'06 PERFORMERS & AIRCRAFT

The performances, performers and displays were all fantastic, the jets were awesome and the pyro was the best ever. The crowds were thrilled from start to finish, aircraft and displays came from across the country and some like the Canadian F-18’s from as far away as Canada. However in our opinion the best part of the show was the opportunity that was given to the cadets of Victory Forge Military Academy and Boot Camp to meet the pilots and performers.

On the Friday prior to the show the Cadets were whisked away to Vero Beach Airport where Major Edwards from the USAF gave them a personal tour of the F-16 and F-15 Fighter jets. The faces of the cadets told the story… They were awe struck and the crew and pilots were fantastic guides and role models for the boys. One of the cadets asked the pilot after the tour, ‘Do you think I will ever be able to fly one of these?” and the pilot responded, “Yes of course you can, I do! You just have to want it and be willing to work hard to earn it”.

On Sunday morning the cadets got a chance to visit with Mary Dilda at her T 6 and listened to her story about her life and career as a pilot. Then the Navy F-18 crew gave the cadets a small ground school on the F-18 and its extraordinary capabilities.

Later that morning a few of the cadets got the once in a lifetime opportunity to hold the ribbon for Skip Stewart as he flew his high performance Pitts so close to the ground they could see his name tag as he flew by to cut the ribbon! Following the show, after all was packed up and put away, the discussion from the recruits centered on success and accomplishment. They realized that their future is actually under their control and they can be anything they want to be. We say a special thanks to Mary Dilda, Skip Stewart , Rob Holland, The US Army Black Daggers and the crews from the F-18’s, the F-16’s and the F-15’, as well as each and every performer that went out of their way to allow the cadets to have these once in a lifetime experiences.