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Chuck tragically lost his life doing what he loved during his airshow performance.
Chuck is an engineer, airshow pilot, test pilot, and flight instructor with over 10,000 hours total flight time and more than 4,100 hours in the Extra Flugzeugbau 300 series aircraft alone. He has performed in hundreds of airshows and given over three-thousand rides in aerobatic aircraft. He has been deployed around the world in aircraft such as Burt Rutan’s Proteus utilized for scientific research. Chuck has also performed chase duties for programs such as the Collier Trophy winning SpaceShip One designed by Burt Rutan, which was the precursor to our very own Virgin Galactic’s spaceship program. Chuck also was an aerobatic flight instructor for the actors in Top Gun: Maverick, dubbed “Tom Cruise’s School of Flying.” He flew 140 flights in order to prepare the actors to fly in Navy F-18 Hornets. You can check out his film and TV roles IMDB!
This two-plane show features everything an aerofan wants to see in the sky: formation aerobatics, towering separations, head-to-head passes, athletic pursuits, impossible rejoins, and a smoke-filled airshow box! These feats are undertaking by two experienced pilots, Stephen “Christo” Christopher and Todd “Woody” Rudberg. Christo pilots the red and white side by side RV7 that he built ten years ago, Stephen has collected more than 2,500 hours flying across the country, with the Blackjack Squadron, in air shows with the West Coast Ravens, Lightning Formation, and at the Reno Air Races. Woody pilots the Orange RV8. Todd began flying with his dad as an infant in the late 1960s and grew up watching airshows with his family in the 1970s. Todd has logged more than 2500 hours in the RV8 alone. Todd learned formation flying techniques in the Blackjack squadron starting in 2006.
Watch their amazing two-ship jet aerobatic routine and a T-28 performance that is sure to be remembered.
They will also be offering their signature airshow announcing!
In 1909, not long after the Wright Brothers first powered flight, Air racing began…
It was responsible for the dramatic leaps in performance in civilian and military aircraft for the first 50 years. The next 50 years showcased modified WWII Military aircraft and a handful of small purpose built racers. Sport Class Air Racing was founded in 1998 with the purpose of showcasing the developments, technology and innovation that comes from the Experimental/Amateur Built category of aircraft. These are kit planes that you build yourself. The rules are simple: Kit Built, Propeller and Piston Engine Driven, Less than 1000 Cubic Inch displacement. That’s it. Some of these aircraft are purpose modified racing machines. Many are also used throughout the year for personal transportation. Impressively, the first Sport Class Champion race in 1998 saw 308 MPH! Now, we have aircraft that are over 410 MPH. We’ll be conducting racing in Las Cruces on 3 course lengths: 4 mile, 6.5 Mile, 8 Mile. As the distance goes up, the speeds go up. All qualifying is done on the 8 mile course. Sport Class is pushing the envelope as it’s members constantly search for ways to go faster! Come visit with us in the Pit Area to meet the Pilots and teams, and see the Racing Aircraft up close! We’re always happy to share our passion for flying!
Racers Jet Team started in a true American tradition. If you’ve ever tinkered with or modified your car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle to squeeze out as much performance as you can, then you understand the beginnings and focus of our team’s pilots individually!
Recognizing the special performance abilities of these racing jets and the unique talents of our air race and air show pilots Scott Farnsworth, Jerry “Jive” Kerby, and Artur Kielak…Racers Jet Team was formed!
These L-39s may look like other L-39s… but looks are only skin-deep! The bones, muscle and soul of these jets are 100 percent focused on being the fastest jets on the race course and at your air show!
Racers Jet Team will be bringing the two-ship performance with Scott and Jive to Las Cruces to demonstrate the agility & maneuverability of the L-39 in dynamic jet formation aerobatics!
Long before they can be seen, the thundering roar of T-28 radial engines announce the arrival of Trojan Thunder! Trojan Thunder brings pride in country and patriotism to every air show and event as the team of T-28 Trojans fly overhead with a backdrop of noise from the nine-cylinder Curtiss-Wright engines. Trojan Thunder pilot Dan Kirkland from Kingman, Arizona will be flying a solo aerobatic performance with military precision amidst rolling clouds of smoke! The T-28 Trojan is a former military trainer used by both the US Air Force and the US Navy having flown its first flight in 1949. Trojan Thunder is celebrating the T-28’s 75th anniversary during its 2024 air show season. Thunder ON!
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