This is the last of my New York Airshow pictures (it only took me two months to get them all out). Here we have the old and the new. Below, probably the most capable fighter aircraft in the world today: the F-22 Raptor. Above, arguably the best all-round fighter aircraft of the World War II: the P-51 Mustang. Together they form part of the US Air Force Heritage Flight described as follows on its site:

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force (USAF), the Heritage Flight program was founded in 1997. Heritage Flight performances of current fighter/attack aircraft flying with World War II, Korea and Vietnam era fighters dramatically display USAF airpower history and honor the brave men and women who have served, or are currently serving, in the USAF. In 2010, the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was formed to keep this popular program flying.

I was quite amazed to see that these two aircraft could fly together like this. I would have thought that the F-22 would not have been able to fly as slow as a P-51 – shows how much I know.

According to Lockheed Martin:

The F-22 Raptor defines air dominance. The 5th Generation F-22’s unique combination of stealth, speed, agility, and situational awareness, combined with lethal long-range air-to-air and air-to-ground weaponry, makes it the best air dominance fighter in the world.

While I’m sure they’re somewhat biased, it’s certainly a very impressive aircraft.

The Air Show brochure describes the GEICO Skytypers as follows:

The world famous GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team consists of six of eleven remaining vintage World War II SNJ-2‘s that demonstrate low level precision flying as well as deliver aerial messages, known as Skytyping – as tall as the Empire State Building, and eight miles wide. The letters can be seen for 15 miles.

In the photograph above the poles are being carried by four NY County Executives. If something had gone wrong the Executive Heads of these counties would have been wiped out. Hmmmmm.

The Lucas Oil Air Shows site describes Mike Wiskus as follows:

Like many of the show pilots, Mike’s passion for aviation started when he was very young. Mike’s Dad took him to his first air show at their hometown in Iowa at the age of 10. That show made an everlasting impression so deep that at 14, Mike rode his bike to the airport for two weeks straight and bugged the owner for a job washing airplanes and cleaning hangars just to be around airplanes. In school, Mike had a teacher tell him he would never be a pilot. His grades weren’t great and he got into trouble. Later that year a tutor gave him the book The Little Engine that Could, by Watty Piper. It changed his attitude and it helped Mike believe in himself. He traded his work of washing airplanes for flying lessons and received his Pilot’s License on his 17th birthday.

Thirty eight years later, Mike has accumulated more than 24,000 flight hours and has qualified in more than 40 aircraft. He keeps a very busy schedule flying for Corporate America as well as keeping a full time air show schedule flying the Lucas Oil stunt plane April through November. “It is incredible to be part of the Lucas Oil Team. Their products as well as their integrity make what I do even more rewarding.”

It wasn’t easy getting where he is today, and as Mike would attest, he fought battles every day. Things didn’t always turn out the way he planned, but with each year he believes that one of the biggest impacts in his life and the lives around him was his attitude.

With everything he has experienced as a Pilot, Businessman, Husband and Father, Mike still admits to making mistakes every day. But he doesn’t want to miss the opportunity to pass on the same gift of encouragement and attitude that had been given to him by his Parents, Grandparents, 2nd Grade Tutor and all who believe in him and the dreams he still chases. That is why Mike started the “I Can” program in conjunction with his air show.

Mike’s air show career is a testimony of how dreams really can come true. As a 2002 U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, and a member of the 2004 U.S. Aerobatic Team, Mike has traveled the World with the same aircraft you will see him performing in at your air show. His excitement for aviation and willingness to share his experience with people around the country is nothing short of contagious in his attempt to help encourage kids of all ages, to not only dream, but to live their dreams and never give up!

The aircraft is a Pitts S-1-11b. For more information on the Pitts Special line of aircraft see here.