, tactical fighter-bomber. It originally performed three tactical air roles: air superiority, interdiction and close-air support. The F-4 continues to serve in retirement as the QF-4 Aerial Target, an unmanned, high performance aerial target used for live air-to-air and surface-to-air missile tests.
First flown in May 1958, the Phantom II originally was developed for U.S. Navy fleet defense. Phantom II production ended in 1979 after over 5,000 had been built.
The Phantom was the first multiservice aircraft, flying concurrently with the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, and was the only aircraft ever flown concurrently by the Air Force and Navy flight demonstration teams, the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels. It continued to serve the Air Force, including a vital role in Desert Storm, until it was retired in 1996.
Lt. Col Patrick Karg and the F-4 Phantom II join us from Holloman AFB and will fly in the Heritage Flight as well as thrill the crowd with individual passes.
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F-16 Fighting Falcon
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The F-16 Fighting Falcon, more commonly known to military pilots as the Viper, is a compact, extremely maneuverable multi-role fighter aircraft. The F-16 has proven itself in air-to-air combat as well as air-to-surface attack. It provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the air forces of the United States and other allied nations.
F-16's are currently flying close air support missions in support of ground troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The F-16 plays a crucial role in maintaining America's air and space dominance. The Fighting Falcon's manueverability and combat radius exceed that of all potential threat fighter aircraft.
The F-16CJ of Viper East is a single-seat, multi-mission fighter with the ability to switch from an air-to-ground to air-to-air role at the touch of a button. With its lightweight airframe and powerful General Electric engine generating 31,000 pounds of thrust, the F-16CJ can fly at speeds in excess of Mach 2.
Major Ryan "Rider" Corrigan and the Viper East Team are based at Shaw Air Force Base.
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Air Force Heritage Flight
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The USAF Heritage Flight showcases the old and the new, as formations of current and historical Air Force aircraft take to the skies and make formation passes along the flight-line allowing you to compare the different eras of warbirds.
The USAF Heritage Flight program was established in 1997 to display the evolution of U.S. Air Force history and achievement. In 2010 the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation was formed to keep this popular program flying. Today, the core of the Heritage Flight program remains true to its original vision: honor the past, welcome the future, and provide an aerial monument to the achievements of the U.S. Air Force.
The Heritage Flight is scheduled to be flown with the F-16, F-4, P-47 and P-51. (Aircraft pictured are representative of types to be flown.)
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US Coast Guard HH-65C Dauphine Helicopter Demo
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The United States Coast Guard will demonstrate the effectiveness of its short range recovery helicopter, the Aerospatiale Dauphine ("Dolphin") HH-65C. The Dolphin will "rescue" a person from the ground, demonstrating one if its important capabilities to the Coast Guard. The USCG rotary wing aircraft (HH-65 Dolphin and HH-60 Jayhawk helicopters) operate from flight-deck equipped Cutters, Air Stations and Air Facilities. The HH-65C is based at CGAS Houston.
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US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet Demo Team
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The combat-proven F-18E Super Hornet is a next generation strike fighter with the newest advances in multimission capability and decades of growth potential. The F/A-18 performs a variety of missions including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defense, maritime, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker. Converting from one mission to another can be done quickly and simply by just flipping a switch.
The Tactical Demonstration team flies the single-seat F/A-18E as close to the "edge of the envelope" as safety and prudence allow. The routine highlights the Rhino's maneuverability and slow-speed handling characteristics.
Lt. Luke Farrell and the F/A-18E join us from VFA-122 Lemore NAS and will fly in the Legacy Flight as well.
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Navy Legacy Flight
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Photo courtesy of Tyson V. Rininger
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The United States Navy Legacy Flight program was established in 1999. It involves today's state-of-the-art fighters flying in close formation with World War II, Korean War and Vietnam vintage Navy and Marine Corps fighters. The Legacy Flight mission is to safely and proudly display the evolution of United States Naval airpower and to support the Navy and Marine Corps recruiting and retention efforts.
The Legacy Flight is scheduled to be flown with the the F-18E Super Hornet, F8F Bearcat, and Corsair.
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CIVILIAN ACTS
Heavy Metal Jet Team
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A new jet team on the North American air show circuit for 2011, the Heavy Metal Jet Team is a five-ship aerobatic civilian owned jet team. With four L-39s and one MiG-17 all in the striking Arctic camouflage paint scheme, the Heavy Metal Jet Team is an exciting addition to our 2011 show with tight 4-ship formations with breathtaking MiG-17 solo passes.
 The team is led by Jerry "Jive" Kerby with featured performer Dale "Snort" Snodgrass. Sponsored in 2011 by United Bank Card, Inc., the Heavy Metal Jet Team is dedicating its first season to the Make-A-Wish® Foundation.
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Kirby Chambliss / Red Bull Team
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Kirby Chambliss has spent so much time flying he now jokes that the plane controls and wings are a mere extension of his own arms. The former Red Bull Air Race World Champion and five-time United States National Aerobatic Champion began flying at age 13 and by 24 became the youngest commercial pilot at Southwest Airlines. He is a part of the Red Bull Team and a two time Red Bull Air Race World Champion.
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Chuck Aaron / Red Bull Team
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Chuck Aaron is the first and only civilian pilot ever to be licensed to perform helicopter aerobatics in the United States. In fact, hes one of only three pilots permitted to execute the dangerous maneuvers internationally. Chuck takes to the road much of the year, piloting the one-of-a-kind Red Bull Helicopter through breathtaking air show choreography including backflips, 360-degree rolls, and a heartstopping tumble called the Chuckcilvak.
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Red Bull Air Force Parachute Team
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The Red Bull Air Force are jumpers to be reckoned with. The team members travel all over the world as part of the Red Bull Team and perform solo and team skydiving jumps into stadiums, raceparks, concerts, and any other venue that has open skies and lots of people. They also get their adrenaline rush from performing BASE jumps from buildings and cliffs. The Red Bull Air Force members especially love to perform in their "squirrel suits" winged jump suits which provide maximum airtime and freedom of flight experience.
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Jason Newburg / Viper Airshows
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Jason Newburg is an "Extreme Aerobatic Pilot" who loves to share his high energy performance with airshow audiences around the country. He keeps spectators on the edge of their seats and leaves them asking for more. At the age of 16, Jason had his first solo flight and by 17, he had earned his pilot license. The Pitts Viper allows him to display his skill of aerobatic flight that started in his youth. Jason has competed nationally, internationally, and is the 2010 Lonestar Aerobatic Unlimited Champion.
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B-29 "FIFI"
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The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was the first very heavy bomber built for the United States Army Air Forces.When the Commemorative Air Force began searching for a B-29 for our collection of WWII aircraft, the war had been over for 21 years. The Superforts that helped end it had long since yielded to new generations of jet-powered strategic bombers, and vanished.
In 1971, a pilot reported sighting a number of B-29s on the California desert near China Lake. The Superforts had been parked at a Navy weapons center for 17 years, used for gunnery targets and abused by heat, sand and vandals. After much negotiation, much paperwork and a pain-staking process of elimination to find the best survivor, the CAF became the owner of B-29 SN44-62070.
Today, FIFI is the only flying B-29 left.
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Tora! Tora! Tora! / WWII Airpower Demo
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Warbird fans will appreciate the World War II airpower demo, recreating many famous battles from WWII with prop-driven aircraft from the round-engine era. Favorite acts include the reenactment of the attack on Pearl Harbor, as well as many other flying examples of WWII trainer, fighter, and bomber aircraft. The sky will be filled with warbirds!
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RE/MAX Skydiving Team
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Soaring through the clouds, the RE/MAX® Skydiving Team is a show-stopping start that leaves crowds wide-eyed and breathless. The jump team will officially "open" the Airshow with an artistic multi-jumper parachute leap over the airfield. The jump team will spiral and swirl trailing smoke, and will unfurl and deliver our Texas and U.S. flags at show center as the National Anthem is played.
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Radio Controlled Model Aircraft
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Warming up the crowds before the opening Airshow act, the scale model radio-controlled aircraft will amaze you with their capabilities. These model aircraft with their 4-ft to 6-ft wingspans are smaller than their full-size cousins but they are just as flyable but with the pilot standing on the ground! R/C enthusiasts spend hundreds of hours hand-crafting these aircraft, some with amazing detailing. Single-wing, bi-wing, gliders, helicopters, jets, and some very unusual craft may all take to the air during the R/C Demo.
R/C Model Clubs in the Houston area:
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Rob Reider Airshow Announcer
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 Rob Reider air show announcer, recipient of the coveted ICAS "Sword of Excellence", entertainer, pilot, Midwest television personality, singer, performer, writer, and winner of 5 Emmy awards has put all his experience into bringing the excitement of air shows "up close and personal" to audiences all over the country. The 2011 air show season marks Rob's 33rd year as an announcer making him one of the busiest and most sought-after announcers in North America.
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Ralph Royce Air Boss
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Any show production is only as good as its choreographer, and our Air Boss, Ralph Royce, is the best in the business! Ralph began flying at 17, is former Executive Director of the CAF, former President of the Lone Star Flight Museum, and founded the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. He is type rated in the B17, TBM, F6F, C60 (L18), and holds an unlimited piston powered letter from the FAA, and has been involved in Air Show production and management since 1976. He has been Air Boss for more than 25 years. Ralph is a recipient of the ICAS "Sword of Excellence", the Lloyd P. Nolen Lifetime Achievement in Aviation award, and many, many other recognitions.
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