Klatt has flown a wide variety of aircraft. His commission in the ANG gave him the opportunity to fly C-130 military transports delivering crucial supplies during Operation Desert Storm. John later transitioned from the C-130 into the F-16 “Fighting Falcon” and has completed three combat tours flying F-16s in Iraq. He has logged more than 2,000 hours at the controls of the F-16, and is assigned to the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth, M.N.
Providing some comic relief, “Dusty” is the latest addition to the lineup, ready to enthrall families in his debut performance. Dusty, is the star of Disney’s new 3D animated comedy adventure, “Planes,” about a plane with dreams of competing as a high-flying air racer. A spinoff of the popular 2006 “Cars,” the film is scheduled to be released Aug. 9.
For those younger air show visitors, the movie will jump to life with Dusty’s flying escapades. Dusty will show off his talents, communicate with the crowd and be accompanied by a new Disney musical score.
“Disney’s Planes’ is a great underdog story,” said director Klay Hall, an aviation enthusiast. “It has a lot of heart and a message we can all use: if we can believe in ourselves, step out of our comfort zones and get past whatever fear is holding us back, we’d be surprised with the results. And that’s exactly what happens to Dusty in this movie. He’s a crop duster who’s never flown above 1,000 feet, but he dreams of being the fastest air racer in the world. He has a lot of obstacles to overcome and needs to dig pretty deep to find the courage to become more than he was built for.”
Pilot Rusty Lindeman, a Texas-based aerial applicator, takes on the role of Dusty. Lindeman customized one of his own Air Tractor AT-301 airplanes to match Dusty’s paint scheme and features.